2025 Europe Rail Holiday
Flew into Heathrow London, via Dubai, on 25th April. After spending a few days in London, where we managed to catch up with a few friends we prepared for our European rail journey. Our trip took us from London to, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, to Cologne and Nuremberg in German, Prague in the Czech Republic,…
Read More2024 Scotland and Northern Ireland & Singapore
Left at 10.20 pm from Perth Airport 12 June, stopping at Dubai and landing in Glasgow 12.45pm (mid day) on the 13th. We have already done the sight seeing in Singapore so this stop off was just a relaxing 5 days.
Read More2023 our planned trip to Scotland, France, and Italy. Scotland first.
Although I had been in Scotland only a few months before this was our actual planned holiday for three weeks from 27th of August until 19th September. The weather was fantastic. Linda and I had few day in Largs and Paisley before heading to the highlands where we based ourselves at the village of Spean…
Read More2023 Largs Scotland & Dubai
I decided in late May to travel to Scotland as my young brother was having serious health issues. I booked to be there for a month and left Perth on 2nd June. In no time at all I discovered how difficult it was dealing with numerous Government bureaucracies. And nothing moves fast. I am happy…
Read More2022 Cruise holiday part 8 London
With the cruise over we flew back from Rome to London and caught up with two friends for a few days, before the long flight back to Perth WA Spitalfields area was originally established around 1638 it has been associated with the Silk industry from around 1685, when the Huguenots, French Protestants arrived. From the…
Read More2022 Cruise part 6 last day at sea sea day 9 and Messina Sicily day 10
Had an early start as we were on the trip called, Walking in the steps of the Godfathers. We visited 2 villages where some of the scenes, mainly in The Godfather part 1, were shot. This was when Michael was in hiding and where he first gets married.
Read More2022 Cruise part 5 day 7 Kotor day 8 in Corfu
Kotor is in Montenegro, and Corfu in Greece. Both were small old towns so we had plenty of time to slowly walk around. I really liked the old town of Kotor. Just a few of the many photos we took.
Read More2022 Cruise part 4 after 2 days at Sea we were in Dubrovnik on day 6.
We were meant to have had 1 day at sea and visit Malta then another day at sea, but there was a berthing hiccup and we were diverted to Dubrovnik. We did not mind as we have always wanted to go back there in 1975. But for some on the cruise Malta was why they…
Read More2022 Cruise part 3. Day at sea followed by a day on Malta then our second day at sea.
Day 4. Last night we were informed that we could not get a deep enough berth in Malta. Don’t ask me why as they have been there before. Anyway we will be doing 2 days at sea. The good news was we would be sailing to Dubrovnik. while we were sorry to be missing out…
Read More2022 Cruise part 2 Marseille and Livorno
We took the cruise shuttle bus in both ports to their respective town centres. It was our intention to just walk around both cities and hopefully not get lost. Cruise day 2 Marseille. We got a bit lost looking for the old town. I am sure we were walking in the right area, but it…
Read More2022 Cruise holiday, part 1 Paisley Scotland and Barcelona
At last we are on our way to join the cruise we had to cancel twice because of covid and travel restrictions. Not quite the cruise we had originally booked, but the closest to it in the Mediterranean at the time of year we wanted to travel. But first a short stop in Scotland to…
Read More2022 Singapore
After not travelling for over 2 years we took the opportunity to travel for a five day break.
Read More2019 Potsdam
I have to admit it was a freezing cold day when we visited Potsdam. But we made sure to walk around Sanssouci Park, the Dutch Village and the town centre.
Read More2019 Colditz
Colditz was where the Germans brought their troublesome prisoners. It was supposed to be escape proof. 32 escaped but only 15 were home runs, made it Back home. 1 Belgian, 11 British, 7 Dutch, 12 French and 1 Polish escaped. Took a he train from Leipzig to Grossbothen. The Station is deserted. Get off the…
Read More2019 Reichenbach Falls, Meiningen, Switzerland
, As a Sherlock Holmes fan I had to visit the site of “The Final Problem” Holmes and Moriarty’s fight to the death, in the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Read More2018 St Petersburg
A few photographs from my phone. We had 2 great days in St Petersburg and will add more photographs latter.
Read More2018 Copenhagen
Love Copenhagen the people were so friendly. I will just post some of my best pictures of my time walking around the city.
Read More2017 Paris
Although we have been to Paris a few times I still like to photograph the Eiffel Tower.
Read More2017 Belgium & France
We knew when we planned the tour of the First World War’s Battle fields that it would be educational and confronting. In the four years between 1914 and 1918 more than 25 million men were killed or wounded in the so called War to End all Wars. We found there are record books held at…
Read More2017 a few days in Edinburgh
Always like spending some time walking around the city. So just thought I’d add a few photos from our brief visit.
