Having arrived in February to exit the German renters (on Sabbatical leave) from Chateau AthoTurnbull, it's decided that she'll stay on to greet the new Canadian renters (also on sabbatical at UQ) in early July. A few stressful challenges such as the potential sale of a neighbour's house to another neighbour who wants to mow down all the trees and subdivde plus her paid work is keeping Paulie very occupied. Nick is also in Brisbane on a get-well programme whilst caring for his Grandpa who had a bad fall. Olivia is working hard but took time out for a well earned Phillipines holiday. James and Keno have set the date for their Oxford wedding - July 26th. Stephen's seeing a lot of the Oxford lads as he is working 2 weeks a month in the UK.
1 March 1st - The Guilford Three (Stephen stayed with Jude and Phil) share a wine and say hi to Paulie in Brisbane
2 The next day an early morning as Stephen heads back to France after some days with the folks he is consulting to.
3 3rd- Paulie has guests...
4 ... and Lyndon greets Stephen with a Piper in hand
5 Stephen checks in with the Oxford team to arrange his next stay
6 ...and then vacates the AthoTurnbull French pad for incoming guests and crashes at pal Michael's...
7 ... and he preps the house for their arrival
8 .
9 Olivia and Michele head to the Phillipines. See the seperate album for their adventures
10 5th - time for a big walk with Michael to show him the caves Paulie & Stephen "discovered"
11 Yes... "OUF" is French for "Whew"
12 Worth the climb for the view (that's St Antonin in the distance)
13 And the cave exploring
14 A fine view to enjoy over lunch
15 And then into another cave
16 .
17 This stream had dried up on Stephen's next visit
18 And out
19 With another UK work trip coming up, it's haircut time. Stephen will see customers this time.
20 Stephen collected his new guests, Tony and Jane, on the 6th. A a few days later he showed them some local sites
21Tony and Jane Including Puycelci
22 Looking down to the chateau Paulie helped out at in 2015
23 The guys enjoy their catch up times :-(
24 10th - Stephen is Back in Oxford. And has a treat...
25 The lads walk to the site of their upcoming wedding reception (July 26)
26 They'll use the barn for the dinner
27 While they negotiate with the owner, Stephen wanders to Iffley Lock
28 And village.
29 11th - Stephen finds himself in Birmingham for an educational technology conference. From his hotel room he notes work for the next Commonwealth Games
30 Meanwhile Paulie has a few visitors who let themselves in
31 Gearing up for representing Meetoo (now Vevox)
32 Conference time
33 And he thought his days of trade stands were over
34 Glimpses of Birmingham city during the 3 days
35 And then, with colleagues Jon and Joe, it's off again
36 For most of the stay home base was Chateau AthoJüchems in Oxford . The guys say hi to Paulie in Brisbane.
37 Stephen sets out on various visits. First to Vevox HQ in Liphook, Hampshire
38 Then Southampton. Guess which academic department.
39 Then north to Loughborough Uni (a Top 10 uni?)
40 The sun came out, shirts came off and if you look closely, a ballet skirt went on for one young juggling student
41 Medico pals Colin and Sarah kindly took care of Stephen for a few nights
42 which required champagne to celebrate their generosity
43 Practicing our poses
44 Their town, Lytham St Annes near Blackpool, had a fantastic supermarket which is only in the north - Booths
45 Back in Brisbane, Olivia returns from her Filipino festivities
46 20th - the gals rebond at Chateau AthoTurnbull
47 21st - Pals Phil and Maryann Long vist from the U.S. & stayed with Paulie from the 16th. On the 21st they headed to Dinner with Paulie, Roly Sussex and partner for the last supper.
48 Stephen's Uni visits continued. Liverpool uni
49 And the Uni of Central Lancashire
50 23rd and it was back to the Heathrow Terminal 5 lounge on the way home. A diverse group!
51 A relief to be home... for a short stop over. Market day
52 25th - Stephen takes our guests Jane and Tony for a walk. Some big fish in the river (video)
53 They spent the 3 weeks at La Cachette cycling, walking and getting around. Originally Brits, they've lived in Canada for decades and love the outdoors. Great guys
54 So it's another 3+ hour walk up the montain and to the cave Stephen now knows well
55 The view from the first is excellent
56 Back underground in France...
57 .
58 This time Stephen came prepared with ropes to make things easier on the way down.
59 Cave three no longer had water. 200 + metres in
60 .
61 Gold? Stephen will come back and get some tested. Probably fools gold.
62 But the locals enjoy it.
63 Meanwhile in Brisbane Paulie met up with Kiwi pals Wendy and Murray at Heathers. Others came to catch up
64 Dinner with a view
65 And then she headed back home on the ferry
66 After Stephen takes his guests to the train, it's change-over, cleaning and gardening time. Stephen remains at Michael's because another family is renting La Cachette soon after he returns...
67 ... from the next UK trip which starts early on the morning of the 30th
68 But always choosing an exit row at least Stephen can stretch out and nap en route to Heathrow
69 31st - Back in Australia Paulie and Olivia head up to Jan and Jim's in the Noosa hinterland and say hi to Stephen
70 Who, in the Oxford morning, is only up to toasting them with a cup of Yorkshire tea.
71 Ahhh.. Jim's BBQ. Yum
72 The lads head to James and Keno's allotment and do some serious manly man work
73 But not too much.
74 Mmm. Well, it's the early morning of April 1 in Noosa, but 10 PM on the 31st March In Oxford. In the March album it goes.
