I have been visiting family in Connecticut for the last 5 days. My kiwi grandfather's sister Betty met the dashing American Jimmy when he was stationed in New Zealand during the war, and she moved to America to start a new life and family. She had three children, Jim, Phyllis and Barbara, and this is the family I went to visit. She has never forgotten or given up her links to New Zealand, and even at 88 is sharp as a tack and full of family history. Much of the 5...

The photo is of the American family, Melanie, auntie Betty, Barbara and Phyllis at Sturbridge historical village. I got to see the gorgeous rural countyside and townships in conneticut, there is tobacco farms and horse studs in the area. The Sturbridge historical village was extremely well done, a collection of authentic buildings restored and relocated in village style in the era just after the civil war. Most interesting to me were homes of different families o...

Travel day!!! Goodbye San Francisco (and the frigid change in weather) and hello hartford. Most of the day was spent in a plane or at an airport, I saw up front the joys of either paying for a window or aisle seat or being stuck in the middle, pay again for your checked luggage, pay again if you want food ob a 6 hour flight! We have it so good in Australia. The American family are so sweet and I already wish they did not live so far away. Auntie Betty is a kiwi...