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The following day we went to the gates before opening time and there was a sign saying the Palace and grounds were closed today. Striking workers apparently. So no visit for us this trip, we flew home the next morning. Made us think strike and the history of the palace were inexorably linked, so...

Thank you for the kind words, I am a painter in my near nonexistent spare time, so try to take photographs that I would like to paint. So perhaps that gives me a different perspective. The Canadian chap we met said his Great grandfather fought in the area so hence his pilgrimage. Was surreal to...

After we finished up at the Somme, we continued south to Versailles for two nights. We arrived late in the day about 5.30pm and walked to the palace which was still open, but decided not to go in as we thought we had the whole next day to do so. ( bad choice as it turned out ) Instead we...

Villers-Bretonneux Australian Cemetery and new Sir John Monash centre behind. This was an immense space with intense emotion. The new centre feels out of place, not sure I approve of the way it has been done. But every one who can should stop here. In some ways the tiny field hospital cemetery...

We also visited several other cemeteries and memorials, both Australian and British. My ignorance was surprised by the number of Canadian grave stones. We even met a Canadian historical film maker, in full historic uniform, riding a pony through the war memorials in the Somme, it was surreal. It...

Today was a drive from Antwerp to Versailles throughout the various cemeteries of the Somme region, we shed tears today as the young Australians shed blood all those years ago. These pictures were from a small Australian field Hospital cemetery outside Pozieres. It was tiny, beautiful and...

More zoo and wandering including Ruben’s house

Antwerp Zoo and walk to railway station.

Antwerp markets and lunch at a hotdog restaurant. Takes hotdogs to a whole other level. We even found Australian rosella parrots for sale????

Antwerp, we admired the shoes Gino was wearing, so he took us past the shop Floris Von Bommel, a Dutch master shoe maker. Amazing quality and attention to detail, make and female, some outrageous some more traditional, we went home with a pair each.

Antwerp day 2, more beer, food and walking. We were taken around the city by a supplier of a new brand we have committed to import. Amazing hospitality. Amazing food, did I mention it was like Australia?

Next place Antwerpen in Belgium, otherwise known as Antwerp. A city to enjoy wandering on foot, even more so than Paris. Beer is the drink of choice, and the attitude is perhaps as Australian as you can get in Europe. Have you read the story of the little boy and his dog on the steps of the...

Second day in Cologne with amazing sunrise and sunset. And a trip to the top floor coughtail lab. There was amazing artwork in the Pullman Cologne. Well worth considering if travelling to Cologne, just ask for a room on a high floor.

Next was Cologne also to visit a supplier, had a high floor room with a view of the cathedral. There were amazing buildings rebuild mostly after the war with occasional ruins left to remember.

We travelled to the spa/water city of Vittel to visit one of our suppliers. Most of the time there was talking, touring, eating and drinking, with an extremely high level of hospitality. These are some pictures we took afterward as we looked for a florist to send thank you flowers.

More Paris, mostly from the Arc de Triomphe.

Paris we love this city. The food, the buildings and skyline

Some more pictures from SILMO fair, some pictures from brands we carry, some outrageous, some amazing displays.

Was 60/70% of my graduation year from memory.

SILMO fair is the largest optical fair in France. About 8-10 times larger and gan our Australian equivalent. Big differences, Champagne or coffee offered on all stands. This can be paper or plastic cups, or crystal flutes depending on the stand. Some offer coughtails or waffles or frittes. So it...