I could never be a travel blogger .. my posting skills are appalling. We have been back home for 6 weeks and I still haven’t got you to the UK … here goes
With only a handful of days of our holiday remaining, we left France via planes, trains and automobiles to get us to our final destination, Broadstairs in Kent.
Hubby’s sister Joe and her family live in Broadstairs a quaint seaside town on the south-east coast. Bill (hubby’s Dad) had driven the arduous journey from Watford (I won’t mention his driving), to spend the last few days with us.
Joe, hubby and Bill – iPhone
A house bursting with people and days planned with shopping events, BBQs, walks on the beach with the dogs, family dinners, and chicky things like ‘facials’, Broadstairs kept us busy .. it always does 🙂
Morellis seaside café
Do you have a wonderful sister-in-law? I can honestly boast that I do. She is about the only person that is happy to go clothes shopping with me, can colour my hair without staining my clothes and can happily cook for a horde of people without getting stressed or flustered – I’m the exact opposite! She is also mother to four boys, John, Elliott, Charlie and Ziggy – which she deserves a medal for.
You will know if you follow Frog Pond Farm, that I loathe taking pics of people. With this in mind, I did take some shots at a special Saturday afternoon BBQ. There was food to feed a battalion, matched with some lovely wines, good friends and family. What more could you want … some sunshine LOL.
Great friends – Joe and Ross
Bill
Teddy
Ziggy and Simon (Joe’s hubby)
Charlie
Broadstairs has loads of charm and history. The famous Charles Dickens also enjoyed Broadstairs spending his summer holidays there residing at the Bleak House (and no I didn’t get any pics sorry).
Even on a cloudy day, Broadstairs is a photographer’s delight. And I love clouds.
We had the best holiday .. thanks so much to everyone that made it such a special one!
It’s time to head back to NZ, it’s springtime!
Hello Frog Pond Farm
You are a wonderful travel blogger. Travel doesn’t have to be blogged in realtime. Fantastic photos. The photos of Bill and Teddy are perfect — they look so much alike. That first photo is a great capture, and all the expressions of the people’s faces are just exceptional. You are a super photographer, Julie.
Hi Tim .. I’m really pleased you enjoyed the pics. Thank you! Sounds like there might be hope for me yet with travel blogging and people pics 😉
Agreed! Great words and pictures! Beautiful!
Your photos are gorgeous and I think you make a good travel blogger.
Thank you very much 🙂
Julie, the portraits are so good, the subjects breathe and almost speak. I am so pleased they allowed you do take these pics.
Hello Miss, lovely to hear from you as always. And I’m very pleased indeed that you enjoyed the people pics. Good!
Hi Julie once again superb photos. You certainly put Broadstairs on the map for folks around the world. Will be going down there this weekend. So M25 here I come! As I said great photos. Well high winds last night but sunny this morning.
All for now love to you both. Bill xxxx
Mr Bonner .. You enjoy your weekend and safe driving! Glad to know the sun is shining … wish it was here! Pleased you enjoyed the pics, wish I had taken loads more. Lots of love right back at you …
Thanks Julie glad you enjoyed the food which Jo Andrew and I served up to you. Joyce and I were determaind that they should be able to fend for themselves. Which as you know was a success. Jo Elliot Ros and I a few weeks ago had a 90 th birthday celebration for Simons Mum and there were twenty people there. So Joyce our persistence paid off. Continue to enjoy our cooking you also can cook. Lots of love Bill xxx
Not been to Broadstairs, so nice to see your shots! And nice for you to spend time with family here in the UK.
Hi Helen .. I’m pleased you enjoyed Broadstairs! Great spot … And it is always wonderful to catch up with family 😀 Thanks for stopping by
Such a lovely way to end your trip, and overall a fabulous time across a few countries. I wish I had holidays like yours, Julie. Wonderful photos as always.
Mr Draco .. thank you! Nice to take you to Europe and back .. it just took a bit longer than expected ;). I always enjoy your visits
Your sister-in-law sounds fab, how I wish I could say the same of mine! My favourite pic is the one of Andrew, Joe and their dad – it speaks for itself 🙂 Wonderful pics as usual, the gull, the clouds…I feel very privileged to have met you, Julie, you’re an inspiration. Enjoy your spring…we seem to have fallen straight into autumn without a warning. Off to Switzerland next week. Love xx
Hello Annette … love it when you stop by. And thank you so much for your comment. I feel very privileged to have met you also, life sure is grand! I’m also incredibly lucky having such a great sister-in-law :D. You enjoy autumn (my fav season) and have a wonderful time in Switzerland … hello to George! Hugs
Just saw that you’ll be having a flower show soon! Can I be cheeky and ask for a post on this should you decide to go? xx
Absolutely! They moved the show to Christchurch and now it is returning to Auckland .. 😃
Sounds like the perfect family visit and the photos- especially of family- are delightful. You captured the love and warmth…and even the self conscious teens😊. The pup is a cutie.
