London 8 August - Maverick scribed by John

Oh hello I say what a splendid morning!

Sqkwark ha ha I'm really getting the hang of Queens English - so different from the riffraff in the forest back home what! John & Toni seem really happy to be back in London but I'm not sure it's my cup of tea. First of all we went to a circus which I was really looking forward to, but it was just a statue and a heap of cars. I've a good mind to write to Mr Piccadilly. False advertising if you ask me. Then we went to Neals Yard and there was no sign of Neal and at Covent Garden, yes you've guessed it, not even a blade of grass. We did see some humans pretending to be statues. They paint their skin and clothes silver or gold, wear a funny hat and then only move if someone gives them money. Next to the market was an Outdoor Shop, which confused me as it was all indoors. It had a real frozen waterfall for people to practice climbing on which reminded me a bit of home then Lucy and Sam saw a New Zealand guidebook on the shelves and were amazed to find Kinloch is famous in England. We went to the biggest toy shop ever called Hamleys which had 4 floors of amazing toys and lots of very happy looking parents. The best bit of the day for me was a place called Regents Park which was huge and had heaps of exciting places for me to hop around in. The family had a picnic with some friends and relatives that they hadn't seen for ages (or ever in one case). I met some well travelled pigeons and a very well educated swan. The pigeons are really concerned about all the signs being put up telling humans not to feed them, which explains why I haven't seen bird seed in the shops around here. After the picnic we went to the open air theatre with hundreds of others to watch a musical called Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. In the trees behind the stage was a real orchestra. I loved the singing and dancing and it had a very happy ending. And I think because it hadn't rained all day, everyone stood up and clapped before they went home. Funny place London!

Covent Garden lunch 

Regents Park Leyland side - Toni with cousin Helen, cousin Sue and Auntie Pat

Hamleys shopping by Lucy Glover

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Lucy with a new found friend Emily Clements to lead her astray in a fun way

Katrina and Chris and son Charlie, Anna and Steve and baby Elidh

John, Alison, Chris and Steve

Lucy and Sam on the tube

Mike and Valda, Helen, Steve, Sue and Uncle Joe doing magic with Sam in the corner

Auntie Pat

Sue, Helen and Toni

Magic with Uncle Joe

Watch out Chris - she's getting clucky

Barcelona to Paris - 3 August. Maverick scribed by John

Skwaark! I can't believe it's time to get up already. I've been getting into this Mediterranean relaxed way of life and suddenly it's 8am and we're on a bus to the airport. Heading to France and I'm a bit worried because I've heard that they eat anything there, even sparrows, so I'll lie low once we get there just in case. Barcelona airport is huge! I was worried the plane would have to refuel before we found the runway or that it was just going to drive along the ground to France because it was an Easyjet flight and I remember seeing on the TV that they don't take off sometimes. Anyway, the pilot eventually found the runway and when we landed in France, we saw an old plane called Concord on display. It had a very pointy beak and you could see why it flew so fast. Quite the opposite to a Kakapo. When we get off Le Metro, as the underground trains are called here, we are by a street that has at least 20 hairdressers all in a row. We walk past them to our apartment and they all have people standing outside vying for customers. I ignore the suggestions that my feathers need a trim and can't help wondering why you would open a hairdresser shop next door to 10 others! Our apartment is up four flights of stairs, but has a wonderful circular handrail so I can hop up and slide back down easily. The floor is very creaky, the apartment full of stuff, has a very tiny kitchen and a cat flap in the toilet door. Apparently this is what "bijou" means. Hmmm. At least I found the cat flap handy! It's been a long day, so we have a quiet afternoon looking out over the busy streets, have healthy salads for dinner and then very unhealthy but wonderful pastries from Monsieur Le Patissiere for pudding. Oh la la! Much better than bird seed. I think France might not be to bad after all...

Barcelona and Montserrat 2 August - Maverick scribed by Lucy

Squaaaaark!  It's me again Maverick the Kakapo! Today we woke up to a beautiful morning and prepared a delicious breakfast to share with the family and Phil.  John prepared scrambled eggs, salmon, avocado, toast, pastries, fruit and yogurt.  Even with everyone sneaking me bits of avocado, fruit and pastries,  we only barley made it through the breakfast. We head on out to the RMT (the MTR) and take a ride to pld catalonya square to have coffee with Phil before saying goodbye. 

