SIX AND OUT WITH LOIS AND SKULL

In my thesaurus, the alternate definition for 'global jetsetters' simply says 'The Rosens'. We have shared wonderful experiences together for nearly 40 years, in crazy places and doing crazy things. They were chaperones on Don Legsy and Dulcinea's first date in Papua New Guinea, and are godparents to Liam. This year their travels through Europe included a visit to the Old Dart - not once, but twice.

Apart from generally spending time together in London (not for the first time!), it gave Skull and Don Legsy the chance to attend the Second Ashes Test and Lord's Crikit Ground.

The W.G. Grace Gates

We (with Dulcinea) did so in 2001 with limited success (attended Day 4 and it was over in 90 minutes) but this time Billy (a very enterprising man) secured seats for EVERY day....when too much crikit is never enough. We gave the Aussies a touch up in the First Test and it's fair to say they wreaked their revenge at Lords before succumbing to the mighty Three Lions superiority later on. Ironically, our second visit to a Lords Ashes Test also ended on Day 4 - just like the first.

Day 1 - Don L, Skull and Macca

Day 2

Day 3 with Helen (Mrs. Macca)

The blues brothers attend Day 4

With Boxing Day at the MCG, this is the pinnacle of crikiting experiences and is a distinctly different to the Melbourne showcase. The roar of 80,000 people is replaced with a crowd less than half the size (but sold out every day!), and a more gentrified atmosphere prevails which we gleefully lapped up.

Players enter the ground via the Long Room!

We shared a couple of days with another great friend - Ian McMenamin - who, like Skull and me, is a Mobil 'lifer' of 30+ years service. Apart from the result, it was a fabulous experience.

The Urn

During the Test, Lois also celebrated her birthday - forever 40 - and so we all convened (not for the first time I might add) to celebrate at Ciao Bella restaurant in Holborn for a right old knees up.

Timing is everything they say, and it was terrific that Billy and Lois were still in town when the family arrived. Grandma and Papa, and Sharon and Cheeky Bill had enjoyed a Scandinavian cruise and arrived in time to celebrate Papa's birthday at the London Eye. We all piled into a pod and then afterwards headed to All Bar One for a sumptuous luncheon.

Being 'London locals', Billy and Lois have seen and done it all, have many close friends here, and so there was no need for the LegsyBoys to show them around. Instead, we simply shared each others' company discussing and solving the problems of the world - AFL footy, Liverpool and Man United, music and film, new holiday destinations, all the really important things - and frequented the LegsyBoys favourite cafes in Ealing in search of quality hot chocolate and coffee,

Artisan Cafe, Ea

Cinnamon on Pittshanger Lane, Ealing

 as well as taking in dinner at the Ciao Bella of the west - Paolo's.

Due to unforseen circumstances - the simultaneous "loss" of all our camera equipment and the collapse of Don L's laptop (and hard drive), many photos from this period have been lost. Subsequently, I have "borrowed" some pics from Skull and Lois's own travel blog. If you want to marvel at their fantastic travels then check out diandbill.blogspot.com and prepare to be amazed, as well as wonder how they manage to squeeze it all in.

Thanks for visiting us Lois and Billy, can't wait to do it again "somewhere" as Gracie once said..."we'll meet again, don't know where don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day...."....Table Mountain perhaps?????