Mastering life in London

Guess what a sleep in was the order of the day! Then the group parted to do their thing. Joan and Paul to Convent Garden, Elizabeth to Westminster Abbey and St Pauls. Shirley and I went to Regent Street caught a taxi there. First thing we did was find a beautiful little shop for coffee - omg Jeanette ordered a Cream Tea, and out came a 3 tier cake plate and all the goodies. Shirley had a trip to Hairdressers - the reveal at a later date.

Then it was a walk around Regent Street and all the arcades to Shop till we dropped! Not hard to do except ever mindful of 65 centimetre Suitcase that was 18kl when leaving Australia. Singapore airlines allow 30 but Jetstar only 20!!!!!!

Back to THE BIG BUS and a ride back to Trafalgar in time for the Champagne tonight.

Paul bless him cooked the girls their meal tonight- excellent meal and can't thank him enough.

A little bit of television and then to bed ready for Covent garden, Buck palace etc tomorrow.








The shop where we had Morning Tea


Shop with out the dress sells shoes, bags etc all parceled in gold packets.





Just a few of the sunglasses in Liberty.





Two photos in Trafalgar on way home.


Carnaby Street





Our Apartment at Citadines.

Windy and wet Brighton to windy wet London.

Well up and out at Faulty Towers to try and beat the bus groups - no luck so shared breakfast with them. Reason for Faulty Towers - forgot to mention moved us to 3 rooms before they got us in to one with 3 beds. As we battled suitcases first to first then second I said to porter bit like Faulty towers and he agreed !
Got a taxi to Staton and traveller for just over hr lucky to get a taxi which took us to Trafalgar Square and our hotel. Couldn't enter till 3 so went for lunch and then back to get keys for apartment.
Liz,Shirley and I bought pass on Red Bus Leaving at 4 and returning 6.30 having done a complete lap. Know where we want to go tomorrow.
Home for gin then
Walk up street to Italian restaurant. Enjoyed a beautiful meal before bed too Tiried to explain anything.




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On thevtrain





Shirley(Arafat) caught in London showers





Big Ben





St Pauls Cathedral








Fashion !





My dinner.

Location:Waterloo Bridge,Lambeth,United Kingdom

Windy Portsmouth to Windy Brighton

Well most of the day I have kept my mouth shut in case the hurricane winds blew my false teeth out of my mouth. We left Portsmouth in rain and wind and arrived in Brighton exactly same. Our accommodation is directly over the road from the Brighton Pavilion so handy to everything. Arrangements were made shortly after we arrived to deliver hire car back to Brighton and train tickets purchased for London tomorrow.

Shirley and I left to find a Post Office and some hour and half later we left and our excess clothing is on it's way home to arrive next week perhaps before we do.

We walked back through the Lanes, to find Elizabeth with the gin and we join her before head off to Squiddling a Thai place which turned out to be excellent and then back to hotel room ready for tomorrow.




Photo of best toilet in Britians -Portsmouth

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From ou hotel





Photos from The Lanes - note all sewing machines.


Restaurant where we ate


The hotel on arrival home.

Location:Eastern Rd,Brighton,United Kingdom

Portsmouth In and Around.

Enjoyed a day of leasure bet the Galaxy wondered what had it. We met for breakfast and a grand affair that was before we went our different ways. Paul and Joan to Laundrymat and the three girl for short walk thru the park and then to the taxi rank for a trip to Harbour shops. Joan and Paul met up with us later.

Pretty un adventful shopping trip to Shirley spotted a thief in ladies shop we were in. He strolled in with bag looked to see that no one was looking and took belt off model popped it in bag and hurried out of the shop within seconds.

By this stage it was coffee time and time to rest legs before Elizabeth and I took the ride up Spinnaker Tower - supposedly Britains best viewing gallery.
It shows 23 miles of stunning views over South coast - and gave us a better idea how big Portsmouth really is. It has viewing decks at 100m, 105m and 110m above sea.

