Squirrels and the Eye

After Harrods, we wandered through St James Park and met some squirrels. So cute! I want one!

Then did the Palace, of course.

Surreal to think I have a photo of my Great Grandfather walking out of these gates with my Great Aunty Peggy as a wee girl, and an OBE from Queen Victoria!

So what next - the Eye!

Bazza dunnit like heights!

Not so me - ye haa!

Yes - that was blue sky there in the distance and we were treated to a spectacular sunset!

And then it was lights fantastic - a view from the Shard and Hyde Park Winter Wondetland. Fun fun fun

And the tube back to the Hotel - incredible system that it is!

Harrods

Did a bit of Christmas shopping at Harrods today. 

For Lynnie, a horse.

For Dave, a fooze ball table - £12,000

Mike - we got you an 85" @ just £38,000. 

Mel, Kelly, Leigh, Tanz, Lucy-Jane and Kris, I hope you don't mind but we got you all the same - this gold, diamond and Ruby iPhone cover, £68,000 each. 

A red Ferrari video camera for you Tracy, £19,999

A larger than life Santa for you Bernie, £3,900

You get a Range Rover Judy.

I got you a scarf Sue - in case your Dotti one wears out. This was a steal - just £390

Don't worry - plenty more days til Christmas everyone else. 

Merry Christmas!!!!

Bluewater and Cotes Brasserie

With the family before heading off to London City 

Shiv, Guy, Karen, me, Bailey, Greg, Brett, Gail, Barry, Uncle Pat, Aunty Doreen

LONDON!!!

Today we walked from our Hotel in South Kensington to Kensington Gardens through to Hyde Park, then to Oxford, then Regent Streets. We then walked the embankment to Somerset House then crossed Waterloo Bridge to Southbank which is hosting a Christmassy style German/Barvarian style market and I finally got to try some roasted chestnuts as well as salted caramel hazelnuts, spiced roasted almonds, mulled punch... 'Twas one big YUM. By 3.30-4 it was getting dark so we crossed Westminster Bridge to say hi to Big Ben before taking to tube back to the Hotel. 

Magic!

Kensington Gardens

Raven

On Southbank

Trafalgar Square

Somerset House

Big Ben

Piccadilly Circus

On Westminster Bridge

Camera photos

Thanks Pete for my new awesome camera which, thanks to its wifi, I can transfer to my phone and post here. Coolies. 

Imogen

Gravesend

Holly at Jeskyns

Barry, Greg, Karen, Simba and some other dog at Jeskyns. 

Outside the Manor Farm Barn for lunch.

Karen and Ross

Gravesend

It's surreal being at the addresses I have written on envelopes so many times for so many years. Our first meal in England was the yummiest fish and chips - fresh cod - at Uncle Pats in Sutton-at-Hone. Today we embraced Gravesend. We took the dog to Jeskyns - a massive network of walkways and tracks through open fields where on a fine day you can see London City. Then a pub lunch and a visit to Sainbury's for supplies. It's cool and crisp but no wind at all. Everything is so still!