Surrey,London and More

Today Angela and I walked the streets of old London town. We went to Liberty shop and had a lovely browsing time not buying browsing!!! Cant believe they had a beautiful Christmas Grotto so ooohed and aahhed over beautiful decorations even if they are a bit early!!!

We went to The National Gallery yesterday and loved the beautiful paintings. Hard to stand in front of a Constable and Reynolds and not feel overwhelmed!! Angela loved a horse painting by Stubbs and took home a souvenier of this. Unfortunately I hurt my knee in London so I am limping a bit with a support bandage but its not stopping me much---jsut slowing me down!!

Tonight Brenda and I have a last night in London and we are doing a dinner cruise on the Thames-----should be a good way to farewell London. Tomorrow we are off to Rome so I'm not sure how internet connections will go!! I found Europe was bad for internet with poor service in holtels----or most hotels----unless you wanted to pay massive ammounts for downloads!! I'll leave with some fond memories of Angela and my time in Suffrey.

Angela and Derek

Last glimpse of St.Pauls.

Germany, Lucerne and Paris!!!!!

HI all---sorry about silence on blog. I havn't had any Internet connection in Europe. It was too expensive and no wifi at Hotels we were in!! Missed it sooooo much too!! Its crazy really when I could get free wifi in the smallest of B&Bs in the Isle of Skye!! 

So this will be a brief overview of all the above countries. I am using my dear friend, Angela's, computer and we haven't worked out how to put photos on yet so just news!! I am in Surrey staying with Angela and Derek and loving this break away from the maddening crowds of Europe and big cities!!! So miss quiet little Forcett and our beautiful gum trees!!
We raced through Germany with a stop in the Black Forest to view Cuckoo clocks. Very nice but I didn't get one----can hear my family breathing a sigh of relief!! Then on to Switzerland where I went up the Alps in a Cable car and Gondola and came down in a cog wheel train. Now those of you who know me will say---no way---as my fear of heights is so great---but I have a photo to prove it!!
Love Switzerland and we had a lovely ride in the country with horses and wagons.
Then off to Paris---another marathon in the bus!! I always love Paris so this was no surprise----such a beautiful city. Loved our ride along the Seine at twilight with all the lights coming on on the bridges and buildings.Great photos here.


Then off we went back to London. Good trip but so tiring!!! Love being with Angie and Brenda is having time with her son Tony. Angie and I went off to Hampton Court today. Loved this time ----we shared many laughs and can you believe we saw over 30 deer and stag in the Park----have great photo of this that you will see one day!!!


Off playing Whisk tonight----have no idea how but I can give it a go!!! Night all!!!

Netherlands 30-8-10

Canal House

Tonight I am very tired as we have had a very big day and I have limited internet access so entry will be brief====but love to all!! Love Amstadam and its crazy cyclists, trams and cars!!! Everytime you leave the bus or cross the road you have to dodge bike riders!! Love windmills and the incredibly flat country with canals everywhere. Great time in the Netherlands!!

Sue and a windmill.

Covent Garden, Britsh Museum and Lions!! 27-8-10

Covent Garden

Today was very overcast and threatening rain so we had a "quiet" day and only walked 7 hours!!!! Cant believe I'm walking so far---fitness level has increased so much!! So we went to Covent Garden and saw the market here as well as an opera singer busking in the cafe!!  WE then walked to the  British Museum and spent some time here viewing the Egyptian Exhibition and a special African one, Loved it here so much but by this time our feet were "giving out" so we headed back to our Hotel.

British Museum

Tonight we went to see the show "The Lion King". Just loved this show and would have loved to have all my grandchildren and David. Music and costumes were so spectacular. Lovely old theatre too. A great night!! Only an  hours walk both ways too---see where the 7 hours walking adds up!!!

Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre London

The Lakes District tour 26-8-10

We left very early for a train ride from London to the Lakes District --about 3 hours. We were met at Oxenholme by a man from Mountain Goat Tours and headed in a minibus for a tour of Cumbria and the lakes area. On board were Chinese, Japanese, Americans and two little Taswegans!!

Cumbrian Mountains

What beautiful country this is. It's been an inspiration for poets such as Wordsworth, artists and of course Beatrice Potter. We went to Beatrice Potters house, "Hilltop" 17th century house. It was just as depicted in the Film "Miss. Potter".

Beatrice Potters house.

Shelley would love it here--your favourite children's books!! The garden was so pretty and the basis for most of her stories as was the house.

We travelled to Haweshead---named after a Viking chief. Many Viking words are used in this area such as "mere" meaning water and "tarn" teardrop. We then went on a little ferry boat on Coniston Water. This is the lake where Donald Campbell crashed hs boat Bluebird and was killed. This was such a pretty lake with many yachts, canoes and many little boats. We let the ferry at John Ruskins house---a huge house and garden overlooking the lake. We finished our tour with "Cream tea" at the house Beatrice gave her mother

London and St.Pauls 25-8-10

Brenda and Sue in London's rain on the steps of St. Pauls.

Today we travelled by train to London--2 hours. We are back at the Thanet Hotel by on the 1st floor---thank you Lord!!! It is pouring with rain but we left our bags and walked to St. Paul's Cathedral---a 3 three hour round walk and in the rain!! We passed Fleet Street and walked on but it wasnt cold---just wet!!
We went into St. Pauls and spent a couple of hours in this beautiful Cathedral. We went in the crypt and saw Nelson's tomb and Sir Christopher Wren's. William Blake there too and lots more. I love the domed ceiling and had to stand directly under it to see the smaller top dome---amazing architecture!!

I loved this room in the crypt that was called "The Eye of St.Paul's". You satnd in this room and there is a projection that shows the time-line of St. Pauls. The gReat fire of London goes around all the walls. Then it takes you up to the whispering gallery and moves around---bit scary for me and my height problem but THEN it went up to the Golden Gallery-----this goes around the OUTSIDE of the Dome!!! I shut my eyes at first but when I peeped it was the most mgnificent view of London 360o !! Then it was back to the Hotel in the rain---bit wet but a good walk!!

York and the Railway Museum

 Toady we had rain for some/most of the day so I headed to the Jorvic Viking Centre. This was a great place and I would have loved to take my grandsons with me!! This is the result of excavations by archaeologists from 1976-1981. Many artefact's were uncovered and this centre shows life as it was then. You walk over a glass floor where excavations have taken place and see an old shoe bones etc!! David you would love this!!!

Rainy day at the Art gallery York

I then headed off to the Railway Museum. Now young Oliver this is heaven for you!!! All the trains you love are here and more!!! I think all my grandchildren would love it really and it was fun to while away time among the old engines. The Royal Train even had a bath and of course a full size bed!! They really rough it when they travel!!

I finished my day in York with a walk around the river path as the sun came out at last for a while.For Oliver!!!