Sunday 29th May----At home!

I know, I know, we have been very remiss in posting to the blog! We were gently reprimanded on Tuesday night about our lack of posting! There is a reason you should post daily (especially at our age!) Now I have to remember what the heck we did!!

On Monday we headed out to London on the 9:01 train. If you want a reduced rate fare you have to arrive after 10:00AM. We headed for the Big Bus to tour and get off and on where we wanted. It was a beautiful day and we sat on top of the bus and enjoyed the ride. London is still gorgeous to me. I had forgotten how beautiful the buildings are on Regent Street and Oxford Street and the Strand. Traffic was quite heavy as we has forgotten about the President's visit. We were diverted away from Whitehall, which is where I really wanted to go! However we continued on and got off at the Tower.

A short cruise down the Thames was included in the tour so we boarded the boat and set off. It really was terrific. The Boatman gave a good commentary and we got off at the London Eye, across from the Houses of Parliament . Paul and I stood in line and Dave and Joyce sat and waited for us. The Eye was built for the Millennium and was supposed be a short term prospect, but it has become a huge attraction. Price has gone up a bit,  from 5 Pounds to 18 Pounds! It really was a wonderful view. It was very clear and after I got my bearings I could pick out all sorts of places. Considering Paul really doesn't like heights I was impressed with how he handled it! The Eye doesn't stop to let you on, it moves so slowly that you step on to your "pod" as it goes by. It only stops for wheelchair access.

After the Eye we walked across Westminster Bridge past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and headed up Whitehall. Now, this is my stomping ground! I worked at the Ministry of Defense(Navy) in several buildings, I love this place and the history that oozes from the stone! We walked past Downing Street and the Cenotaph and the newish Memorial to the Women who served in the wars. Most impressive. They were inspecting the Guardsmen at Horseguards! (David wishes to draw a veil over this as it was here a few weeks ago that he was pick pocketed!)

Paul carried his wallet in the inside zipped pocket of his jacket. It was most successful as most of the time he could not get the damn thing out again without a lot of cussing! Most effective anti-theft tool! We walked across to the Clarence a pub I used to frequent and work in. (Civil Service salaries were meagre!). It used to be a lovely pub but they have done it a disservice. They tried to modernize it and just screwed it up. Anyway onward.......

Joyce and I walked through Horseguards and the lovely St James Park. We came out on the Mall and saw that it was festooned with the Union Jack and Stars and Stripes! Quite lovely. We met the guys in Trafalgar Square and then caught a bus up to Covent Garden to meet Nekane and Nerea.( friends from Spain who are studying/teaching in London)
We had a snack (read pizza, because all this walking made us ravenous!) and a drink. Had a lovely visit with the girls who had just returned from a trip to Ireland and lousy weather. As we headed for the bus to take us back to Paddington there was a little spit spot of rain. How was that for good timing! We caught the train after galloping across the station and picking Joyce up after she tripped over a mat (it was not the drink, besides I think she had tea) and reaching our platform just in time. Not our fault by the way, they didn't post the platform until about 2 minutes before departure, hence the aging gallop through Paddington!
I do know this, one day was not enough for me. I have to go back to London. I was asked a few weeks ago what was my favorite city and I kind of hemmed and hawed and  mentioned several. Ask me now! Definitely LONDON. It is magical! I lived there for 5 1/2 years and it still draws me in.

Tuesday 24th May 2011
We decided to return the car on Tuesday to save us some time on Wednesday morning. Dave and Joyce picked us up when we were finished and we headed out to explore again. We visited Hambledon and Turville both beautiful English villages, very old and full of character. Each village you may have seen on TV or in shows such as The Vicar of Dibley, Nanny McFee and others that we do not have here yet. The churches there were open for exploring. These were small but exquisitely built churches and so old!!
We had a lovely lunch in a pub (where else?), and sat outside. More lovely weather. Then we headed back to Henley. It is a lovely little town, they are preparing for Regatta week and all the pavilions are being set up. We walked by the river, across a bridge and watched a boat going through on of the locks. All in all a lovely day.( a lot of lovely in this!! Do I need a thesaurus I ask myself!)
We went home and got ready for our final evening in England. Joyce put out some chicken scraps  to see if the red kites would come down to feed.....and come down they did! What a spectacle! It looked like a squadron of fighters on a strafing run. Ten kites, one following the other flashed down into the garden and cleared the land of all scraps! David said he has tried to get a good picture but they are just moving too fast to get an non blurry picture. Good job the Blue Tits had cleared the area! The kites would have given them a fright!
A taxi picked us up at 7:15 and off we went for our final outing. Imagine our surprise when Sandy and Maureen met us there! It was so great to get everyone together. Our friends in Malaga are sending one of their sons, Alberto, to Dave and Joyce for a few weeks and Sandy and Maureen have a grandson who is the same age. All sorts of possibilies there! We had a great meal and a few drinkies and enjoyed our very dear friends.

L to R: Dave Murray, Sandy Stewart, Maureen Stewart, Joyce Murray. Jane Beskow

What a great vacation! Good weather (except for gale force winds at Culloden!) fabulous drives in beautiful countryside, amazing buildings and architecture and old friends. Who could ask for more?
We left the UK Wednesday with sunny skies and still warm 70 degree weather at Heathrow. The entry through Boston was not crowded on a Wednesday, midweek. The chap at Immigration took time to chat about his condo up the coast in Flagler Beach. The others in bag claim were just as polite and helpful too. Quite a change from our re-entries in New York and Atlanta. Dave says Miami is horrifying too!
So here we are ....home. Since we got back, I have done a lot of laundry, paid a lot of bills, spent a little time with Zoey, Ian and Cathie and not slept much. Sunday today but I am feeling pretty chipper. Paul has been back at work. An RFP came out while we were in the UK so he got right on it, earning, so that we can do some more traveling!! Gotta love that guy XXOO honey.
That's it! By the way, this Google Blogger is very easy to work with. Of course, I have not been posting the photos as I am not that up on it, but Paul assures me it is very easy!!!