Went to Singapore with Paul for 5 days. On my birthday we went to the Raffles Hotel and had a drink in the famous long bar and another in the Writers bar.

We went on an island and dinner cruise, then Sentosa island.

It seems unbelievable but later that evening, on a very busy Friday night, we were about to get on the tour bus to take us back to our hotel. Two electricians, members of the ETU working there, walked around the corner saw Paul first and made some comment that this person looked like a younger me just as I walked around the corner. I had not met these guys for a couple of years so needless to say we did not get on the bus but spent the next few hours with them.

David was in the navy and posted to Darwin at the time. After their March wedding and then honeymoon in Bali, they moved to Darwin. In August Linda and I travelled up there for Laura’s birthday. Linda also went up for a short visit the following year.

We had a great time the only downside was when we were at Berry Springs whilst in swimming I kicked off from the far side. Shocking pain shot up my leg. I had accidentally kicked hard against an underwater tree root. When I made it to the other side and stepped out of the water my foot was gushing blood.

Laura had travelled to the UK in August 1994 until November 1995. We Linda, Paul and myself, decided to fly over to the UK in September. we planed to stop off in Moscow then Rome before arriving in London.

Unfortunately because of her work And the fact that she was returning home in November Laura could not take the time off to travel with us to Ireland then Scotland. If we could go back I know she wishes she had left the job and travelled with us.

The whole family had the travelling bug so when Linda spotted a fantastic deal off we went.

I had been to Sydney before so knew we would be doing a lot of walking over the next five days. With some exceptions we walked everywhere, the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Opera House on to Circular Quay, Next day the Coathanger bridge, then to the Rocks. On the mono rail to Darling Harbour, Laura really loved the shops there. Next day was really cold and damp to we picked up the ferry and headed to Manly Beach. We also had a lovely day visiting the Blue Mountains with Kevin, that was a special day thanks to Kevin.

Looking at the pictures, the weather at Wave rock, being inland and sheltered, made it like a sun trap and was bright and hot while Esperance was bright, windy and cold and the Stirling Ranges were freezing!!! So our short trip went from short sleeve warm to parka wearing cold. Many friends thought we were mad heading south in the winter, but we loved sitting in front of a real fire drinking big bowls of homemade soup (brought from home).

Since arriving back in Western Australia in 1981 as a family we had not returned to Scotland in ten years. I had actually been there for three days in 1988, but that’s a story on its own.

Paul was 18 months old when he came to Australia. Funnily enough Laura was 18 months old when we first arrived in 1978. We had planned the holiday for two years and saved hard for our six week holiday.