First two decks are by lift and yes did climb stairs to last one and very worthwhile cause met some Aussie had chat and compared trips. One lived in Sydney until 6yrs ago and now lives close to Portsmouth, the second fellow from Nimbin. Always nice to hear Aussie.

Back down safely we met with the gang and went to Jamie Oliver Italian Restaurant in the complex. Huge building and very popular.

Home for rest before we he'd to J and P for usual Gin.

As last night meal so good decided to go back to hotel dining room. Another super meal I managed Roast Pork Belly with caramelized apple slices and roasted shallots and cider jus followed by Summer Pudding. The total cost of my meal was only 16.95 (pound). Very good value.

Then it was a large glass of ice (havnt stopped) and up to room to Blog so as you will all have something to read tomorrow morning. I really appreciate receiving emails comments etc saying how you are enjoying them, and thank you for taking the time. Nice to hear from home on the road.







Shirley and Elizabeth watching Hovercraft land.


Spinnaker Tower





Some of the views- in this one just left of centre of photo see something white - that is marquee in front of our hotel.


Elizabeth forging me a penny into a piece of jewellery.



Another view


The gang sitting on real torpedo.





Xmas Hams ready in one section of Jamies.


This is outside seating and has herbs growing all way down in planter boxes full length of outside eating area


The Hotel


Another of beautiful ceilings


My dinner on bed of Mustard Mash.

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Location:Elphinstone Rd,Portsmouth,United Kingdom

Sennen to Portsmouth

OMG what another long day left at 8 and here at 5.20 but let's tell you what happened in-between first.

Beautiful breakfast at our accommodation before we left to travel down half kl to Lands End itself the tip of uk. Blowing a gale but not as misty as yesterday so got a fe photos. Lands End hotel dated back to1620' but the church at St Stennen at Lands End date back to 520 a.d. How old is that!!

Left at travelled thru among places St. Just, St. Ives (today's morning tea stop) left a little be desired not our best stop, Dorchester, Lime Regis (very nice).

Saw I sign as we passed through Helstone on a small church which read

Long standing problem?
Try kneeling.

There is encouragement to enter !

At one point I had a snooze but did t miss a lot our drive today was beautiful but a lot of beautiful farming country with paddocks formed by rocks not our post and railings and went on for miles. We travelled in excess of 200 miles.

Passed thru Rick Steine territory but trying to find his fish and chip shop at Falmouth was like trying to find a needle in a haystack !

Beautiful fishing port but the windy narrow streets don't make it easy.

On the way Joan and I read the TripAd visor account of our Hotel and therefore arrived thinking what do we expect. What can we say the Queens Hotel, Portsmouth is just wonderful. Porters met us carried our cases and couldn't do enough for us. It advertisers Everyday elegance in the heart of Portsmouth and I would have to agree. We decided to go to Dining room as we had had half a pie e of cake each on the way and coffee - nothing else so could have eaten anything that stood still. Our meal was tops all served with white gloves and The very best service, smile etc. From our rooms we can look out and see ferries from the Isle of Wight dock.

As we are here 2 days may be something we decide to do tomorrow although a
SLEEP IN is on the agenda as breakfast is from 7-10 am.

Today Paul had managed to catch cold Joan and I had. I pay tribute to his determination to get us to the next destination even though he must have felt sssshhh........t. Both Paul and Elizabeth do a marvelous job while Joan, Shirley and I sit in the back admiring the scenery. Thank you.





- Our accomodation at Sennen, Lands End
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Looking from bedroom window this morning.





St. Ives


Mount Michael ?(havnt got my book with me)


St Ives where we had coffee.



Field as we passed by


This is in Dorcet and supposed to be Prince Charles property behind stone wall which went on for miles


The entrance to Portsmouth


The ferry from my room on second floor


The beautiful ceiling in foyer of hotel.


The group of weary travelers.


Too cold to go outside to take hotel tonight so this taken off poster. Real thing tomorrow.
Word of warning have taken over 500 photographs and lost those ones back in Inverness.

Location:Elphinstone Rd,Portsmouth,United Kingdom