Mr L is back from Bali, so this morning we had a quick 9 holes at Sainte Maxime. Our golf was a bit rusty, the weather however was perfect, the company was great and thanks to Henri we have a decent photo for our scrapbook.

One day Wayne Rooney will become become the greatest English player of all time!

I love taking photos, during a long walk along the Thames last Saturday I managed to get some really cool shots.



Battersea Power Station



Big Ben




London eye

As an ex-pat some thing I really miss is Sunday lunch in a English country pub. So last Sunday Pat and John took me to the Sun Inn in the village of Bentworth in deepest Hampshire. The food was simply fantastic, I had steak pie and Stilton with roast veggies followed by sticky toffee pudding,just perfect! The atmosphere was warm and charming, the decor was just what you expected of a typical English pub and the staff were really friendly. Makes me want to move back to England!

Went to see Andrew play in London the other night with Pat, John, Lisa and Chris. This video which will give the flavour of a pre-game introduction at a BBL game, Andrews shirt number is 7. Shame the London Capitals couldn't put on a similar show!!

SINGAPORE

Raffles is a name synonymous with Singapore and we were fortunate enough to spend our last few days in Asia in the Raffles Hotel.

The hotel a two story throw back to the RAJ is the only old building left in Singapore except the Cricket Club.

Its old world charm with memories of Kipling and Oscar Wild ,who frequented iti, can be sensed at every turn with the building staying as it was when they visited and the staff being dressed for the occasion.

We went to the Long Bar where they serve the famous Singapore Sling and through their peanut husks on the floor!!

Whilst in Singapore we, of course, went shopping. I must say I have never seen so many shopping centers as I saw on Orchard Road. Every centre had its Polo, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, etc. etc. I have never seen so many expensive designer shops in one road. I am amazed they find enough clients.

This was quite a culture shock after Bali where they were selling copy Louis Vuitton and Rolexes, to name a few, in the Airport Departure!!

After three weeks away we are looking forward to getting home to Micha, our dog, and for me to play Golf.
It really was too hot to play in Asia!!

Mr. L

Woke up to sunshine yesterday and enjoyed a nice cup of tea while reading the daily papers in Pats kitchen.



Went shopping in Windsor,and as you can see from the flag the Queen was in residence but we didn't have time to pop in for tea.




This reminded us that we must go and see the new movie 'Young Victoria'




I even managed to take a few photos of Micheles old house in Camberley without being arrested.

I'm back in Surrey for a few days staying with my sister Pat. Due to work commitments Michele has unfortunately been forced to stay back in France....the trip really won't be the same without her.

I am hoping but maybe the photos that I will be posting will make her feel as if she is somehow with me.



First stop for all true ex-pats M and S.



Followed by Starbucks.



Dinner back at Pats: Sausages, mashed potato, baked beans and onion gravy.



Followed by Cheescake. The diet, what diet!!!!

Jack Nicklaus won 73 PGA Tour events in his career. Only one golfer won more. But in the majors, how do other golfers stack up against Nicklaus? They don't.
Nicklaus won 18 professional majors - twice as many as all but one other golfer. He finished second 19 more times, and third nine times. In all, Nicklaus posted 48 Top 3finishes, 56 Top 5 finishes and 73 Top 10 finishes.

Friday night we went out for a meal at the ungodly hour of 9.30 p.m.. For my wife and I this is very late to eat but our friend who were leaving the next day wanted to see the night life and nothing starts before 11 p.m.!

We went to the Hu-U restaurant which is a modern place with a pool in the centre of the tables that clients can swim in after 11 p.m.

As we entered the thump of music was apparent and within an hour the place was full of Australians ready for a good night out! In typical Australian fashion the girls were dancing and the guys were leaning on the bar!

I had for starter, shredded duck rolled in pancakes and for after seafood linguini which was delicious. My wife started with a baby spinach salad and goats cheese followed by very tender pork chop with mashed potatoes and truffles.