Read More2017 Armagh
From Scotland we flew over to Belfast for a few days researching McLaughlan family history in and around Armagh. We researched town records, maps and wills. Before we met with a local historian. He said it’s a small area and suggested we go there and knock on the houses there. From the city we travelled…
Read More2016 St Louis
St Louis on the Mississippi River. Commonly referred to as the Gateway to the West.
Read More2016 New York
I love New York, I have been there twice and for Linda this was her third time, so less pictures for more of US see my post 2014.
Read More2016 Rocky Mountaineer Train and Coach your.
As an overall opinion we both really loved the Rocky Mountaineer trip. The service on the train and the efficient handling of stopovers were great. But for most spectacular scenery I think the coach views were much better.
Read More2016 Vancouver
Flew into Vancouver for a 4 day stop before joining the Ricky Mountaineer. We indulged in a mixture of sightseeing and researching family history.
Read More2016 Chicago
Just had a few days to have a look around Chicago. I could definitely go back for a longer visit.
Read More2015 in Canberra and Sydney with Linda, James and Jorja.
We had heard that the schools planned trip to Canberra was canceled so we decided to take them there during the October school holidays and return to Perth via Sydney. In Canberra we visited and had tours around the old parliament and the new parliament then we spent a full day at the war memorial.…
Read More2014 Washington and Gettysburg
First stop in the US. Went out for a walk and the heavens opened up and it poured all day. One of the many generals involved in the battle.
Read More2014 A weeks holiday in Bali
This was a short break our first and so far only visit to Bali
Read More2013 Holiday with the Grandkids Paris, Part 3
Leaving St Pancras travelling through to Gare-du-Nord. About 2 hours from London City to the Paris City.
Read More2013 Holiday with the Grandkids Part 2.
We set off on a long drive from Edinburgh to Chichester then spent the next day relaxing. Before visiting Portsmouth, the home of the Royal Navy. With the last few days travelling from to London. We had been at a castle used in the Harry Potter movies. Past the cafe the books were written in.…
Read More2013 holiday with the grandkids: Scotland, England and Paris France. Part I Scotland.
The whole holiday was an absolute pleasure from visiting family in Scotland and England and also France. I have split the holiday into three parts Part 1 Scotland
Read More2011 Holiday stopover in Hong Kong on the way to Perth.
It was a long holiday starting in Scotland, down to England then over to Italy. We certainly packed a lot in. When we stopped in Hong Kong it was meant to be a wind down then we realised we had never been to Macau. We had a lovely day but a hair raising trip on…
Read More2011 Holiday part 4. Venice, Florence and Pisa.
We had a couple of days in Rome then a very long day travelling south (part 3) before travelling by train the next day to Venice. Stepping out of the station right on to the walkway with the Grand Canal right there was a fantastic start to our three day stay before moving on to…
Read More2011 Holiday part 3 Italy Rome, Amalfi Cost & Pompeii
We split our Italian holiday in two parts. In part 3 here, Rome, the Amalfi coast, and Pompeii. Given we have been in Rome before it was a bit more relaxing.
Read More2011 Holiday part 2 Scotland.
My main purpose in this trip was to scatter my mum and dads ashes at Loch Lomond. We organised for the family to meet there. The weather was horrendous. Fortunately we managed to get a break, when the rain stopped for about 30 minutes. After we spread the ashes we all went for lunch. After…
Read More2011 Holiday England, Scotland and Italy
Part 1 England. As always we caught up with family and friends, while doing a bit of sightseeing.
Read More2010 Short break in Busselton
We thought we would have a few relaxing days down south. Also we wanted to see how Rebus would be when we go on holiday Rebus was happy to see us when we arrived home. After the initial welcome, he gave us the cold shoulder for having left him. As a side note, he was…
Read More2010 My Big Family Holiday part 11
Singapore, where’s the snow? It was the end of the holiday and everyone was tired. Singapore was nice and warm, maybe too hot given where we had been. we will be heading home tomorrow at the end of a Very Eventful 6 weeks. Hope you enjoyed our trip.
Read More2010 My Big Holiday Part 10
London 18th to 29th January. I can not even try to do our time there justice so have just added photos and commentary.
Read More2010 My Big Holiday Part 9 from Stonehenge to Brighton.
Seeing Stonehenge like this was magic. Then on to Winchester and Brighton.
Read More2010 Big Family Holiday part 8. Liverpool and Bath. 10th to 13th January.
It’s hard to describe the drive from Edinburgh over the Pennines to Gretna Green then on to Liverpool. As we approached the Pennines the road was closed. Just before we turned around a car came from the South, they said it was okay to pass. I was driving the first car. I could not see…
Read More2010 Big family holiday 2009-2010 part 7 Edinburgh 8th to 10th Jan.
