Thursday, May 29, 2008

Day 19 Holland Park-Singapore-Sydney

Going home today. Got the tube to Lancaster Gate and did the short walk to Paddington Station for the Heathrow Express. As we had some time to wait for the train I took some photos of the many tributes to Paddington Bear and started feeling sad about going. Got to the airport pretty early and spent my last few pence on duty free Harrods Peanut Brittle. Boarded the plane almost on time but then sat there for 3 hours because there were so many planes leaving and the weather was bad. We taxied around a bit, using up fuel and then had to refuel and then they discovered a problem with one of the engine valves so that had to be fixed. The pilot assured us that Qantas take safety very seriously and assured us all was well. We made up some time in the air and arrived in Singapore 2 and a bit hours late. We all had to get off the plane for half an hour and then we had to check in again to get back on the same plane. We went outside at the airport so Chris could have a cigarette and it was the most luxurious smoking area i'd ever seen with cactus garden with over 300 cactus. It was stinking hot there after cold London.

The rest of the flight was uneventful and we arrived in Sydney at ten past nine at night, about 2 hours later than scheduled. We were home at 10 and in bed by 11 and then the full force of jet lag set in but that's another story . . .

Monday, May 26, 2008

Day 18 23/4/08 Holland Park

Today is our last full day in London. Very sad to leave and also not relishing the very long flight home but determined to make the most of our last day.

Got the tube to Tower Hill and changed for the light rail. Got to see the Tower of London, across the road from the station. The tube has been very reliable for us but today we had major delays with the light rail and it took us two hours to get to our destination, Greenwich.

It was quite a misty day today which gave Greenwich park an eery kind of a look but seemed to make the grass look all the more green. We went into the maritime museum where i improved my knowledge of Horatio Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar.

From there we walked up the hill to the Royal Observatory. There were great views of Docklands in the background contrasting with the architecture of Greenwich. Got a picture of chris on the prime meridian line. Then the sun came out.

Next we visited the Queen's House, which was relatively small. It had a lovely spiral staircase, black and white tiled ballroom and a good collection of art, including some paintings of Tahiti.

We decided to go home a different way, more tube, less light rail. We changed at Canary Warf and got to have a bit of a walk around there, mainly because we had trouble finding the tube station. From there we went on to Westminster tube, a very interesting industrial looking station, where we changed once more for Notting Hill and walked from there. Bought a pair of stockings from the chemist in Holland Park and 100 metres of dental floss for one pound from tescos! You see, bargains can be had in london.

Day 17 22/4/08 Holland Park

The weather was lovely today, warm and sunny. It reached 17 degrees which goes to show how well i've adjusted to british weather if i think that's warm.

I tried to phone my sister who was due back from Miami today and who lives in Epsom Downs however she wasn't answering.

This morning we set out for Kew Gardens on the train. The village of Kew is very pretty and the gardens are huge and beautiful. My favourites were the woodland garden and the pine forest. Again there were bluebells and daffodils everywhere. We managed to cover most of the park and my feet were aching again. Got the tube back to Holland Park.

We had dinner at the local, The Castle. An Italian woman, British woman and myself couldn't figure out how to use the taps in the toilets. We thought they were some of those fancy new space age type with sensors or something but eventually worked out that the levers were just broken off. Chris bought some yummy strawberry beer.

Back at the hotel I watched the traffic going around the holland park roundabout from out window for the second last time.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Day 16 21/4/08 Holland Park

Walked to the Portobello Road Market. Chris bought a Bavarian sausage (yes, always buying food) and I had a look at the lovely Electric Cinema. We had a lot of walking ahead of us so I didn't want to do the full length of the market. We saw George Orwell's house on Portobello Road.

We walked back to Notting Hill Gate and down Kensington Church Street again. We had been looking out for a laundrette and had spotted one here the other day. They are few and far between in central London with the exception of Paddington. We finally got some washing done and while the machine was going we went to the roof gardens at 99 Kensington High Street. This is the site of the last of the Biba stores, known as Big Biba, and it certainly was big. It now houses a Gap, Marks and Spencer and BHS. To find the roof gardens you go down the side street, Derry Street and enter from there. There's a concierge who has to check that there's no corporate functions on and if not you are free to go up to level 6. The gardens are now owned by Virgin and have been restored to their former glory, as Barbara Hulanicki of Biba had done in 1970 when she bought the building and discovered a family of flamingos living up there. Their predecessors had been there since the 1920s when the gardens were first opened. The gardens are largely unknown to Londoners and the flamingos and ducks are still there.

We collected our washing and caught the tube from Kensington High Street to Sloane Square. In case you're wondering, the washing was in a back pack carried by Chris.

