Go west young man - Nunney, United Kingdom
Nunney, United Kingdom
We've been in the UK just over a week. We keep telling ourselves this is true - but so much I such a short time does make it seem as if we have been here longer. So,let's see if we can recap - although most of this you will already know from the photos - this is more our record than yours. Feel free not to read any further :) The 4.30 landing at Heathrow was an experience that I won't mind missing on any future travels. A crying baby always doth make air travel so enjoyable (didn't give a rats about the noise from a wee Matt 10 years ago did I). So a grumpy old man, accompanied by a grumpy old woman and a grumpy birthday boy hopped off the plane, onto the train that took us to immigration and customs, retrieved their cold weather gear from suitcases packed for 9 months not 2' and off to the tube we strolled. My what a long time it takes to get to London Bridge (just one change) and then the overground (yes, I know my transport) to Plumstead. A 200 metre walk down the High Street (as you do) and we found our street. Within a couple of minutes we were at our flat - outside our flat. And there we would have stayed if it had not been for a very sleepy Australian called Dave who helped us get access to the flat. (The old woman is grumpy and stupid. You didn't know that did you?) "Can't bloody swing a cat." "Bloody cheap *******s. We'll freeze in here. Tell 'em to turn the heat up." "Take your shoes off to protect the carpet? Yeah sure - when they turn the heat on maybe." "What's wrong with this bloody washer dryer? It's been washing the clothes for 3 hours now and it's still going." Yes, the RT (reluctant traveller if you'd forgotten) has hit London Town! Washing featured highly during the 8 days and most of you will have seen the how to shrink clothes post already. BIRTHDAY BOY Given young Matt had been celebrating his birthday for a number of hours already (this time zone stuff is pretty wacko for an 11 year old trying to define his celebration), it really was time to give him his present. So off to London we went. Houses of Parliament and Big Ben really signalled London and the lad's face when he was presented with the London Eye tickets ... There are no words. So off we went. Spectacular views and our budding photographer was in his element. RL got a lesson about celebrating anniversaries after I asked the man who gave his wife a beautiful pearl ring when we got to the upper most point of the wheel to explain how this is done. Can't wait for our anniversary! Westminster Abby visit ended what was a long, but good first day. Wednesday morning and GG had woke with the worst head cold. But, we were off again. Today another Dave, a London Greeter, took us around his favourite area - the Greenwich Borough. Knowledgeable, warm and full of good humour, the three hours he spent with us was brilliant. Through Plumstead, Maze Hill and to Greenwich, he told us about the history, architecture and significant people of the area. We heard of royalty, commoners and new immigrants as well as WWII and more recent events such as the murder of the soldier. We learnt about the tidal flow of the Thames and the activities carried out on this magnificent waterway over the years. He intrigued with old and new tales including Johnny Depp's visit to a local school. And at the end would not even let us buy him a coffee. RT was impressed. Brilliant morning followed by fish and chips (oh yes, that weight sure ain't falling off any place I can see) and then the Cutty Sark. Over the next few days we walked miles and miles around London, became brilliant tube, overland and DLR travellers and experts on sore feet. We saw Churchill's War Rooms (brilliant exhibit), St Jame's Park, Wellington's Arch and Hyde Park. Learnt what a "sloane ranger" is. Were wowed by the Harry Potter studio tour and the Tower of London. Paid a visit to the Tate Modern and spent time at Trafalgar Square and the blue chook. Checked out the Xmas lights on Regent and Oxford Streets and wondered around Selfridges for a while. Visited Buck Palace and Liz was home but the guards changed nothing. Thanked the two young guards at Clarence House for the little show they put on and then saw the Queen's Horse Brigade exercising with the assistance of the coppers on horseback (impressed at their traffic management skills I am!. And of course the obligatory curry was had. THE CAR And the a nice hound man appeared on Saturday morning with a black car - no more details from me. A car is a car. So off to Rochester we went. Took forever and then couldn't get a park. Why were all,these people,there. When the Chatham and had a bit to eat. Try again. Give up. Go home. Google check. Oh :) - maybe a check before we went may of helped. It was the annual Dicken's Festival. Good one GG. A miracle I am here at all. But the Sunday trip to Dover made up for it. Great day even if RT and GG almost didn't walk out of there. Matt had us up and down and up again - over every inch of the castle. Good stuff but old legs will never be the same. And then we did try Rochester again with the darling Phoebe and had a ball. More steps though and a fog that lifted at about 2 in the afternoon - just in time for sunset. So that is our travel tale. Oh, except to say that we have now taken the young man west and are staying at the cutest of villages - Nunney. Bath tomorrow. Stonehenge on Friday and then we need to head back to near Brighton to spend a couple of nights with old Lewin St neighbours. So looking forward to that. And of course - the most important thing of all - Jack joined the clan last week. All in all, an amazing week.