The ambiance of the place was amazing as were the young Eurasian girls with very short skirts!!

We left our villa this morning and our friends departed for the airport and we are now in the Chedi Club in Obud, up in the mountains of Bali.

This is a hotel, set in rice fields, and made up of private villas with pools.

Mr . L

Thanks to Lewis we get to visit the Taylor made tour truck which is normally only reserved for tour pros.

Inspiring little video of a 7 year old making a hole in one at the 2008 US KIDS GOLF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. Notice too how the other kid's caddie, or Dad, cools him down by fanning him with his hat, magic stuff.

Lewis sent me a couple of photos today. As I mentioned earlier this week he has been working for the French golf Federation at the national golf show in Paris.

Congratulations are also in order as yesterday he passed a major exam with the French PGA, all being well he should be a fully qualified member in June.




Putting tuition



The Taylor made tour bus, next week he will send me a video of what goes on inside this state of the art mobile work shop.

I love this guy!!

If you are looking for wifi in Sainte Maxime look no further, the L’agence bar in the rue Jean Jures offers free wifi to all its customers. So for the cost of a cafe au lait, 3Euros, you can surf to your hearts content.

First days

We started our first evening by seeing the beautiful Bali sunset whilst dining on the beach.




The restaurant was the Breeze which is situated in a hotel which comprises just private villas with butler service.

The food was of a very high standard and the setting was truly amazing with the sun setting over the sea with the palm trees in front.







Obviously a visit to the Mirwama Ma golf club at Tanah Lot was necessary. This was designed by Greg Norman and includes a 5 star hotel overlooking the sea with views of the temple of Tanah Lot which is sited on top of a small island a few hundred yards off the coast.

Tanah lot is famous, with tourists, for the sunset behind it and hundreds of tourists visit to see this beautiful sight.

I decided that it was far too hot to play during the day and was told the best time is around 4pm.

We also managed some shopping in Semenyak which is full of amazing clothes shops.

Mr. L

NB from Mark: Does that golf course look like heaven or what!!I don't think the caddy can bear to watch her client miss another short putt.

SEVE BALLESTEROS

Think of Seve Ballesteros as the Arnold Palmer of Europe: a fiery, charismatic, good-looking, swashbuckling, risk-taking player whose star power elevated the European Tour to new levels, and helped Europe achieve equality - ultimately superiority - in the Ryder Cup.

Creativity, imagination and short-game brilliance were the hallmarks of Ballesteros' game. He might miss the fairway off the tee, but at his best, it rarely hurt him. He even made birdie after playing from a parking lot during his 1979 British Open win.

It’s the gold medal for the University of Worcester basketball team who beat London Southbank 90-86 to win the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) finals.
We are of course very proud of our son Andrew who helped the Worcester team by scoring 17 points in what was a tremendously close game.

Link to article and here BBL

Arrival in Bali

We arrived in Bali after a few hours in Singapore waiting for our transfer and after 9 hours of flights arrived in early evening without baggage or our driver to pick us up. Not a good start!!

We took a taxi to our villa that appears, in the dark, to be in the middle of nowhere and along tracks that would have taxed my 4 x 4 never mind an old taxi with worn out springs!

The villa, a complex of 3, owned by a Belgium couple has a security guard on the gate and as we entered the villa grounds, which are magnificent, we were met by about 5 staff including the head butler.

Gaynor, my wife, went to bed after a glass of French red wine, and I waited for our cases whilst listing to typical Balinese music which is very soothing.



The cases arrived by 10.30 pm as they were on the next flight and Singapore airlines got them to us immediately. Very impressive!!

We woke up to bright sunlight and a magnificent garden and pool.
Breakfast was delicious with a choice of full English, Continental or Balkanize.

My wife had the English and I had the Balinese, which is Nasa Goring, this is actually a special fried rice with a fried egg on top!!

This was topped off with lovely fruit and a choice of waffles or crepes!



Well off for a swim and a read now.

Bye for now

Mr. L