At Sloane Square, Chelsea, we popped into Peter Jones, yet another department store and then headed for the King's Road. It's mainly high street chain stores now and a few high end boutiques. We walked as far as Oakley Street, another of Pattie Boyd's former haunts. I recognised the houses (they are all the same white terraces with black iron fences) from some modelling shots of Pattie posing in front of her house. If you continue down Oakley Street to the Thames it joins with Albert Bridge. We didn't cross the bridge to Battersea Park as Chris was feeling a bit unwell so we just had a look at Cheyne walk, former home of many writers and poets including George Elliot and Mick and Keef (of the Rolling Stones) before heading back to Sloan Square tube.

Went back to the hotel and saw a mouse running down our corridor (and this the Hilton!) Chris had a rest at the hotel and then I suggested we actually check out this Holland Park that the suburb gets its name from. So glad we did. It's delightful. Wilderness in central London. We saw squirrels so we've seen lots of wildlife in one day!

We went out for dinner at the Bombay Bicycle club.

Got back to our room and of course the mouse is in it. We tried to shoo it away but it was too fast and we were too tired to do anything about it although I had a very fitful sleep worrying about it crawling over me.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Day 15 20/4 Holland Park

We're a bit further from a tube station here but still only a 10 minute walk to Holland Park station. Today we walked an extra stop though to Nottinghill Gate as we planned to catch the train to Chelsea however had a change of plans when we got there due to track work. Instead walked down Kensington Church Street to Kensington Road. Turned left and followed the southern side of Kensington Palace Gardens and Hyde Park, then right down Queen's Gate till we got to Cromwell Road and all the museums. Went to the Natural History Museum first. Managed to see the whole collection there. Had lunch then visited the Victoria and Albert where I concentrated on the Fashion collection while Chris had a rest. They had a Biba suit, Ossie Clark dress, Mary Quant suit. Next stop was the Science Museum where Chris got to see lots of old computers but it was interesting for me too.

From there we continued the few blocks to Harrods, first stopping off at Ovington Mews where Pattie Boyd once lived. We bought chocolate and tea at Harrods. From Knightsbridge we caught the tube back to the hotel.

Day 14 19/4/08 Liverpool - Holland Park

Went to Mathew Street, very near the hotel, otherwise known as Beatles Street. It's more of a back lane really. This is the site of the original and the rebuilt Cavern Club. There's also a wall of fame with the names of all the performers that have played at the Cavern, watched over by a statue of John Lennon. Took some photos and then walked to Pier Head to catch a "ferry 'cross the Mersey". Pretty cold and windy on the river so we stayed inside. The ferry was called the Royal Daffodil and had seen active service in WWI. It has been running ever since but chose today to break down. We made it to the first stop, Birkenhead but at the second stop we seemed to be waiting a long time. We finally got moving which was good as i was getting nervous about checking out on time and getting on the Magical Mystery Tour. The Pier was in sight so we got up to get ready to get off but then we seemed to be moving away again. One of the crew, no doubt sensing our concern, came over and said one of the engines was broken and they were finding it very hard to manouvre back in to port. He said it was the first time this had ever happened. He was cracking jokes in that Liverpool way about me assuming command and taking us all to safety in the lifeboat. Well after what seemed like ages we finally got off only to find we were locked in on the Pier while a ship full of international passengers disembarked and cleared customs. Once finally out we walked back very quickly to the hotel with 15 minutes to pack and check out. The hotel held our luggage again and we headed back to Albert Dock for the Magical Mystery Tour. First stop was George's house on Admiral Grove. We also saw Mendips (John's house), one of Paul's houses (where we met the current occupant and his dog Molly) and two of Ringo's houses in the Dingle which looks just as poor as when Ringo lived there. Saw Strawberry Fields and Penny lane amongst other things. We finished off at the Cavern Club where a young guy was doing a Beatles set. Had a quick look around the Beatles shop and then got our bags and walked back to the station.

Arrived London 6.30 and were installed in our hotel within 45 minutes. Tescos dinner and pear cider (the fastest growing national drink)in our hotel room.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Day 13 18/4/08 Whitehall-Liverpool

Liverpool!!

Checked out early and then waited ages at Euston station because we were so early. The train went through Rugby and Stafford arriving at Lime Street Station 11.45. Phoned the hotel and they were happy to hold our bags till check in time. While waiting to check in we grabbed yet another sarnie and then walked to Albert Dock. It was pretty windy and cold. We went in to the Beatles Story museum. Even Chris found it interesting i think. Got a bit teary in the "imagine" room. Next we went to the information centre to book on to the Magical Mystery Tour. There was only one place left today, but a couple left tomorrow so we booked in for then.

Checked into the hotel which is gorgeous - 63 Castle Street - it's an old bank and our room, while being one of the cheaper rooms was huge and beautiful. Massive bathroom, king size bed, leather recliner chair, ipod docking station etc and Chris got his free internet which he hasn't had since Paddington.

In the afternoon we headed out to the Philharmonic Hotel one of the most beautiful Victorian pubs i've ever seen. This is the pub that John Lennon regretted not being able to drink at after becomming famous. We walked back a different way and past the modern Liverpool Cathedral which is interesting, many say ugly. We went to another pub near the hotel called The Goose. It was packed full of lads and ladettes out for a big night.