While walking near Parliament

. . . we saw a car, open,with its contents scattered over the street, loads of police and blocked off roads.  The next morning, it all became clear:

Been Busy . .

Sorry for the silence -- but we've been busy:

Monday:  arrived afternoon.

• Driver met us and took us "home."
• Ooed and awed about our digs.
• Housekeeper showed us around.
• Unpacked.
• Went out for coffee, tea, hot cocoa and pastries.
• Grocery Store.
• Crashed.

Tuesday:

• Ooed and awed over our digs.
• London Undergrown -- i.e. The Tube
• Museum of London.
• Saw a sign that pointed to a Roman Wall we couldn't see.
• St Paul's Cathedral -- Ulys and kids walked to the top
• Skirted the edge of Trafalgar Square & Kids made Brass Rubbings in crypt of St. Martin in the Fields.
• Glanced longingly at the entrance to the National Portrait Gallery (me)
• Saw West End play "The Mousetrap" -- Agatha Christie x 52 years
• Ate traditional fish and chips at renowned "Mr. Fish."
• Crashed.

Wednesday:

• The London Eye
• Walked across bridge -- admired Boudica statue
• Walked around Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Horse Guards
• Saw car that had just been blown up (see above)
• Walked through St James Park -- saw unusual water fowl
• Revisited Trafalgar -- kids climbed on the famous lions 
• Gawked at gorgeous Harrod's food halls -- balked at gorgeous prices
• Toured the Mews (stables) at Buckingham Palace 
• Did not tour Buckingham Palace (Queen is in residence)
• Light tea at French Brasserie
• Walked many many many miles
• Ooed and Awed over our digs -- now Home

Thursday:

• Imperial War Museum 
• Tour of London
• Greek restaurant for dinner ("Greek Affair")
• Digs appreciation

Today:

• Finally adjusted to local time, I awoke at 3 am and have been up ever since:
• laundry, ironed all sorts of things (Tai's t shirts?!), cleaned kitchen, watched TV shows, documentaries, and things immediately forgotten, looked up opening times for all museums and bookstores in central London, checked email a lot, recharged electrical objects
• Everyone else finally got up 6 hours later

. . . So I've got a lot to tell . . . but Gotta Go!

PS.  We never did make it to the Changing of the Guards -- and good thing, too!!!  Looks like it is not age-appropriate!

Special Weather Event

The last 2 days we've been doing our planned
"Outdoor Activities" -- GOOD THING, TOO!



UK Weather: Met Office Warns Of Rain And 55mph Winds

"Once in a 50 years storm."  

So . . . we win???


(Actually the flooding is in the north . . . still . . )

Museum Weather

10 June 21012

In the Air:  Somewhere over Atlantic Frozen Parts

(- 67 degrees outside, better inside)


It's that crucial hour -- do I go to sleep now or just watch movies, bleary eyed, for the next 6 hours?   There are plenty of movies -- just finished "The Iron Lady,"  very appropriately as it is about Margaret Thatcher.  And have been glancing over for bits of "The Help"  (Zahra's screen), and "Cars Two"  (Tai's screen)  -- and on a screen up-two-seats-an-just-across-the-aisle, I finally saw the end of the last H. Potter -- guess who won?!  

We were right to avoid American airline companies, and to take a one-hour jaunt to Vancouver, Canada, then connect with a direct Vancouver-London Heathrow flight.  Imagine this:  a comfortable airline (and we are in the cheap seats this time so it must be paradise in front -- in fact, I think I can see flickers from a disco ball), with a friendly staff and free stuff. Yeah, Free Stuff!!!!  You are allowed to take your luggage with you!  And the ear plugs are free, meals, drinks (it IS in their interest to quell the masses with some mild inebriation, after all.)  Even the bathrooms can be used -- as many times as you like -- without financial penalty!  And did I mention movies, TV shows, blankets and pillows?  AND AIR!!!!  We can breathe AS MUCH AS WE WANT!!!!!  No BYO O2 canisters required!!!  (Ours are in a locker at PDX.)  GO AIR CANADA!!!     


As for the friendly staff -- it appears that this crew has not been shanghaid in a Vegas alley after the bars close!  They actually seem to have agreed to be airline hosts!  It's as if they chose their jobs and so come to work, like many of us,  of their own free will!  US based airlines should look into this voluntary workforce business!   
 . . . just a thought . . 


But enough too-much-Folgers-crystals-fueled-chatter. Back to the issue at HAND  To sleep or not to sleep?


. . . .  anticipatory drum roll . . . . 

TIME FOR A LIST:

Sleeping:

Advantages:               Disadvantages:

It is biologically         I'll feel like
necessary                   hell when I wake
                            up

It keeps insanity at bay    My breath will            
                            smell of dog 
                            carcass                                                                                                                                                     

The time will pass quickly  My neck will be
                            permanently
                            tweaked to the
                            left                                                             
                            

Might not get a headache    Might get a
                            headache no
                            matter what I do

Missing CSI &The Help     Missing CSI & 
                            The Help 

Not Sleeping:

Advantages:          Disadvantages:

I won't be groggy        I'll be catatonic
with customs            with customs and   
                         they'll let me in, 
                         then hospitalize me

                                     

Everyone else will       I'll be lonely and
be asleep and can        won't have to pee
take full advantage
of the free bathroom 

option

My breath won't smell    Who am I kidding?
like dog carcass

Ponder: what would I do were I British?

Ah, bloody 'ell, I forgot about the time change!!!!

I  must re-evaluate.

June 11, 2012
Notting Hill, London

We made it.  The trip was smooth and easy, except for the Red-Eye part.  Harsh.
However, as you can see, we are having a blast in London -- so good to be sharing this together.