Back to Britain - yes again
and no we haven't seen it all yet
April to June, 2010
Home to Edinburgh
Friday 9th April, 2010
Saturday 10th April, 2010
Sunday, 11th April, 2010
Monday 12th April, 2010
Tuesday 13th April, 2010
Wednesday 14th April, 2010
Thursday 15th April, 2010
Friday 16th April, 2010
Friday 9th April, 2010
ack at the Holiday Inn, Sydney Airport. So far, so good. Our shuttle was half an hour early but we were ready. We had done everything we needed to do before we left, finished all the food, turned off the gas, electricity and water. Carrot was ensconced with Dorothy and all was secure.
So tomorrow we head for the airport, hoping all will be well. Unfortunately I have developed pain in my hipjoint to go with my knees and feet and am not looking forward to the flight. But, as Mac says, we have done all we can, notified everyone of everything so now we don't want to know about Blaxland until we get home.
All is in train for our ten weeks away. Bon voyage and away we go!!!!
Later:
We had a great meal at Amelia's Restaurant. I had barramundi with gratin potatoes and green beans, and the guys had roast duck ravioli with ginger and orange sauce which they said was great. Two bottles of wine, we are feeling no pain!
Saturday 10th April, 2010
itting at Singapore waiting for our connection to London after a quite comfortable flight - great food and attention.
But first, at Sydney, there was a bit of a stuffup. We were asked to wait for the ground supervisor as there was something wrong with the ticketing. Singapore Airlines blamed our travel agent for ordering all the seats on one ticket and leaving the extra one unaccounted for. (Not the case, Singapore did it all by themselves)
He wasn't able to sort the problem out but organised our boarding passes and says he notified Singapore and London of our case.
We were greeted by name in the aircraft and treated very well all through the flight. I hope it all goes OK from now on. We can't understand why there is always some problem with buying an extra seat.
We were also advised by an announcement by the airline crew apologising for not being able to allocate seats to all people's preferences because the aircraft was very full, and that passengers can avoid this by booking their seats up to 11 months in advance (which we had done).
Later:
The flight to London was long and uneventful. We all managed some sleep but the night was very long and extremely cold! After feeling very hot in Singapore I was glad I had a T-shirt on under my long sleeve top. Even wrapped in a blanket my extremities froze. We arrived at 0600 to 7 deg. C and a clear Spring day.
Sunday, 11th April, 2010
Rosemary in Kensington Gardens, Day One
fter killing as much time as we could finding Geoff a SIM card for his phone and organising Oyster cards we arrived at Rydges Kensington Plaza Hotel about 0830. The room was not available, which we expected, but they stored the luggage for us. The Reception area also incorporated a small bar, breakfast room and a pleasant lounge where one can eat "bar snacks", which we did for dinner. The hotel is quite elegant and Edwardian.
We walked out and down Gloucester Road to Kensington Gardens. I had hurt my hip again after quite a surprisingly comfortable journey and found walking difficult.
Spring Flowers, Kensington Gardens
owever we walked around Kensington Gardens to the Albert Memorial where we found the London Science Museum had set up a replica of Stevenson's Rocket on a short piece of track and were going to give short rides to advertise the real thing, which they were exhibiting. I thought it was in York but it must be a temporary loan.
We were looking for somewhere for Geoff to have morning tea but the only place open was the Cafe Consort at the Royal Albert Hall, up several flights of stairs, but at least he had something.
Herry, Rosemary and Mac after lunch in the Orangery
hen we ambled slowly back through the Gardens till we got to the Orangery at Kensington Palace. We just stopped on a bench and admired the wonderful displays of daffodils and other spring flowers while we waited for Herry who was meeting us for lunch.
He was in good time, "tout seul" as he said because Ayako is still mourning her mother and was disinclined for sociability and Kei is studying for her finals.