We take the RMT to another train station and hop on the next train to The Monastery,  call Monserat with means Saw Tooth Mountain. On the way to the Monastery,  lucy made the mistake of falling asleep opposite Toni, as well as sleeping with her mouth open. Toni, being a great mum, (Kakapo sarcasm) took a picture of lucy sleeping with har mouth open and threatened to post it on Facebook.  Lukily, the photo was destroyed and never saw the daylights of Facebook or this blog. 

We finally arrived at the Monserat. The mountain looked just like some teeth. They also looked quite a bit like easter island heads. WE started to queue for the cable car that took us up to the monastery. By the time the cable car got back to us we were at the front of the line. The cable cars doors opened and we all piled into the cable car. We had one look at the view and gasped...

Rocky boulders lined the gully and stuck to the side of the mountain. There were cave, crevices and quite a few flat faces, perfect for rock climbing, and Kakapo kilimbing. My friend the Kea would be jealous. When we arrived at the top of the  cable car we hopped off and wandered around just taking in the view, and enjoying ourselves. We then enlisted that there were two trains, one going down to the ????????? And another one going up to finnicula st Joan. 

We decided to go to the finnicula.  We queued for the train going up and we finally got onto the mountain train. The Trai was on a cable and was pulled up while another train got pulled down. E arrived at the top and we looked around. There was a cat lounging in the sun while tourists petted it and fed it food. They are so silly. I don't care for cats, they're completely evil. They will come into some Kakapo or kiwis nest and eat all of their children. E passed them and headed to the museum and went to learn some stuff about stuff. We learned about rocks, caves, animals, plants and lots of her stuff about the mountain.

We took the train back down and decided it was time for lunch. John went to find some food and came back with some baguette sandwiches. E sat down and enjoyed our sandwiches before heading down the cab, e car. When we got to the train station John realized he read the train schedule incorrectly,  meaning that we still had 45 minutes to wait. It was a long wait. Finally e boarded the train and went back home.

We bought some more food at the supermarket, paid, and John and the boys went home while lucy and Toni stayed to go look at shops. (I don't know why though, it's confusing.) John and the boys waited at the apartment until the girls came home. Then we had cocktail hour. Afterwards, the kids relaxed while John cooked dinner.  E ate then pretty much entry to bed.

Everyone's settling down for bed so I'll nd this blog now, squaaark!

Paris 5 August - Maverick scribed byToni

Bonne-Squark – That’s French for Good day in Kakapo.  Today is our last day in Continental Europe and I am going to be sad to say goodbye.  After the initial culture shock, we have enjoyed our stay in ‘hair street’, the happy Caribbean and African faces in the area and for James, Lucy and Sam the constant challenge or bunny-hopping over bollards designed to keep them on the foot paths and off the streets.  Oh the marvels of Chateau D’eau.  Toni and John have reminisced in their last time in Paris together – last century! Gosh they are nearly as old as me!

So anyway, I need to report on our day.  It started in the usual way with lots of fruit and yoghurt with a few samples of French pastries – one could spend all ones time eating here….  Today is to be a big day of walking with a big gap till lunch so the kids are told to eat up.

First stop is Sacre Couer.  John does his usual great job of navigating the increasingly complex ticketing systems and tube lines – his French is better than Toni’s and the kids are still working on remembering to say Merci.  The French telecom company has finally turned the Data on so now we are able to navigate the streets and estimate journeys.

Off to Mont Matre and thoughts are sparked of Moulin Rouge.  Up and up the hill to the Sacre Couer where a carousel and a harpist await.  It is so wonderful having music in the streets.  I think a few more people will be busking in the streets in Glenorchy when we get home.

Through the Sacre Couer in a throng.  We’re ashamed to be tourists, as those around walk in, dressed inappropriately, taking flash photography, talking loudly and bashing selfie sticks.  The looks from the nuns were more resignment than resentment.  As an old bird, I concur with that feeling.

On we travel to the Arc de Triomphe.  We take photos from outside the centre and try to work out how to get there.  Having found the stairs we find that it is 10 Euros per person to walk up to the centre – even for a Kakapo.  We decide we’ve learnt quite a lot at the Paris Story and don’t need to see the Arc de Triomphe and head on to the Champs Elysee.

