DAY 4 WINDSOR, ENGLAND 30.12.2012

 Left London today by train to Slough where i changed trains for the one to Windsor and Eton. Weather all day has been a mixture of sun and rain and a constant bone chilling eye watering wind. Feet are still sore but improving. Windsor is a lovely large village, it has that village atomsphere. I saw Diva today, so alike that i went up and spoke to the lady and patted Milly, i ended up watching the dog for 10 mins while she went into Marks and Spencer. Windsor Castle is right across the road from the statue of Queen Victoria {above}and is a most impressive building. This is a castle, its enormous and just beautiful, i didnt make it inside today because the line was longer than the one at Westminister Abbey but i will line up tomorrow. All day today the accent i heard most was American followed closely by Asian, heard one Aussie accent yesterday ! this is supposed to be the off season for tourist but there are thousands everywhere i go. I did ride the tourist bus and sitting on the open top deck nearly did me in it was that cold but its the best place to see everything. We traveled around Windsor and the little village that serves Eton College which is stunning.

 This is called the Long Walk which starts at the castle and is 3 miles long, dont know what that is in kilometers but i will walk it tomorrow, rain or shine.

 I went for a wander around the castle farm and was very impressed with what they grow, vegis and plants.

 A gorgeous choice of flowers, they didnt look real, everything is for sale sadly i cant bring one home. 

 Below is part of Eton College, beautiful building.

I had a delicous pub meal tonight and a local beer which was different. I bought a back pack today and transfered some of the stuff ive accumulated into it which has lightened the suitcase, i really struggled to get it on the train today but now its a lot easier to pick up, you dont feel the weight so much when its on your back but picking that bag up to get it up stairs or onto trains nearly killed me, hopefully now i can manage otherwise i will just dump the lot and do a Suzanne...a change of clothes in a woolies shopping bag. Ciao from chilly but lovely Windsor. kiss to Riley, Mia, Diva.

DAY 3 LONDON, ENGLAND AND LOTS OF HISTORY

 Above was taken in St James's Park. It was freezing but lovely to walk through, birds and squirrels everywhere that eat out of your hand, so many people though. The cold weather certainly doesnt deter anyone.

 I started out this morning with very sore legs from the knees down courtesy of those new boots the day before, today i wore my flat boots and the going was a lot easier. I did catch more buses today to save the legs although i wouldnt be surprised if i still managed to walk 10k's, which isnt a lot really but the terrain is cobblestones, concrete, uneven pavers all of which slow you down.

 After a trip to the post office, finally, sorry Suzanne i kept forgetting but they said Jack will have the parcel on Monday, i started walking down Glouscester road then spotted a bus saying Marble Arch so i hopped on and once at the Arch i hopped on the tourist bus and went to Trafalgar square, its freezing sitting on the open top deck of the bus but it is the best way to see everything, you just have to put up with the runny nose, watering eyes and hair whipping your face.

 The area around Buckingham Palace was packed even though it was raining and blowing an arctic wind, it is an amazing area though...history everywhere.

 i think i was the only one without a brolly, i dont have one because i dont want to carry it, hard to juggle a camera, video camera and cup of latte if i also had to hold a brolly..i'd rather have wet hair.

 I spent half hour walking around the National Gallery, sadly you cant take photos in there which is a shame because the decor and architecture inside is just stunning.

Last time i was here i took photos of the kids sitting on the lions at the base of Nelsons Column, not much has changed although everything looks cleaner which is probably because of the Olympics. I spent an hour or so in Westminister Abbey, while standing in the line which stretched for like 500m we were told that no more people would be allowed in after 1.30pm, it was now 1pm and i was worried so were the American family behind me. We crossed everything hoping we would make the door before 1.30 and we did, only just. The Americans paid for me which was so nice, they needed an extra person to get the family rate and asked me if i would go with them, when we got inside i went to give them some money and they wouldnt take it..cool. The Abbey is stunning, breath taking and worth lining up for. I touched Sir Issac Newtons tomb ! amazing beautiful dripping with history building, loved it.