There was quite a queue for the Orangery but we got in after about half an hour and had a very nice meal with two bottles of South African Sauvignon Blanc (Herry's choice and very good too). It was a lovely meal enlivened by good chat and mutual displays of i-Phone apps as Herry and Geoff played one-appmanship.
fter walking back to the hotel we crashed on the beds and didn't wake up until getting on for seven. We didn't want another full meal so had "bar snacks", large platefuls of delicious potato wedges with curried chicken panini for Geoff and Mac and lamb kofta meatballs in a bun for me. By this time we were really flagging but came back to the room where Mac and Geoff got their coats and went out for biscuits and OJ for later. Now for showers and final crashing. It has been a lovely day, cool early but sunny and warm in the Orangery for lunch and warm with blue skies all day. The park was full of daffodils and bluebells and family groups enjoying the spring. Long may it last!
Monday 12th April, 2010
e slept really well last night, comfortable beds, but really tired as well. We had our first full English breakfast and it was very good. We all had OJ, I had some fresh fruit and yoghurt and the guys had cereal, then we all indulged.
Along the Embankment
fter breakfast we went out to find Gloucester Road tube station - less than five minutes away, good! Got the tube to Westminster where we bought tickets on the river boat cruise to Greenwich.
Docklands Redevelopment
New Mobile Eye Pod going places
The Thames Flood Barrier
t was freezing sitting upstairs but great views and the Cockney commentator was very good, entertaining, clear and easy to understand. We decided to continue to the Thames Barrier then turned back and on to Greenwich.
s it was 1230 we called in to McDonalds for lunch then went up towards the Royal Observatory.
View of Greenwich from Observatory Hill
his is where it went a bit pearshaped - my fault, I guess. I looked at the hill and decided that my knees, hips and feet couldn't take it so I sat on a seat at the bottom and told the men to go up. But it got so cold and bleak that I decided to try to get up and join them. So I did, with a few stops to puff and take photographs, but it was a real maze up there and I couldn't find them. So I thought I would wait and hope they would find me. Eventually I saw Mac looking very frazzled so we got together. They had come back to the seat to find me gone and Mac went back up while Geoff stayed there. Once we got together Mac took me down the wheelchair access route but when I stopped to go to the toilet Mac told me the next right turn led to the seat where Geoff was anxiously waiting and he went on to relieve his anxiety. Unfortunately the next right led back up to the top so I came back down the hill to find them gone! I decided this time to wait and they eventually returned.
Geoff and Mac by the Roman Wall near the Tower of London
fter this episode we went to find the Fan Museum. After wandering around a few blocks cursing tourist maps we found it. Closed on Mondays! So we had coffee to warm us up and headed out on the Docklands Light Railway to Tower Hill where we joined the District line and back to Gloucester Road.
t was an enjoyable day despite the hassles. I really liked the boat trip, there seemed so much to see with all the redevelopment along the river. It was more interesting than the last time we did it in 1989.
Tuesday 13th April, 2010
oday we got up fairly early for showers and headed out, after breakfast, into the rush hour on the Tube. We had to stand all the way to Holborn then changed to the Central Line to St. Paul's. Luckily the "up" escalators were working (the down ones weren't) and we exited practically into St. Paul's churchyard.
St. Paul's Cathedral, London
t. Paul's Cathedral was symmetrical, beautifully decorated with mosaics, carvings and wrought iron. I think it is more beautiful than Westminster Abbey because it seems less cluttered. We decided NOT to climb into the Dome - hundreds of steps! - but we did go downstairs into the crypt where we saw the tombs of Sir Christopher Wren, Nelson, Wellington and John Donne etc. etc.
We had morning tea in the crypt cafe then went out to find the Museum of London.
Model, St. Pauls Cathedral, pre the Great Fire (by Geoff)
t was an easy stroll via Little Britain (no relation!) then up in a lift to the elevated walkway to the Museum of London.
The Museum is a fascinating display from prehistoric London, through the Romans, the Saxons, Danes, medieval, including the Great Plague and the Great Fire. The interesting thing is that all the exhibits were discovered in the actual London area, not all over the continent or indeed the rest of Britain. The model of the Great Fire did not to my mind encompass the whole extent of the fire but was enlivened by eyewitness accounts by Samuel Pepys and others.
