Day 4 – London

Kylie had a sleep over with us which was lovely.  The day started with a continental breakfast then off we went and walked, walked and walked.  We had to rug up as the temperature was hovering around the 3 degrees mark, I am so glad I packed my extra woollies and jackets!  First off we walked to Kensington Gardens and yet again a squirrel came up to us, taking a fancy to Kylie's shoes!  

The garden beds were beautifully maintained, we didn’t partake in jogging as most of the people around were doing, but I think it might have been more to keep warm for many!

I can’t believe how many dogs are around throughout the gardens, many off lead AND behaving.  We had a wee meander through Kensington Palace gardens and plan to go back next week to tour the Palace itself, I wonder if William and Kate would have moved in by then?

Then we hit Notting Hill and the Portobello markets, they have to be seen to be believed!  They attract all sorts of people and dress.  I have noticed rather quickly how you can wear anything here.  Kylie and myself did manage to find some fresh corn bread which we had with our soup at a shop/café called Daylesford.  

Walking back it started to drizzle and became cooler.   I didn’t realise how far we walked, probably 8-10 kms.  Kylie went home afterwards then, just between you and me I had a nana-nap after that!!

Day 3 – Stage 3 - Narita to London

After a big sleep we decided to head off to the airport early and have breakfast there.  The hotel has its own buses, which we took to get back to Narita International.  This is a huge airport, it is over 980 hectares and employees 48,000!  Talking about a daunting experience, when the bus got to the entrance of the airport, the police boarded and did a passport check on everyone.  The police are very military here and have a mean look about them, they are everywhere to be seen.  When the bus took off there were armoured police buses and vans with machine guns attached to the top, quite scary actually.  Into the airport we went, now talk about spot the Aussie, I think we were about the only westerners in the place!  The building itself is about 5-6 stories high.  We went to a Japanese café, I only had a drink as there wasn’t anything gluten/egg free, which was just as well as Craig and Emily’s food wasn’t very nice, they ordered a western full english.  This ended up being two small frankfurters, a small bit of bacon, a yucky looking egg, potato salad, and salad!!

Going through departures they took everyone’s fingerprints, a photo of your face and eyes, and also photocopied our passports, I found all this not very friendly and has made me not wanting to return!  The lady guard hit Emily on the arm and told her off for not having her passport, Emily had to tell her Dad had it, which was then OK.

I had no-one next to me this flight, which was nice.  The airplane crew were great, we have Fredrico and Jesus, pronounced Je-sous.  Fredrico was so helpful in finding me GF snacks, and he knew exactly what it was all about, he even found an extra ice-cream for me as it wasn’t included in my GF meal. AND he made the best vodka and orange!  

Jesus was amused by Sooty, who I took out for a photo-shoot, he asked Sooty for his boarding pass, but as he was a stowaway …… ! 

The seatbelts in JAL planes have bulking padding on them on one side, which is an airbag.  Jesus knelt on the floor next to me as we were preparing to land and asked if I knew about the airbags, I did as I had read it on the info that no-one usually looks at, he said he didn’t know if the worked as they hadn’t had a chance to test them!!!! Hahhahhhaaa.

This stage of the trip didn’t seem as bad as yesterday, I guess I knew what to expect.

Heathrow was great, only about 15-20 minutes to get through, in the line it was about 1000 Japanese and three Aussies!  It was great to see Kylie (sister) and her boyfriend Tom.  When arriving at our accommodation we went for a walk to stretch the legs.  Had a coffee break at a French café, then walked around Kensington.  It was so quiet for a Friday night, there is more people in the City of Adelaide on a Friday night than there was here !!!  So hence had a great chance to take photos without people walking in front of me.  

Prince Albert Memorial

Royal Albert Hall

Kensington Palace

Kensington Gardens

London icons

Day 2 – Stage 2 – Sydney to Narita

Should’ve written this when it was fresh in my mind … oh well, here is a view from our room, sorry for the non-professional joining!

Day 1 – Stage 1 - Adelaide to Sydney

The day had a great start, everything done and left home earlier than planned.  The check-in area in Adelaide airport was deserted, so a quick check-in.  I didn’t ‘beep’ through the security scans, but, as usual, had to do the drug scan and test … every time … I must get rid of whatever look I pose!  As we were early we went to the Qantas Club for a snack and coffee, I am so glad Craig is a member. 

No hassles boarding the plane, I even had the seat next to me free.  The meal I had was wonderful, I do get nervous when I order gluten-free, but Qantas usually does pretty well.  

I had poached salmon, with Chinese vegetables (spinach, capsicum, mushrooms, eggplant, onion, carrot and a few other vegies), GF bread, fresh fruit (pineapple, honeydew, rockmelon, grapes) then a scrumptious chocolate and berry GF muffin.  The plane arrived 10 minutes early AND our bags didn’t get lost.  This is getting too good to be true!  

The room we are staying in is lovely, at the Stamford Airport Hotel.  AND guess what, Craig has managed to book himself a meeting whilst we are here, 30 minutes after we arrived actually!! LOL, he just can’t help himself, hence why I am writing this as I have spare time before tea. Just having tea in the hotel tonight, early to bed, then  for Stage 2 tomorrow, Narita TOKYO.

Oh and before you ask, Sooty is still asleep in his bag, he isn’t coming out till London!   He is a nervous flyer.

One week to go ...

Well hasn't time flown, suddenly I am faced with only one week left, that is when we arrive in London town.  What a week it will be, I have a pile of papers, one for each day with my 'things to do'.  So many things to think of and remember to do,  like getting all the business paperwork up to date, stopping the mail, paying bills, taking the dogs to the kennels etc.

I was soooo good last week I packed my bags with my clothes, the things to take to Kylie, SOOTY, etc, leaving only the last minute toiletries, chargers, laptop etc to add .. THEN England decided to have rain, rain, rain .. hahahaha .. so tomorrow I am reorganising it all with a few extra jumpers, umbrella, gloves & scarf, maybe flippers also!!!  At least Adelaide has done the correct thing and climatized itself to match London!

Two things we will have booked to do during first two weeks in London are - during the first week we have tickets for PARIS, just a day trip, going over on the Eurostar, how nice it is to say 'we are popping over to Paris for lunch' !!!!   In the seconfd week we are going to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter studio tour, where we will be visiting the actual sets used in the movies like the Hogwarts Great Hall, Dumbledore's Office, the Ministry of Magic, Diagon Alley etc.

After two weeks in London, Craig and Emily return home and I will stay on for another four weeks with my Lil' Sis' Kylie.  I am sharing a bedroom at her house with Marvin the killer rabbit!  He eats power cords when they are still plugged in!  If he touches Sooty there will be a feast of rabbit 'fare'!

Marvin - Friend of Foe???

I won't be sharing his hutch though, but Kylie laughing to me tonight she was thinking of getting a coffin for me to sleep in, for those who know me well,  will understand the meaning of this and have a good ol' chuckle!

Great news is that Sooty is filming this year at a place called Brean Fun City, and with this the studio and sets are open for tours SO HAPPY, even better is everyday at 3pm the giant Sooty mascot is there to greet people ... watch this space for a photo of Sooty and myself!!!!