After a very “short” night we returned to Gatwick Airport and caught the train into London to commence the last few days of our holiday. We met up with Andy and her friends Del and Amy for lunch at a restaurant near Victoria Station. It was great to see Andy – she is looking great with a new hair do and looking very relaxed and very much at home. Here we said good-bye to Sharryn and Garey as they head off to Dubai on Thursday, with a three day stop over enroute to NZ and Peter and I head direct to Melbourne on Friday.
We then made our way to Upminster by train – Pete is never very keen on public transport and is not confident that I know where I am going or will get off the train at the right place. However, I have done it before (so has he, but he can never remember the finer details like where to get on and off) and before long we were in Upminster. We stayed with my Dad’s cousin Kath, and her husband Doug. Upminster is a lovely part of London, just 25 miles (or is it kilometres – I am not sure) and just 20 minutes on the overland train. However, we had caught the slow train so it took a little longer.
It was good to spend the next couple of days with Kath and Doug, and also their daughter Suzanne and her husband Andy, and children Callum and Charlotte. The children have grown up so much since our first visit five years ago, and then two years ago.
London turned on “mid summer” weather although it was a little windy from time to time. On Wednesday Peter and I “did” the High Street before driving out into the country to meet up with more cousins, David and Doreen, for a leisurely lunch at an authentic English country pub. It was just lovely and we all enjoyed it immensely. Sitting out in the garden after lunch Peter spied a Landrover for sale – oh how he would have loved it to be in Australia as he would have paid for it on the spot. It had all the bells and whistles and at a very reasonable price. Just as well it was in England and not in Australia is all I can say.
Thursday, Suzanne, Peter and I took the train up to London for the day. It was just great and we really felt as though we had “been” to London. We took the train to Fenchurch Street then the bus to Trafalgar Square. We watched the horses getting ready to for the changing of the guard then wandered down the Mall to Buckingham Palace in time to watch (with hundreds of others) the changing of the guard. The flag was flying so the Queen was in residence. We then wandered to Westminster Cathedral and joined the mass for a while, then on to Westminster Abby. We decided that as we had all been inside the Abby on earlier visits it didn’t warrant the twelve pound entrance fee.
We had lunch on the Embankment which is on the River Thames just opposite the London Eye. Again, we have been on the London Eye so didn’t repeat that but instead took the underground to Bow Street to visit the Bow Church and the area where Peter’s grandfather had been a “Bow Street Runner” prior to emigrating to New Zealand in 1922. Suzanne was able to point out the Bank of England, the Magistrates Court, the Stock Exchange and numerous other well known facilities as she had previously worked in the area and Andy now works near there in Coleman Street now. Coleman Street also has the London office of the company that Cam works for in Moscow so we can now envisage where he is when in London.
After lots of walking and sightseeing, and just a little shopping, we returned to Upminster for a family dinner beautifully prepared for us by Kath. It was then time to say good-bye to Suzanne and Andy and the children.
An early start for us again today, as we left Upminster by train at 7.30 a.m. to make our way (and yes, we did make it with no problems) to Heathrow Airport and check-in for our flight to Melbourne, via Hong Kong. Our holiday is over, but all good things must come to an end. We have had a great time, loved seeing so many people we care for and enjoyed some wonderful new experiences.
We then made our way to Upminster by train – Pete is never very keen on public transport and is not confident that I know where I am going or will get off the train at the right place. However, I have done it before (so has he, but he can never remember the finer details like where to get on and off) and before long we were in Upminster. We stayed with my Dad’s cousin Kath, and her husband Doug. Upminster is a lovely part of London, just 25 miles (or is it kilometres – I am not sure) and just 20 minutes on the overland train. However, we had caught the slow train so it took a little longer.
It was good to spend the next couple of days with Kath and Doug, and also their daughter Suzanne and her husband Andy, and children Callum and Charlotte. The children have grown up so much since our first visit five years ago, and then two years ago.
London turned on “mid summer” weather although it was a little windy from time to time. On Wednesday Peter and I “did” the High Street before driving out into the country to meet up with more cousins, David and Doreen, for a leisurely lunch at an authentic English country pub. It was just lovely and we all enjoyed it immensely. Sitting out in the garden after lunch Peter spied a Landrover for sale – oh how he would have loved it to be in Australia as he would have paid for it on the spot. It had all the bells and whistles and at a very reasonable price. Just as well it was in England and not in Australia is all I can say.
Thursday, Suzanne, Peter and I took the train up to London for the day. It was just great and we really felt as though we had “been” to London. We took the train to Fenchurch Street then the bus to Trafalgar Square. We watched the horses getting ready to for the changing of the guard then wandered down the Mall to Buckingham Palace in time to watch (with hundreds of others) the changing of the guard. The flag was flying so the Queen was in residence. We then wandered to Westminster Cathedral and joined the mass for a while, then on to Westminster Abby. We decided that as we had all been inside the Abby on earlier visits it didn’t warrant the twelve pound entrance fee.
We had lunch on the Embankment which is on the River Thames just opposite the London Eye. Again, we have been on the London Eye so didn’t repeat that but instead took the underground to Bow Street to visit the Bow Church and the area where Peter’s grandfather had been a “Bow Street Runner” prior to emigrating to New Zealand in 1922. Suzanne was able to point out the Bank of England, the Magistrates Court, the Stock Exchange and numerous other well known facilities as she had previously worked in the area and Andy now works near there in Coleman Street now. Coleman Street also has the London office of the company that Cam works for in Moscow so we can now envisage where he is when in London.
After lots of walking and sightseeing, and just a little shopping, we returned to Upminster for a family dinner beautifully prepared for us by Kath. It was then time to say good-bye to Suzanne and Andy and the children.
An early start for us again today, as we left Upminster by train at 7.30 a.m. to make our way (and yes, we did make it with no problems) to Heathrow Airport and check-in for our flight to Melbourne, via Hong Kong. Our holiday is over, but all good things must come to an end. We have had a great time, loved seeing so many people we care for and enjoyed some wonderful new experiences.
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