Walking down the world’s best avenue (according to the French), Toni and Lucy are able to indulge in a little shopping whilst John and the kids and I get bored.  Having travelled very lightly, a lot of the family’s clothes have holes and are faded.  Lucy cannot resist the horse leggings and James agrees to another shirt. 

At 2:30 pm everyone goes home for a finish up the fridge lunch, a short rest in the ridiculous heat and a quick email, accounts and Facebook catch up before heading out on the buses towards Notre Dame.  The bus is a great way to travel especially the double decker ones.  I can perch happily and look out the window.  Next off for a walk to the birth place of Paris and Notre Dame.  Much better behaved tourists in the afternoon.  We say our prayers for all our friends with bad knees, hips and legs and Archilles and light candles.  We are very thankful for the wonderful opportunity we have had seeing the world, catching up with our wonderful friends and spending such a special time as a family. 

Next we walked to the padlock bridge.  The kids were fascinated by all the locked in love of the couples visiting Paris.  Mum and dad didn’t do this in Paris when they were last here together and the kids find all sorts of places that they could put a padlock this time.  Some people had even used bike locks.  Next it was off for a ‘Paris Summer’ experience with a trip along the Seine via some of the Paris Beaches where the kids insisted on making sand castles.  Closer than a normal beach there were people sunbathing in bikinis sat in deck chairs next to tourists and city commuters.  Great sand though and a great atmosphere with beach games, live music and everyone in a holiday mood.

Back on the metro we went straight to dinner at the most fantastic little Brasserie called Le Petit Chateau D’eau.  The service, the food and the wines were fantastic with a small price and a great atmosphere.  We enjoyed duck pate and salmon and great regional wines.  Lovely to have the family in such a relaxed mood even though they had to say goodbye to Europe.  For me, I want more space – a bit more park to play in, trees to claw my way up and some good bugs to chew on, time to leave the snails behind.  So for today and the last full day in Continental Europe, this is Maverick – over and out.

Goodbye to London – Hello Devon. 10 August - Maverick Scribed by Toni

Goodbye London, we couldn’t have squeezed in another moment, had any less sleep or caught up with anymore of our lovely people (I say our lovely people and I mean mine as well – this Kakapo has adopted them all as my own and given that I have so few relatives and friends of my own, given the near extinction of my species etc. etc.) – Anyway, Kakafriends, Kakacousins and Kakafamily are all mine too.  Squark – you get the picture.  London was perfectly packed and now we’re perfectly pooped and preparing for another day.

At 8:30 a.m. we say very sad goodbyes to Valda – I hate goodbyes and really much prefer hellos.  I am so totally sure it won’t be another 15 years before we see Valda again.  Perhaps Toni needs to start to like Skype a little more.

We head to Paddington on the train and go through the process of printing out tickets, buying the family rail card and then refunding our oyster cards before hopping on the train.

After the European trains, the train seems quite cramped and is extremely over-crowded with people in the aisles, blocking the hallways and bags everywhere.  No power in the points, no air con working, though a train host that needs a medal for ttending to all the older passengers

without seats, keeping a smile on her face and a cherry disposition.

After a few hours we arrive a little late into Totnes and are greeted by Diana waiting on the platform and Jock waiting in the car with his bad back.  We split into the boys car and girls car.  I went with the boys as Toni and Diana were of course going to catch up on lots of family news and I wouldn’t be able to get a squark in edge ways.

It is not too far to Kingswear along lovely Devon countryside.  We arrive in time for a cup of tea and crabbing!  The kids are really excited and head down to the marina armed with buckets, bacon and crab lines.  Jock leads us to the best marina pilons and the kids down their lines.  I look and cannot believe their luck.  Very quickly the kids are pulling up triple whammies.  Three delicious crabs per line.  Toni is kept very busy pulling the crabs off the bacon.  Uncle Jock takes a swift nip on the finger – Ouch.  I think I could crack one of those crabs with one gnash from my beak, though will I like crab? Sea food is not something we normally have in the bush, though having done everything a kakapo doesn’t normally do, perhaps I might like it…..