After leaving Dalry, and because the weather was so bad and we could not drive up to the highlands, Laura, David and the kids went through to Edinburgh early. Linda and I flew to Belfast for two days to do some family history. We arrived back in Edinburgh on the 8th, Laura and David did…
Read More2009-2010 Big family Holiday part 6. 30 December until 4 January 2010
Stopped at Loch Lomond but the snow was too heavy to even go outside so we travelled through to Stirling Castle later we visited Jim in East Kilbride, believe it or not, he said we are having a bbq. We were booked into the Holiday Inn at Glasgow Airport for a New Years Eve party.…
Read More2009 Big Family holiday part 5 28 to 28 Dec.
During this part of the holiday we caught up with some family and friends as well as visiting Laura’s first school, closed over the holiday period. Linwood, Glasgow, The Doctor Who exhibition at the Kelvin Grove Museum and the transport museum.
Read More2009 Big family holiday part 4 23 to 26December.
Arrived at Heathrow very early on the 23 December, then caught the shuttle to Glasgow. Where we had hired two cars and drove to our rented cottage. Finding the cars in the car park was difficult because the snow there was about 4 inches thick. You could not see bay numbers, car number plates and…
Read More2009 Big Family Holiday part 1
Our 2009 family holiday itinerary is Perth to Hong Kong, Scotland, England, Singapore then home to Perth. First night and second day and night in Hong Kong Everybody is excited getting ready for our long planned holiday.
Read More2009 Big Family trip part 2 Ocean Park
After Disneyland the kids ready for another big day out.
Read More2009 Big Family trip part 2 Disneyland
Part 1. Hong Hong: Linda and I arrived the night before Laura, David, James and Jorja. Our trip was going to be Perth to Hong Kong, then Scotland, England and finally Singapore
Read More2002 Scotland and England
The holiday involved a stopover in Hong Kong on the way out and on the way back. Just time enough to catch up with both my cousins and their families. We arrived in London and stayed with friends for a few days Then down to Chichester to catch up with family before travelling north. We…
Read More1999 Singapore
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…
Read More1998 & 1999 Darwin
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…
Read More1995 Moscow, Rome, England, Ireland, Scotland, Bangkok post 2. This post covers Moscow, England and Ireland (also see post 1).
This post covers our trip to Scotland visiting our favourite places, family and friends before stopping off in Bangkok on our way home.
Read More1995 Moscow, Rome, England, Ireland, Scotland, Bangkok post 1. This post covers Moscow, England and Ireland (also see post 2).
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…
Read More1992 Family trip to Sydney
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,…
Read More1992 Wave Rock and Esperance
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…
Read More1991-1992 Our first family holiday back to Scotland
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…
Read More1981 Heading back to Australia
A little while after Paul was born and after much consideration we decided to return to Australia. Everything looked like it would be easy and straight forward until they said: Me, Linda and Laura were free to return but Paul had to emigrate. We were thrown into a panic but it turned out to be…
Read More1978 From Scotland to Western Australia
In 1977 while working in Yarrows shipbuiders on the Clydeside’s, Glasgow’s River Clyde I decided that I had to move on but not just to a new job. I wanted to travel to Australia. I never thought this would be a permenant move I just felt it was something I thought I should do at…
Read More1974 Isle of Arran, Scotland
The Island lies at the entrance to the Firth of Clyde, 14 miles west of the Ayrshire coast. 35 miles to the south is Antrim, Northern Ireland. On the Island there are three groups of mountains with ten peaks. The most famous and highest being Goatfell. Earliest known settlers on the island were Mesolithic people…
Read More1973 Lerwick
Lerwick is the main town on Shetland Island. Just to put where the island is situated into perspective, on many maps Shetland is shown with a box around it, this is because the distance shown on the map is usually not to scale. Historically the Shetland islands were given to Scotland as part of the…
Read More1972 Majorca
Me and Linda in September 1972 took our first flight and first overseas holiday. Two weeks in C’an Picafort. It’s hard to imagine how excited we were embarking on an overseas holiday. We arrived at Palma airport and then traveled by bus to our hotel 60 km. Our hotel was new and luckily finished,which was…
Read More2019 Sydney New Zealand Sydney cruise
After having enjoyed our Baltic cruise in 2018 we decided to take the 14 day Majestic Princess cruise out from Sydney sailing around New Zealand, back to Sydney. And whilst we had a great trip you only scratch the surface of New Zealand. We will go back and travel by road. We left Perth WA…
Read More2016 Karratha to Onslow
Just some photos from my last trip to Onslow. Started the trip up north to Karratha a 2hr flight. Karratha is 1,526kms north of Perth. Next morning it was an early start for our 3hour, 306km drive south to Onslow. It was a long day as I had 3 meetings to do on the Wheatstone site,…
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Les McLaughlan 