Happy New Year

Ring side seats from our Hotel room :-)

Harry Potter and the British Museum

It was wet and soggy today so we headed out to do some indoor things. First was a double decker bus ride (finally! Bazza prefers the speedy tube) to Kings Cross! We didn't see Harry but did see his trolley half through platform 9 and 3/4 - then took a photo of the real platforms 9 and 10. Things look a little different from muggle perspective! 

We then took the tube to the British a Museum and spent the afternoon exploring the ancient world!

Ancient Celtic neck band and pennanular bracelets.

Ancient Roman cameo vase

An ancient piece just for Chris and Dave

Got a bus back so we could see more lovely London lights...

Birthdays and London

Happy birthday to Mum - 78 today!

We celebrated by going to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

And back to London

Said goodbye to Karen and Greg today - our very generous and gracious hosts for the last 5 nights. Popped round to say goodbye to Uncle Pat and Aunty Doreen, then caught the train back to London. 

We have 3 more days to try and pack in as much of London as we can!

Uncle Pat and Aunty Doreens ...

Hello London!!!

Sunshine and family ties

Another fine day in Gravesend, so took the dog for a walk to enjoy the sunshine.

Holly and berries

 

In the afternoon we went to Gails where I met my Uncle Anthony and his wife Lyn, then my cousin Sally and her husband Mick and daughters Eleanor and Hannah and Eleanor's boyfriend Chris. 

Sally had brought a photo of my other cousin Nick (her brother) and wife Ger since I keep missing them on the two occasions they came to NZ and this time when I came to the UK (they are in Tasmania). 

Back: Zack, Dylan, Ricky, Bailey, Ross

Middle: Alison, Elle, Hannah, Sally, Toni, Gail, Karen

Front: Pat, Ants, Imogen, Emily

Uncle Pat and Uncle Ants

Gail, Sally, Pat, Alison, Ants, Karen, Toni

Eleanor and Hannah

Mick, Sally, Elle, Hannah, Toni and Barry with Nick and Ger.

Gravesend

A couple of cruisy days in Gravesend. Yesterday was cool, crisp but spectacularly sunny and we went to Jeskins (while Karen worked) to walk the dog. Today we went to the massive mall, Bluewater to get some new luggage and then went to dinner at a 400 year old pub, famous for being a fav of Charles Dickens who featured it in one of his story's. 

Our room with a view

Walking dogs

Uncle Pat showed me some of his historical collection - this is one of my great grandparents on my Dad's side.

Barry at Bluewater

Gravesend at twilight

Dinner at the leather bottle

Steak and Stilton suet pudding and veggies. You'd have loved it Dad!

And finally - a soak in the spa pool!

Christmas UK style

Christmas with my UK Coleman family was very similar to my NZ Coleman family. They surprised us with 'Christmas jumpers' (all the rage) and a beautiful sparkly pearl bracelet for my birthday. Karen even got me some Snow since none came with the weather!

Greg, Karen, Uncle Pat and me at church.

Getting the lunch table ready.

Karen doing all the hard work!

The Christmas Jersey boys - Bailey, Guy and Ricky holding Brett.

Santa, Emily and Imogen.

Dinner - one direction

And the other. 

More Christmas jerseys. They gave Bazza and myself one :-)

Santa and Emily.

I finally got some snow!

Everyone :-)