Author Archives: Thea Stainsby

la Cavalcada de Reis Mags d’Orient (Three Kings)

Posted on 8 January 2013 by Thea Stainsby

The Three Kings (Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar in Catalan) visit children in Spain on the twelfth night of Christmas like Santa visits us on Christmas Eve. We joined the parade in Barcelona that welcomes the Kings on the eve of … Continue reading →

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Merry Christmas from Bruce & Thea

Posted on 23 December 2012 by Thea Stainsby

Our Christmas greetings come to you this year from Barcelona, where we have rented an apartment for a few months, as a base for our travelling. After an exciting year on the road we are finishing it with a trip … Continue reading →

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Not a Golden Silence

Posted on 8 December 2012 by Thea Stainsby

My silence is inflicted and I am not a happy traveller. My cute little ASUS has broken down again and has been at the ASUS doctor in Portugal for three weeks and I haven’t heard boo from them. And to … Continue reading →

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Good bye to the Renault

Posted on 18 November 2012 by Thea Stainsby

We handed the Renault back to Renault Eurodrive this week.  Here are some statistics on the cost for your perusal… 23862 km in 163 days (5 weeks 10 days), average 146.4km/day 1662 litres of fuel, average 10.2 litres/day Fuel consumption 14.36km/litre … Continue reading →

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A Funny Sort Of Day

Posted on 15 November 2012 by Thea Stainsby

The first sign that yesterday (14 November) was “funny” was when our neighbours hit the snooze button 4 times on their alarm from 6am. We normally hear them clunking around in the morning. Then the post office was closed. No … Continue reading →

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Finding his roots

Posted on 9 November 2012 by Thea Stainsby

We took Hayden to Nieder Weisel, the birthplace of his g-g-g-grandmother Anna Margaretha Bill. She was his mother’s father’s mother’s mother’s mother. She migrated to Australia in 1856 along with many young people from the same village. After spending time … Continue reading →

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Only hot or cold

Posted on 30 October 2012 by Thea Stainsby

After enduring months of 35C+ days as we toured through the Mediterranean, we were somewhat shocked when it snowed in Germany… in October.  Our German friends told us the snow came a month early this year. Seems we have had … Continue reading →

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Three Mates

Posted on 17 October 2012 by Thea Stainsby

It has been delightful to sit in the background and watch three school friends catch up. Yes, we are a long way from home, but Denis lives in Switzerland and Rob is touring Spain – so for a special few … Continue reading →

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Monet – Sunshine and Colour

Posted on 12 October 2012 by Thea Stainsby

In contrast to the grey wet day when we visited the war memorials of the Somme, the sun shone and there was a little warmth in the air. Giverny is a monument to Claude Monet and the impressionist’s artist colony … Continue reading →

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A Reality Check in the Somme

Posted on 8 October 2012 by Thea Stainsby

We had visited Gallipol where both my grandfathers had fought.  However my Pop (maternal grandfather) and his brother Laurie went on to serve in France, in Flanders and the Somme. More amazingly, his younger brother Tom and four of his future … Continue reading →

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