Well we’ve done much of what we had (or hadn’t) planned to do here in London including all the usual sightseeing bits:

Bought a 2 day ticket on the hop on hop off bus and basically did a straight circuit first day then the next day once we had our bearings, worked out where we wanted to get on and off.

On our second day we headed to Westminster Abbey where I spent and hour or so just in awe at some of the amazing memorials inside.Kemm wasn’t overly interested so he waited outside for me. I could have spent a lot more time there had I been on my own – it reminded me very much of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in Rome – just full of such amazing history, artifacts and memorials. There was a public Eucharist service happening whilst we were there – I even lit a candle in Westminster Abbey for Dad amongst all the other candles burning in memory.

Westminster Abbey is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English monarchs and is also where most Kings and Queens of England are buried. Some of the most famous to lie here, include the poets John Dryden, Tennyson, Robert Browning and John Masefield. Many writers, including William Camden, Dr. Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Rudyard Kipling and Thomas Hardy are also buried here as well as Charles Dickens.

From there we went on to the Thames River for a cruise up the river and took all the compulsory photos etc. A bit cool on the upper deck but fortunately the rain stayed away. from there we went into the Tower of London where the Crown Jewels are kept – they also are an amzing set of of priceless coronation and formal wear garments and headwear. The Crown Jewels are  the greatest working collection of Crown Jewels in the world and priceless symbols of British monarchy. They include the world’s most famous diamonds, the enormous Cullinan I and the notorious Koh-i-Noor are part of the collection that includes 23,578 in total.

Yesterday I wanted to head to “Harrod’s” to – do some shopping???? Well it’s a FABULOUS store but not exactly one to go ‘shopping’ at unless there’s heaps of money in the pockets! Most people in the store were doing exactly as we were and just gawking in amazement! I’ve never seen such a beautiful but highly priced store anywhere! Kemm and I wandered through the fresh meat and seafood area and whoa!  the prices were something else!! Not sure who buys their fresh produce form Harrod’s as there was no-one at any counters! Lots of people buying the tiniest little things though as momentos of ‘shopping at Harrods’. There are even store “guidelines” about what is expected when visiting the store!

Brian – almost bought you a new golf cart – it was only 16,900 pounds ($30,000AUD)!! But geez, it would look good whizzing around Windaroo! Have a look at the photos.

After our shopping expedition Kemm suggested we head out to where he used to live 40 years ago!!! which is what we did. Jumped on the ‘Tube’ again and off we went – the palce hadn’t changed in 40 years except for a red door now not a white door!

After that it was back home again for an afternoon doze – the 2 previous afternoons we had gone to sleep about 3.30pm and then 5.00pm and slept right through! But tonight we were meeting my niece Jenna for dinner. and yes, Elly and Nicky – we booked in at Almeida’s and had a delightful dinner. Such a lot of little eateries in that area – so thanks for the upfront Nicky!

Today we went to Madame Tussaud’s and queued for an hour!!! Anyway it was a fabulous place – the figures just SO lifelike! Also went through a 4D Imax like short movie – we were actually laughing at the interactive bits – our chairs had puffs of air blow at each of our ears with particular whoosh’s on screen, they vibrated (of course) and every now and then when there was a water splash on screen, we were lightly sprayed from overhead with water! The other great laugh was when someone got stabbed on screen, the back of the seat punched us in the back!! A bit of fun anyway!

But that’s it for London – we’re off to the Netherlands early tomorrow morning – a reasonable full day of travel ahead of us so will send more when we’re settled there.