Thank you so much! I always enjoy your visits. I miss your posts …
How wonderful… great holiday, fun and time with your lovely family, Julie!! Yes, and the shopping too… 😉 Thanks for the fabulous post and superb photos… 😃 👍
Hey Iris .. it was a wonderful holiday. I hate shopping (can you believe it) – so Joe made the experience a super good one 🙂 So pleased you enjoyed the post and pics
Only recently got to know Broadstairs as some good friends of ours who we met in Portugal lived and have family there. Isn’t it just acquant and Victorian, trad seaside town. No wonder Dickens stayed there. Good to see some of the people in your life. I try to avoid but my daughter loved it when they were featured! Am glad you had a great time on our side of the world and caught up with family and friends.
Broadstairs is a great place! I’m with you, no wonder Dickens stayed there. It’s nice to be able to introduce you to some special people. 😀 Thanks so much for stopping by
What a glorious time you must have had!! And you take lovely photos…landscape AND people!
Hello Miss … we did have the best time! I always love your visits Linda – it’s so nice to be able to share experiences with great people! 😀
And your Photos! The world you get to live in is wonderful!
There is a lot of warmth in these photos Julie, you do take great pictures of people 🙂
Hi Andrea … thank you! I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the ‘people’ shots 🙂
I don’t like to photograph people either, but unlike you, I’m not good at it. Your photos are excellent. That’s really a pretty place too!
Thank you .. I really appreciate your comment. I bet you could take pics of people 🙂 But I love your landscape photography
Bill’s portrait is my favourite. It seems to capture his spirit (as much as I know of it from your blog) so well.
Hey Miss .. you are so right. That pic is so Bill! 😀
The best travel blog posts are those that take a little while to ferment, to enjoy the return home and to ponder and think about your travel adventures 🙂 At least that is how I explain it to myself! Wonderful post Julie, you’ve got a rich family and set of friends which just adds to the joys of traveling and adventures.
Hey Randall .. great to know that you stopped by 🙂 I’m really pleased that you enjoyed the post. I do have wonderful family and friends that add to the joys of traveling. Looking forward to your next post …
And a good time was had by all! Such lovely photos, Julie. The second one made me grin. The third and last photos look like paintings. How good to see Bill again.
Hi Cynthia … absolutely a great time was had by all. Glad you enjoyed the photos .. I love the shot of Bill laughing. Thanks for stopping by … 🙂
A wonderful vacation with family and friends, Julie! They are lovely photos!
Hi Lavinia … oh yes, it was a wonderful vacation and so nice to see family and friends, it had been ages since our last visit. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the photos …
Hi Julie great photos of the family and a good place to wind down after a full and hectic trip, and you still have your own summer to look forward to.
Hi Roy .. always great catching up with family in Broadstairs. 🙂 I’m so looking forward to summer or even spring to settle, mind you, today is beautiful! Thanks for stopping by
Good to see Bill’s image again. Eve and I were fortunate to drop by when he was still staying with you.
It was great seeing you both too by the way! 🙂
Likewise. Next you’ll have to visit Texas.
Well can I say Julie I miss you and I wish I lived round the corner ! as you happen to be the best sister in law ever !! Broadstairs was blessed you came and loved your travel blog. As I love all your blogs !! TrueType one of lives special people as is my brother xxxx
LOL … I wish you lived round the corner too btw! 😀 Thanks Joe hugs
Very successful portraits! ☺
Thanks Josephine 🙂
Beautiful shots. Makes me want to visit one day. And I want to look like Bill when I grow up. What a distinctive looking fellow. And happy! That first shot, the painting on the beach shed, or whatever you call it, is my favorite type of painting. Vintage anything, I like!
Thank you Emilio … Bill sure is a distinctive guy and happy! I took that shot of the boat shed with my iPhone one of my favs too :d
I always forget my iPhone. I mean, I always have it on me, but very rarely take photos with it.
