After another overnight flight we arrived in London. It all felt very comfortable! Especially when we were going through immigration and as the guy looked at Isabel and Williams passports and saw they were born here he said to them “you guys are coming home then?”
We found our apartment in Westminster with no trouble and organised to catch up with Ainslie & Matt Kirkegaard and their children for an early dinner. The kids were very excited to see each other, especially as William, Isabel and Emelyn were in the same class at school this year.
We went to a little local pub, had a pie and mash and caught up on their travels through Europe and ours in The Americas
The next day we were greeted with rain but we ventured out to Weatminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben then to South Bank to catch up with friends Nigel and Emma and their 2 children Aiden and Milly.
It was a rainy day so we cut our walk short and headed along the Embankment over the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral and climbed the 512 stairs to the tops of the dome. We walked along Fleet Street past Simons old work, along the Strand and to Trafalgar Square.
The Christmas lights were always one of our favourite things in London so we walked to Regent Street to see the lights and then to Hamleys Toy store
It was New Years after all so we had dinner with the Kirkegaards and after dinner took them on a tour of our old stomping ground. We lured them with the promise of an old style double decker 22 to Putney, but things have changed in 10 years!!!!! However, the five enjoyed sitting right up the front on the top, in a new bus, especially when the driver took out a traffic light!!!!
We tried to find a pub to have a drink but they don’t seem to have licences for children after 7pm. We briefly considered leaving them outside but decided that was not the best idea and headed home on the tube.
The tube is free on NYE and unfortunately on one stop we had some pretty drunk revellers. One started throwing punches at his mate. Simon was squished and trapped in on the other side of the train and all I could see was 6 big eyes listening to the colourful language and behaviour. I was possessed by the protector mother and stood in front of the kids only to cop a whack to the back of the head. All was well, but note to self – don’t take kids on the tube on New Years!!!!!
Happy New Year!!! Was wonderful to read and see all the photos of Canada and folks and to read this blog of London, although Tony cant believe how unlucky you were on the tube, says thats a rare thing (personally it doesn’t surprise me!)…much love and keep blogging.
The Rahmans
x
I think for all the times we have caught the tube we were unlucky and it probably sounds worse than it was. We would not have been out like that if we lived here!!!! How are you enjoying summer?
Lovely to see you guys on Monday, as you say it doesn’t seem like 10 years at all. Very sorry you experienced the rougher side of the UK on the tube and hope you are all Ok? Look forward to reading all about your travels in Europe and maybe seeing you soon in Brisbane xx
How nice to see London again, you all look so well , there is so much to see and do there plus the history
take care and Happy New Year to you all …
lots love mum
Hi everyone, I loved the pics of Canada, a winter wonderland and the perfect way to spend xmas. I hope you are all enjoying visiting London again. I’m so glad you caught up with the Kirkegaards, we are sorry to have missed the fun.
Tania
Hi Nat, hope you’ve recovered from the tube hit. How wonderful to be back in London again – we finally saw Skyfall last night and it was great to see the London scenery. Enjoy! Look forward to the next update. Lucy x
Simon is jealous. He is dying to see Skyfall!!!
We so enjoyed catching up with you all in London. Our walk home from Earl’s Court station on NYE was far less eventful than your trip home on the tube but for the potential for trouble when a young guy was chasing his mate down the street with a fire extinguisher and I yelled out “it’s all good fun until someone loses an eye!”. Matt and the girls were horrified. And then we heard the fire extinguisher being sprayed, so we stepped it up and hurried home. Laura and I managed to stay up long enough to see midnight.
Have you reached Paris yet? It’s our last day in Copenhagen today – such a friendly city – flying home tomorrow.
Happy trails, the Kirkegaards.
Just arrived in Paris today. Have a safe trip home.
Love to catch up in Brisvegas when we return.
Lx Nat
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Happy New Year!!! Was wonderful to read and see all the photos of Canada and folks and to read this blog of London, although Tony cant believe how unlucky you were on the tube, says thats a rare thing (personally it doesn’t surprise me!)…much love and keep blogging.
The Rahmans
x
I think for all the times we have caught the tube we were unlucky and it probably sounds worse than it was. We would not have been out like that if we lived here!!!! How are you enjoying summer?
Lovely to see you guys on Monday, as you say it doesn’t seem like 10 years at all. Very sorry you experienced the rougher side of the UK on the tube and hope you are all Ok? Look forward to reading all about your travels in Europe and maybe seeing you soon in Brisbane xx
How nice to see London again, you all look so well , there is so much to see and do there plus the history
take care and Happy New Year to you all …
lots love mum
Hi everyone, I loved the pics of Canada, a winter wonderland and the perfect way to spend xmas. I hope you are all enjoying visiting London again. I’m so glad you caught up with the Kirkegaards, we are sorry to have missed the fun.
Tania
Hi Nat, hope you’ve recovered from the tube hit. How wonderful to be back in London again – we finally saw Skyfall last night and it was great to see the London scenery. Enjoy! Look forward to the next update. Lucy x
Simon is jealous. He is dying to see Skyfall!!!
We so enjoyed catching up with you all in London. Our walk home from Earl’s Court station on NYE was far less eventful than your trip home on the tube but for the potential for trouble when a young guy was chasing his mate down the street with a fire extinguisher and I yelled out “it’s all good fun until someone loses an eye!”. Matt and the girls were horrified. And then we heard the fire extinguisher being sprayed, so we stepped it up and hurried home. Laura and I managed to stay up long enough to see midnight.
Have you reached Paris yet? It’s our last day in Copenhagen today – such a friendly city – flying home tomorrow.
Happy trails, the Kirkegaards.
Just arrived in Paris today. Have a safe trip home.
Love to catch up in Brisvegas when we return.
Lx Nat