Port Scene, Museum of London (by Geoff)
e had lunch at the Museum, a rather juicy sausage roll, some crisps and a muffin, then went out on a rather long trek to find Leadenhall Market off Gracechurch Street.
Gracechurch Street is where the Gardiners lived in Pride and Prejudice and Leadenhall Market was used as part of Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter movies.
Leadenhall Street Market
ere Geoff found the Orange phone shop which could not help him but recommended another near the Monument in Cannon Street. This also could not help but pointed him across the street to the O2 network, which could. So his i-phone is fixed up with internet connections etc and the Vodafone SIM he bought at Heathrow has been transferred to my phone so we can communicate in UK time if needed.
The Monument to the Great Fire, London
e separated at the Market and found our own ways home, Mac and I via Monument Station, having stopped to admire and photograph the Monument, which commemorates the Great Fire of London. Geoff arrived back within ten minutes of us, having caught the Tube at Cannon Street. So now we are all nursing our tired feet. Geoff has a worrying sore big toe, having broken the nail and pulled it off, breaking the skin. It is looking somewhat inflamed so I got some antiseptic spray and cream to dress it. Hope nothing more comes of it.
Wednesday 14th April, 2010
Hampton Court Palace across the River
oday we went to Hampton Court. We used our Oyster cards which should last out our stay in London. Gloucester Road station to Wimbledon on the District Line (not to be confused with the Lawn Tennis Club - you get off at Southfields two stops before Wimbledon for that). Then the Eastern rail line to Hampton Court
Henry and Kateryn hold Court
e arrived on the day King Henry VIII married Kateryn (sic) Parr and Tudor royals were parading around graciously talking to their subjects about their various concerns. We toured both sides of the palace, the Tudor side with the beautiful decorated ceilings (hammerbeam?) and the absolutely glorious Royal Chapel with its glowing blue ceiling with flashing gold stars. I found the William and Mary section rather bland in comparison but it was quite interesting to see the conservators at work cleaning the ancient bedding and bed drapery etc.
Tudor Wing of Hampton Court Palace
e had lunch in the Privy kitchen coffee shop, then explored the gardens and, of course, the Maze. Although as usual very footsore we made it through to the centre with only a modicum of difficulty. Then we walked through what was called the Wilderness, really a meadow stretching for almost as far as the eye could see, all covered with daffodils, hyacinths and bluebells. It was really magic!
Arriving back at the Palace we took a ride in a horse-drawn tram around the gardens and fountains etc.
It was great.
hen we left and caught the South-East train (destination Waterloo) Mac and I got off at Wimbledon while Geoff stayed on until Vauxhall, where he changed to the Victoria line to Victoria, then back home on the Circle line. Since we stopped to buy some batteries for my camera he got home about five minutes before us. He is trying to familiarise himself with the rail system in case he ever comes back.
It was a good day.
Thursday 15th April, 2010
oday was for some business so we headed out for Leicester Square on the Piccadilly Line, where we visited Stanford's, the map sellers and bought sixteen OS maps to fill in some of the gaps plus a large AA Map book and another copy of the Highway Code. Mac got quite a good discount for bulk purchase.
Then we walked to Covent Garden and tubed to Kings Cross where we picked up the train tickets to Edinburgh tomorrow. There was no problem at all, we are finding the Internet bookings going quite effectively which is boosting our confidence in the system.
Workboat in Camden Lock (by Geoff)
fter this we took the Northern Line to Camden Town which was bustling with stalls selling the weird and wonderful and others with delicious smelling ethnic delicacies. Ignoring them (with difficulty) we found the Lock and there was actually a large workboat in the Lock, going up.
Regent's Canal scene ( by Geoff)
e found the mooring for the London Waterbus Company and discovered that the boat was just arriving so when it moored we went on board for Little Venice, the first time we have done it in this direction. Funnily enough, it seemed quite different. There seemed to be large numbers of boats semi-permanently moored in clumps, making the towpath look like a gypsy camp, not the romantic type, just a mess! We stopped at the Zoo to pick up passengers and saw African jackals and warthogs running along the fence beside the water. First time I have seen animals there.
