Awesome Augsburg

Decided to chill out by finishing off my blog of Germany and so here we go!

Really excited getting off train... What would our home exchange be like? We climbed up, up, up the stairs... Oh My God! What have we got in our bags? They weigh a ton!

Nervously we put the key in the lock. It doesn't work. Then we notice a second lock and we are in. It feels so strange...like breaking into someone's house. It is lovely. So spacious and light. I think we are going to love it here.

You know you are in Oz

....You know you are back in Oz when ..... you are woken by raucous birds....you are breathalysed 4 times in 3 days and of course the sun is shining.  




Sun is shining today because Caleb is home....tired and weary but home.  He will go back in a week's time and then another op in 6 weeks.  Not sure when he will drive or go back to work... so one day at a time.

Oh mum is nothing sacred!!

I know taking a photo of your son in intensive care is pretty low... but a blog is a blog!

Some of you will know that Caleb suffered a bleed on the brain resulting from an aneurysm. He was just SO lucky. It was at the front of the brain and so they could do keyhole surgery.

Basically we arrived back on Sunday morning. Caleb phoned us to say he couldn't pick us up because he had a TERRIBLE headache. The worst in his life.

We insisted he went to the doctor who basically said, "You have a really bad headache take some panadol" After lunch Caleb headed home and slept and even with a headache went to work the next day!!

Tuesday Roger went off to golf and I went to the city to an Apple course not suspecting that Caleb was so ill . ... A phone call from Caleb sounding very groggy .. he was worse. I told him to go to the doctor straight away and I was on my way back.

The doctor sent him straight off to hospital with suspected meningitis. CAT scans and lumber punctures later...all tests were clear. The doctor cheerily told us that he could head home. Just one more test to do. I phoned Roger to ask him to cook something yummy for dinner as we were on our way!

As soon as the doctor walked through the door I knew from his expression that it was serious. He told Caleb to very carefully lie down and not to move his head. He then explained that Caleb had had a bleed from the brain and that he would have to go by emergency ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital. The Neuro Surgical team were waiting and took over. Next day they had discovered the aneurysm and operated.

So HOw Lucky Was Caleb.... no permanent damage. Phew! all seems to be going well. A few more days in intensive care and a couple more weeks in hospital and then he should be back into life.

Thanks for all the support...........Caleb's email: calebjamesdawson@gmail.com. Sure some positive messages will help him through this

A Sangria moment!

Felt in real holiday mode! Warm sun, beautiful view and a cool glass of Sangria!

Brugge it up!

What a pretty city. Loved all the artworks, canals and architecture.

frites, beer, boys and aussie icecream

I know this is crass but how small is the "Pee-pee Boy", such a shock as I had only seen him in chocolate form previously... multicoloured of course, and so to see him dressed (change of clothes according to the day) was a bit of a surprise! . Amazing that the original statue was created in 1388.

Another surprise was Australian Icecream... Really! Like Australian icecream from 10,000 miles away.. No!... but not a smile or a word of English from the rather severe stall holders.

Now the Pommes Frite of today are definitely not up to scratch with my memories of Pommes Frite of my youth... Ah well isn't that life.

And made the effort but still haven't developed a taste for beer!

But you know still had a great time!

Europe here we come!

St Pancras station ...Oh so many memories of railway journeys as a student. Did we really give ourselves 48 hrs to get as far as we could go, take a photo underneath a clock and go home again. What fun! All in the name of charity of course. But this time we are heading off on Eurostar. Roger and Caleb have both done this trip before but it is a first for me. What a smooth trip... 300 km an hour and we were in Brussels in two hours. No airport security checks... fabuloso. Internet special, Citidines in Brussels had a few suprises...like a fold down bed from the wall but really comfortable and hey what groovy furniture!

Home again!

First morning back in Manly... just lovely! Walked through the park and down to the beach as the sun was rising. Breakfast on the verandah... Life is good. Looking forward to catching up with everyone!

Will try to update Germany, Austria and Thailand in next two weeks... Phew what a goal!