Birthday Surprise - A Weekend in Paris

Well, after thinking our last weekend European trip was to Rome, Ben surprised me with a trip to Paris for my birthday. We got up early on the Saturday morning to head to St Pancras to catch the EuroStar to Paris. I would recommend this to everyone as it was so much easier and much more pleasant than having to go to the airport! We arrived in Paris mid-morning and after checking into the hotel we went for a long walk down the Champs-Elysees and along the Seine to Ile de Cite for a long, relaxing and delicious lunch at a brasserie we found. We were glad we'd walked so far, as after lunch, we certainly needed the walk!

Saturday evening Ben had organised tickets to the Ballet, but unfortunately, the workers of the Opera House were on strike, so the ballet was cancelled. This was a bit of a disappointment, and although we went out for a lovely meal, it just wasn't quite the same. The best part of that night was that our taxi driver had heard about the Australian election results and was as happy as we were that Howard was finally out of government!!

Sunday we had another lovely day and went out to Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur and enjoyed the sunshine and watching the artists paint in the square before re-visiting the Eiffel Tower and heading back home. It was a lovely weekend and wonderful to get out of London for the day and spend the weekend just with each other.

Now the countdown till our trip home begins!

Love Inge & Ben

Weekend in Windsor

Last weekend (10/11) we went up to Windsor to visit Bethany and Andrew, who I used to work with at Reckitts. We had a lovely weekend wandering round Windsor and enjoying Bethany and Andrew's hospitality.

Windsor Castle & the gang (L-R: Chris, Carly, Andrew, Bethany, Inge & Ben)

The Crooked House - Ben & Inge on the Eton Bridge

The girls (Bethany, Carly & Inge) and the boys (Andrew, Ben & Chris) on Eton Bridge

Rome - weekend catch up with Anna!

On the last weekend in October we took a long weekend trip to Rome as my friend Anna was on a European trip to visit her boyfriend who's been working in Italy. We had a great weekend in Rome, revisiting sights and seeing new ones. It was a lovely weekend, very warm, and it was great catching up with Anna and meeting Justin. We had some great food and wine, did some great shopping and arrived home exhausted but pleased we'd made the effort to catch up with Anna.

Our Rome trip was our final getaway before we head home for Christmas. It's starting to get colder, the days are shorter, so we're looking forward to having some summer for 3 weeks over Christmas. We're both keeping well. I'm enjoying my new job, it's very busy, but it's going well and I'm settling in. The next month will be spent trying to catch up with all our friends before getting on a plane for the long trip home.

Love Ben & Inge xo


Inge & Ben throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain & the Valentino 45 years exhibition.


The Ara Pacis forecourt & the Castel Sant'Angelo


The view from the top of Castel Sant'Angelo & the Pantheon


Piazza Navona - full of balloons for a politically rally

The Trevi Fountain at night.


The Colosseum, Justin, Anna & Inge on the go and trying to work out where to meet for dinner!


The amazing Roman Forum

Visit to The Youngs

Now that I've got a car with work, we decided it would be a good opportunity to head up to Cambridgeshire to see Ben's cousin Donna, her husband Mark and their 4 month old daughter Lauren. We could only head up on the Saturday after we'd been to the Fulham vs Derby match (a thoroughly disappointing game of which Fulham drew with the worst team in the league), so arrived just in time to watch the Rugby World Cup Final of England vs South Africa (another disappointing match, but at least South Africa won!)

We had a very relaxing time at Donna and Mark's, and it was fantastic to finally meet Lauren as the last time we'd seen them she was still in Donna's womb and very overdue! Here's some photos of the proud new family!





Love Ben & Inge xo

France - Inge goes to the Dordogne & Ben goes to Marseille for the World Cup

Well, after we got back from Spain, I had one day to get my washing done before heading to the airport again, this time to fly to Toulouse to see the Hardman's again for the weekend. They had rented a house in the Dordogne, specifically a tiny place called Nadillac de Rouge, with some friends of theirs (Craig, Kristen and their daughter Anna). I went for the weekend as Craig and Jeff were heading to Marseille, where Ben was meeting them, for the Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals.

The weather wasn't that great, but we had a lovely time with a few outings (not very long as with a 2 and 1 year old it was a bit difficult) to Sarlat on market day and this wonderful town called Beynac with an amazing medieval castle perched high up above the river. The castle is still privately owned and lived in, which is amazing, and gives amazing views over the valley. Unfortunately it was very misty, so we couldn't see much, but the kids loved running around.

I really enjoyed my time there, especially getting to know Liam and Miss Anna and sitting down with the girls and a glass of wine in the evening once the kids had gone to bed!

Meanwhile the boys were having a great time in Marseille, despite the poor result for Australia. From the sound of it, I'm glad none of us girls went with them!!

The House in Nadaillac de Rouge

Jeff & Jacquie relaxing in the afternoon sun

Beynac Castle

A small dining room and list of the Barons of Beynac (still privately owned)

Looking down from Beynac Castle and from the valley below

Jacquie and Kristin keeping a watchful eye on Liam and Anna around the castle!


The Rugby Stadium in Marseille - Jeff and Craig enjoying a night out.

Love Ben & Inge xo