Waterside Floating Restaurant ( by Geoff)
eturning to Little Venice we had lunch on the Floating Restaurant then walked down the towpath to Paddington Basin which Mac and I had discovered three years ago. There were some boats tied up there and at seven days free and twenty five pounds per day thereafter, who wouldn't like a trip to the Big Smoke?
Strolled back to Paddington Station and caught a Circle Line train back to Gloucester Road. It was still early but we had to pack and be up and away in good time.
We are so relieved that we didn't decide to fly to Edinburgh because today all London Airports have been closed and all flights cancelled due to a volcanic cloud coming from an Icelandic volcano erupting. I think that trumps "leaves on the line" as an excuse but it is not really funny. We met two WA ladies staying here this morning and they had just got the news when they got to the Station. They were flying to Switzerland tomorrow and now don't know what to do. I hope they were not joining a tour! Not fun.
Friday 16th April, 2010
St. Stephens Gloucester Road, from our Hotel Window
o summarise our London experience this time:
The weather was good - cool wind chill factor but mostly fine and even sunny all week! The flowers in the parks are amazing! Our hotel, Rydges Kensington Plaza in Gloucester Road pleased us all. As a triple room it had no spare space, but three good sized singles, two tall double-glazed windows and a lovely full bathroom with a great shower!
The full breakfast which we had added to our rate was generally good but the Continental would have been quite enough. For three people, five days with full breakfast included we paid 849 pounds. The hotel lobby had a small bar and a comfortable lounge, internet access and all you would need. Hardly an English face or accent but that's the same in service industries all over Britain these days.
All in all a very good stay. Just wish we weren't all so footsore. However, Geoff's toe seems clean.
ac insists that I mention we saw our first and only cat so far walking along the Regent's Canal side yesterday. A large striped tabby.
Today
e checked out, luckily in good time, because the girl at Reception first tried to tell us that there was 75 pounds outstanding when we knew we had paid in full. So she checked with office staff and told us that
au contraire
they owed us 114 pounds and gave us a refund! No idea as to whys and wherefores but we did not have time to investigate.
e got a cab to Kings Cross and the traffic was so horrendous that we really felt that we might not make the train.
However we were set down very close to the platforms and noted the long queue to get on our train. Apparently the airport closures across Britain made many people decide to travel by train. However, our first class seats were comfortable with a table to which crew came with coffee and tea and offers of hot food and trolleys of sandwiches, drinks, cakes, chips and candy bars. I was glad we had boarded in London because the extra people spilled into First Class and some people who had booked did not get their seats. Our luggage, luckily, had been put in the Guard's Van and was offloaded when we got to Edinburgh.
It was a lovely sunny day and the coastal scenery after Berwick on Tweed was stunning. At Darlington (where all this rail stuff started) there was a girl on the platform nursing a very cute black and white kitten. Don't know what they were doing there, but it made Mac's day.
Geoff at Ardleigh House B and B Edinburgh
ur B & B in Edinburgh was Ardleigh House, a fair way from the station, actually closer to the Port of Leith, but was quite nice.
We felt it was a long way from anywhere to get some food (and it was) but we walked about twenty minutes to the side of the Water of Leith where we found Italian, Chinese, Greek and a pub. We chose the Italian and it was very good.
La Fontana - not just a pizzeria or a pasta house. We had an enormous meal - the guys both had calzone stuffed with everything and I had
scallopini con funghi e panna
.
The waiter complimented my accent in Italian. We had OJ and mineral water, a bottle of sweet white wine and finished with coffee, mine espresso with amaretto, Geoff had a liqueur coffee and Mac had cappuccino.
We staggered back outside and supported each other back to the Guest House.
It was a good finish to an equally good day, and sitting down for four and a half hours helped my sore feet.
Tomorrow the real adventure begins.