A bucket full of crabs is as great as it can get and soon we head back home to Diana and Jocks lovely house on the hill and it’s time for a drink in the garden before dinner.  The kids fly helicopters and do magic and are shown the sleepout den where they can have their own quiet place to hang out so the adults can be adults.  We have a lovely quiet dinner and then head to sleep for the night.

Viella 29 July - Maverick scribed by John

Le Sqkwark toute le mondes! We are in the sleepy quiet countryside of France - a small village called Viella where in a short walk on the Main Street you can buy petrol from the paper shop, get your hair cut, buy coffee and meet the Mayor and see where the humans dance with Bulls once a year! John gets very excited because village shop has a wonderful selection of les fromages et viandes whatever those are. No birdseed though. The family are taken to what is known as a Maison de vin. For some reason that I can't work out, they squash perfectly good grapes into big wooden barrels where they leave them in the dark and cold for a few years before emptying them into bottles. I ate grapes when I went on holiday to Queenstown once and had a runny tummy for ages afterwards. Just goes to show about foreign foods. Anyway, after a long and tasty lunch we all have a siesta which means having a sleep in the daytime so you can go out at night. Being largely nocturnal this is right up my street. Later on we all go to a jazz festival. I've never seen so many humans with instruments playing in one place. Apparently the music goes for 3 weeks every year. Even the old church we go into has jazz gospel playing in the background. What a fun evening, everyone relaxed and enjoying themselves. Just when I thought it was time for bed, we drive through the countryside to another small town that has a festival by a river where the musicians have performed a rain dance and turned a sunny warm day into a dark wet night. I'm impressed that humans can do this although for some reason the stall holders don't seem to happy. The humans had rustic sausages and potatoes wrapped in bread whilst they sheltered under the trees. Lots of stalls and not one of them selling birdseed. I'll have to write a letter to them when I get home.

Aussenberg - Brigg - Geneva - Toulouse - Viealla - 28 July - Maverick scribed by Lucy

Squaark!  It's Maverick the kakapo again, relaxing in a nice hotel overseeing a beautiful view of Switzerland, Aussenberg. We are just packing now and getting ready to board the train to Brigg. Oh, here's the train now. The doors are opening right now and we rush through them and scramble to get some seats. Now we're on the train we can really enjoy the views of Switzerland. About two hours later we finally arrived at Geneva Airport, ready to fly to France.

 On the plane over to France I was practicing my French.  Hóla!  No hãblo ēspanol! Oh, hang on thats Spanish,  Bonjure! C'est Magnifique Kakapo!  That's better. Now we have arrived at the two lous air port. It's probably not spelt like that, it just sounds like it. I mean, there are probably more than two lous in toulouse because if there are only two lous in toulouse that would be terrible!

Luckily, there are more then two lous. Anyway, Lucy and John wait around for the luggage while the others go on a mission to find Valerie and Jack,  Toni and john's friends who we are staying with. Lucy and John have successfully found and received the bag while the others found Valerie and Jack. Valerie and Jack welcomed us warmly, Toni and Valerie chatted on the way to the parking lot. We had to go in two cars because you can't fit seven people in one small car. Girls in one car, boys in the other, sorted. We were then finally ready to go. 

The two hour drive to valerie and jacks house was slow yet it made up for it by beautiful french countryside. Valerie and Toni chatted all the way while Lucy read, sometimes chatted and slept. After two hours e come to a small village called viella.  Valerie and Jack park across the street from their house. They lead us in to show us their house.

Three words, really,  really,  big. The house had four bedrooms, three toilets, big rooms, one balcony and a big garden with lizards crawling around left,  right and center. The kids chased lizards flew r.c helicopters and ran around. The adults chatted and Jack fried some meat on the barbecue. The smell was so good that Sam decided he wasn't a vegetarian anymore. Then the food was ready.

That food was delicious! John and tonk said that they were feeling the best looked after on this whole trip. The adults chatted and the kids ate their way through all the food except the courgettes. Toni gave Valerie some Ni e swiss chocolates and Valerie insisted that we all had some.

Those chocolates are really good! I could eat those all day! Though, it is getting quite late and the kids are going to bed, so I'll end my blog for now. Goodbye! Squaaark!