After a full day i walked home in the dark, its dark bang on 4pm, got a bit lost but worked it out, came across a small sign on a building that said Centre for Possible Studies....what does that mean ? you can go in there and possibly study something ? London has lots of quirky things, i love it. I have repacked my bag and it feels heavier, not looking forward to getting it on the train, wheres Riley ? after breaky i will walk to Paddington Station which should take about 15 or 20 mins then i'm off to Windsor for 2 nights. Now its boots off and into bed.

DAY 2 LONDON, ENGLAND 28.12.2012 THE TOURIST - ME

I attempted to get into Westminister Abbey today with no success, there were thousands of people not just at the Abbey but all over London. The Abbey is enormous, this photo only shows a bit of it, cant wait to see inside.The temp is about 9, feels like 0 because of the cold wind blowing and my 15min walk to Oxford street this morning was done in rain. Maybe i should buy an umbrella because my hair was soaked and dripping. I will try the Abbey again in the morning.

It felt strange seeing all this, memories of the kids were strong today as i went to places that i'd been to with them. Can you guess who the statue is by the posture ?

The Theatre Royal in Drury Lane is showing Shrek the musical. This part of London is lovely, so much history, up this street and turn left to Covent garden.

Lunch time in Covent Garden, the biggest dish of Paella ever and it was delicous.

Ice skating at the Tower of London, what else would you use a castle moat for ? i wish i was braver, but i witnessed several people fall and try to get back up...funny but i didnt want that to be me and it would have if i had put the skates on.

An evening cruise on the Thames. The weather was drab but i still loved every minute of the day. I did so much walking that tonight my legs actually hurt, possibly because i wore my new suede boots that have heels. My shins hurt, i think the heels are too high but they are so pretty.

Suzanne re Darling Diva...she is smart and she doesnt like the heat, too funny that she turned and walked back, glad shes still alive. You are going to love it here and i will save up so Mia and i can join you for a few weeks because to walk around here with you and your Mia will be so much fun...Ciao from cold windy crowded but gorgeous London.

PS - i bought a video camera at Argos on sale, i will have hundreds of photos and hours of video to bore everyone with !

I'M BAAAAAACK ! Day 1 LONDON, ENGLAND

 27th December 2012. First off its cold, not freezing but cold..reached a high of 6 i think. It is so lovely to be back in London, i’ve been walking around all day grinning even though it rained nearly all day and i was drenched, only the bits not covered by the jacket. The B&B i’m staying in is really nice, built in the 1800’s and its like stepping back in time. The street is just off Marylebone road and it’s really old world stuff, i love it. I walked down to Oxford street after checking in, the lady who checked me in is Polish and gave me her mums address in Krakow Poland if i need somewhere to stay, she said Krakow is lovely so i may go there, mmmmm. I spent the day walking and admiring. Had a coffee at Marble Arch before walking back, there are people everywhere, shopping was bedlam because of the after Christmas sales but i enjoyed it. Winter Wonderland is on in Hyde Park, the kids and i went there 3 years ago and i will probably go tomorrow night. The flight over was never ending and full of screaming toddlers and crying babies, fun. Its been about 36 hrs since i woke up in Katherine, i’m finally getting tired so this entry will be short, sorry Suzanne. Tomorrow will be spent sight seeing and just enjoying being here again, i don’t even use a map to walk around, feels like home, love it. I walked back to the hotel tonight via a different road, Edgeware then turned onto Old Marlebone, didnt get lost, it's lovely walking in the dark when its cold, not really dark because of all the lights and cars. It felt funny walking around streets that i last walked with Riley and Mia, i could see Mia in her red jacket walking in front of me down Oxford street and into Primark, hundreds of people in there again Mia but i scored us some nice stuff but i wish you were here because you're better at picking things out than me. More tomorrow. Ciao from beautiful wet cold London

had a coffee with this mob at Marble Arch

 St Marys church behind my hotel, the bells chime every hour

 this is my neighbourhood....love it. the sign on the gate to the park says " no ball kicking " lucky Riley's not here.