I’m with Dalo – don’t worry, it takes time sometimes, and what a great group of photos, it totally conveys all the fun. Bill is quite photogenic! Thanks for the follow, now I’ll go and have a look around…
Thank you 🙂 It is always fun catching up with family and friends. And yes, Bill is so photogenic – handsome guy. Thanks for your visit to Frog Pond
Dear Julie, beautiful photographs and you are not justice to yourself. You are a wonderful travel blogger. How beautiful family you all seem so nice. By the way we know Bill, I think we met in your past posts, he visited you, does my mind make a mistake? Thank you dear Julie, I am glad to know that you did this travel and came back in safe. Have a nice autumn days, Love, nia
Hey Nic thank you, I’m pleased you enjoyed the pics. You do know Bill indeed. 🙂 He always visits us each year. It was super nice being able to visit him and family for a change. Ah, we are heading into spring now Nia, I’m just waiting for the weather to improve. Take care …
What a special time you had 🙂 the love shines out in your photos. Is Bill the one that comes and makes your jams and chutneys? I wish we were going into spring instead of autumn, but I’ll have to enjoy it through your eyes!
Hi Gilly .. we did have a special time. And yes, Bill is that wonderful person that ventures over from the UK to make those jams and chutneys. How lucky am I! I’m pleased we are heading into spring, I’m just waiting for the good weather 🙂
So much fun. You are a great blogger who shares the fun, lively and green world you travel and live in 🙂
Hey Joshi … thank you, I really appreciate your comment! 😀
I think it’s a great travel blog and I love your images!
Hey CybeleMoon … and thank you so much for your visit! 😀
🙂
I’m definitely a member of your fan club. I think you are a terrific travel writer and photographer!
Hey Karen … thank you! I wouldn’t mind going to some of the fabulous places that you write about .. 😀
Just LOVED to see your family, Julie. What a loving, warm, open family you have! Know you are blessed! I too don’t like to take pictures of people either but I’ve been about to challenge myself to do so. Hey the pic of Charlie is a heartbreaker! That young man is going to break a lot of hearts if he hasn’t done so already! LOVE the pic of the seaside and the clouds. And here I am closing down my gardens while you are about to jump into another very busy season of growing. Thank you for sharing your imagines with us. I LOVED every one!!! 💝
Hello gorgeous Amy! I agree, Charlie is going to be a heartbreaker 🙂 I too love that pic of the seaside and clouds. I’m a cloud fan and just adore them. Thanks so much for your wonderful comment. A very special family indeed. Always super to see you at Frog Pond Farm.
I thought I was on a wrong blog. 😀
Despite the unusual elements, the premise of your blog still remains – lovely anecdotes and incredible, professionalist-ic images.
Hey Rommel … glad you enjoyed your visit! Always great to see you at Frog Pond 😀
I think you did a great job photographing people. And Teddy, too! Those clouds are something else, and make for a great photo.
Oh thank you … so nice to see you at Frog Pond Farm. I’m a cloud fan, no doubt about it! 😀
Lovely! I’m with you, Julie. Taking photos of people is not one of my photographic strengths – inanimate objects don’t tend to move! – although I am working on it (hubby and I just snapped my niece’s senior photos). I love your shot of Bill and Charlie and the boats along the shoreline. Nicely done!
Oh. And I love me some clouds as well. 🙂
Hey Julie .. ha ha taking pics of people in public drives me nuts! I feel like such a sneak … Taking pics of people I know, is nearly as bad. Thank you so much .. glad you enjoyed the pics. Hard not to love those clouds isn’t it 😀
Hello 😀 Julie, I ve just been reading through your holiday posts. What a wonderful time you had and oh wow, youve taken some gorgeous photos, including your family.
The sights are gorgeous and your eye for a photo is perfect to my eye.
Hope you are back home, rested and enjoying your spring garden now! 😀
Would you believe its 3 deg here on the tablelands this morn? Crazy weather!
Hello lovely … how nice to hear from you. I have missed your visits! We did have a wonderful time, seems ages ago now .. like a dream (the weather was too .. ). Back home and working like nuts in the garden (between the showers 😀 ). 3 deg, eek! Big hugs your way.
Thank you for the post. Enjoy your spring, as we dive into winter… 🙂
(Mild winter here)
You are very welcome 🙂 .. We are now heading into summer and looking forward to it.
Definitely. Here is a weird “winter”. just a few weeks of slight cold. 5-10C in the morning with bright sun. 🙂