Thursday, 12-Jan-2012: flew from Perth to London (via Singapore).
Did lots of things around the Nook and Bourton-on-the-Water, interacting with Ian & Nikki & girls quite a bit (eg sleep-overs for the girls).
Wednesday, 8-Feb-2012: took train to London; attended a performance of Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre; stayed overnight; then Alex attended a Workshop on Cloud Computing at Smithfield.
Saturday, 18-Feb-2012: hired cold weather gear for trip to Norway.
Sunday, 19-Feb-2012: Flew from Heahtrow to Bergen, Norway, to embark on a 4-day Hurtigruten cruise "A Taste of the Arctic", on board MV Trollfjord.
Monday, 20-Feb-2012: walking tour of Alesund.
Tuesday, 21-Feb-2012: walking tour of Trondheim.
Wednesday, 22-Feb-2012: Crossed Arctic Circle; Alex walked into Bodo.
Then arrived at Stamsund, Lofoten Islands, where we left the ship and were taken by coach to a Lofotr Viking feast. Afterwards, taken by coach to rejoin the ship in Svolvaer.
We arrived at Trollfjord (the ship's namesake) at about 11:30pm, but didn't enter it in the dark.
Thursday, 23-Feb-2012: arrived in Tromso, transferred to our hotel (Clarion Bryggen). Walked around town in snow, deep at times.
Friday, 24-Feb-2012: had another walk around Tromso.
Then flew back to London, via Oslo.
Tuesday, 6-Mar-2012: drove to Warwick.
Alex attended Videconferencing workshop at Warwick University.
Wednesday, 7-Mar-2012: Alex took train to London from Kingham.
Alex attended 2-day conference on Curation in the Cloud at Hallam Conference Centre.
We both attended a performance of Ladykillers at Guilgud Theatre on Wednesday.
Returned by train to Kingham then drove home Thursday evening.
Saturday, 10-Mar-2012: drove to Kempsford for a Literary Festival, featuring Susan Hill, and also General Charles the Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank.
Tuesday, 13-Mar-2012: drove to Cheltenham for lunch with Alison Allden.
Wednesday, 14-Mar-2012: drove to Newport, Wales at Celtic Manor Hotel to attend UCISA conference.
Drove home on Friday afternoon (had planned to visit Anne & John Payne, but she rang to say they were both sick, so we cancelled).
Wednesday, 21-Mar-2012: took train from Kingham to London to attend an afternoon performace of Matilda, The Musical at Cambridge Theatre.
Saturday, 24-Mar-2012: drove to Bedruthan Hotel, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall to stay with INE&L.
Tuesday, 27-Mar-2012: drove to St Ives, stayed at Tregenna Castle Hotel.
Wednesday, 28-Mar-2012: drove to Plymouth, via Trengwainton, St Michael's Mount, Lanhydrock.
The next day, Thursday, drove home via Broadklyst, Killerton, Fyne Court.
Thursday, 5-Apr-2012: drove to Stratford to buy Matilda CD.
Friday, 6-Apr-2012, Good Friday: drove to London, attended Messiah at Royal Albert Hall.
Thursday, 19-Apr-2012: Alex drove to London, then flew overnight to Kuwait (with John Slater), for a series of meetings/workshops about Kuwait Cyber University (all online, free).
Monday flew back to Heathrow.
Thursday, 26-Apr-2012: drove to Gatwick, stay in hotel overnight.
Friday, 27-Apr: taken by coach to Netherlands, stayed at Tulip Inn, De Veluwe.
Saturday, 28-Apr: visit Floriade, stopping briefly at Arnhem (Bridge Too Far) on the way back.
Sunday, 29-Apr: visit Het Loo Palais, Piet Oudolf Garden.
Monday, 30-Apr: visit Keukenhof (10am to 1:30pm). Then coach via Calais, ferry, Dover to Gatwick.
Wednesday, 2-May-2012: drove to Didcot, meet with Janet staff.
Then to Lymington to meet with Pitmans and Saggers (had dinner with them). Stayed in Lyndhurst Park Hotel.
Thursday, 3-May-2012: visited Beaulieu Abbey.
Then SeaCity Museum, Southampton.
Friday, 4-May-2012: drove to Brecon, Wales; met with John & Anne Payne in Llanfihangel.
Sunday, 6-May-2012: drove to Hilperton Marina, Trowbridge, and hired a narrowboat for the day on the Avon & Kennett Canal, with INE&L.
Sailed as far as Cross Guns Pub, Avoncliff, where we had lunch; then turned around & returned to Hilperton.
Thursday, 10-May-2012: we trained to London for Alex to attend Eduserv Seminar on Big Data at Royal College of Pysicians.
Attended a performance of Top Hat at the Aldwych Theatre.
Stayed overnight. Then visited Tate Modern, Globe Theatre, St Paul's. Then train back to Kingham & home.
Saturday, 19-May-2012: drop off hire car at Heathrow and fly to Reykjavik, Iceland.
Sunday, 20-May to Thursday, 24-May Alex attend TNC2012 Conference and side meetings (eg Refeds).
Monday, 21-May-2012: boat trip to see puffins.
Friday, 25-May-2012: Golden Circle coach tour (9am to 5pm), taking in Hveragerdi (fissure under building), Skalholt Cathedral, Gullfoss, Geysers, Laugarvatn, Pingvellir (continental plates meeting point), Pingvallavatn lake.
Saturday, 26-May-2012: fly back to Heathrow, stay overnight.
Sunday, 27-May-2012: coach from Heathrow to Southampton, to board the P&O Arcadia cruise ship.
Tuesday, 29-May-2012: arrive Bergen; did a coach tour of Bergen.
Wednesday, 30-May-2012: arrive Geiranger, took small boat tour of Geirangerfjord.
Thursday, 31-May-2012: arrive Olden, did Oldevatnet Lake Cruise.
Friday, 1-Jun-2012: due to arrive Stavanger, but there was a strike affecting crew of pilot vessels, so we couldn't dock, instead sailed on the Zeebugge as an unscheduled alternative.
Saturday, 2-Jun-2012: arrived Zeebrugge. Took a guided tour of Bruges, including a canal boat ride.
Sunday, 3-Jun-2012: coach from Southampton back to Heathrow, where I hired another car & drove to the Brooks' house.
Monday, 4-Jun-2012: visited Hughenden Manor.
Tuesday, 5-Jun-2012: fly back to Perth, via Singapore.
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Alex Reid
2-Jun-25