Hampton Court

What an amazing day at Hampton court. I spent several hours there but could have easily spent another whole day just wandering the gardens or going into the maze. Again you can not take photos inside but you certainly could outside.

I also went down to Shakespeare’s Theatre but it was late in the day and I was disappointed to see that the outside had lots of balustrades around it so I did not pay the money to go in.

In the morning I have to be up around 5:30am so that I can go to the Airport to head for Dublin. A week traveling around Ireland is next and I am looking forward to it. Partly because I won’t be alone for this part of my holiday which means I have someone to talk to instead of random strangers. It seems my red scarf liked to attract that sort of thing today…

Here are some of the photos from Hampton Court:










Westminster and National Maritime Museum

Westminster was amazing. Of course your not allowed to take photos in most of it.

The National Maritime museum did have some great stuff on Nelson and some very old artifacts but other than that it was pretty ordinary. Yes Emmett you can say ‘I told you so’. However I still did not think that the British National Maritime Museum would be that ordinary.. There was heaps of stuff on the military history and a bit of artwork but no boats other than a a couple of little things and a 49er! Yes I am serious!

Here are a couple of shots:





Today I got to see English Weather I think. Rain, Pouring Rain, Rain Etc etc. My shoes are a little blue thanks to my jeans. I guess they have never had to deal with that in Sydney! My feet were pretty wet by the end of the day but I was not going to stop sight seeing just because of funny feeling feet! So far I have been fine with the Temperature and what I have brought is well and truly more than enough to keep me warm.

Tomorrow I am hoping on getting to see Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Hampton Court. Well that is the plan anyway…

Field of Remembrance

Some things deserve their own post. This is certainly one of them. Some information from the Westminster Abbey website:

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh opened the Royal British Legion Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday.
The sea of scarlet poppies on Remembrance Crosses is laid out by the Poppy Factory in over 230 plots for regimental and other associations.

Prayers were said by the Dean, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, and Canon Robert Wright, Rector of St Margaret’s. Mrs Sara Jones, president of the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory and widow of the Falklands VC hero Colonel H Jones, invited The Duke of Edinburgh to lay a Cross of Remembrance. The Last Post was sounded from the parapet of St Margaret’s by trumpeters of the Household Cavalry. Afterwards the Duke toured the plots and signed the visitors’ book in St Margaret’s Church.

 

The Remembrance crosses are provided so that ex-servicemen and women, as well as members of the public, can plant a cross in memory of their fallen comrades and loved ones with the Field remaining standing as a touching symbol throughout the period of Remembrance.

Every year poppies are worn, wreaths are laid and the nation turns its attention towards remembrance. At the Poppy Factory this means the culmination of a year’s effort, producing over 30 million poppies, 500,000 poppies of other types, five million Remembrance Petals and up to 100,000 Wreaths. The workforce responsible for this is made up of predominately disabled people, who are either ex-Service or dependants of ex- Service people. In addition to the regular workers at the factory, there are some home-workers, assembling poppies in their own homes. Most are house bound by either chronic sickness or disability. There are others too in residential homes or disabled groups who also help make the poppies.
The photos are taken by me today whilst wandering around having a good look. Whilst at Westminster I also got to see Michael Drayton on the wall which was awesome.

There is Sun in London!

There is Sun in London!

What a day.
It was very exciting to hear first thing this morning that Sarah’s Cafe has won the True Local Business awards. YAY for Sarah!

Today I have seen lots of things. Yet again I did not get around to lunch. Just some biscuits and water during the day as there was so much to do. I’m now in the room where I can access the internet and my goodness is it a nice room. Oh and the bag on the bed has already died thanks to a broken strap. Damn eh. There is also a couch to sit on. The best part of course is the bath. I might just try it out later tonight.

This photo is from last night when the sun was going down. It really was an amazing view.
So much to see but of course the best bits you can not take photos of. Like the Crown Jewels and the Tower of London or the Queens Gallery at Buckingham Palace. Now that was incredible. I have never seen so much Gold in all my life! Seriously incredible. The art work was amazing as well but I still can not get over the jewels. The was one crown which was several centuries old and a favourite of the Queens Mother which was amazing.

The bus I have a pass for takes me all around London to see the major sights and has tour guides chatting away. It has been easy to do because of this and there are lots more photos obviously. Here is some:

To the right we have Trafalgar Square.

And to the left is the front of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Lot’s more below!


In London

I’m in London

Well I made it here. Managed to get 4 seats to myself on the plane for the longer part of the trip too!

My phone is now working but please only send sms due to the cost… Argh.

Today I went for a walk along Oxford street and saw the most important thing. THE DISNEY STORE! Yes it was amazing to finally see a two story one. It was sad though and I could not bring myself to get anything. The gloves were not what I was after and I would have bought far too many socks if I had bought things…

I then jumped on my two day bus tour and went around a fair part of London to work out where I want to actually get off tomorrow and have a closer look. Some pretty cool stuff and whilst chatting on the phone just now I had bagpipes in the back ground with the sun going down with the lights on the Parliament! Very cool realisation that i am here.

Anyway tomorrow is a huge day and I am exhausted from the flight but have managed to not sleep yet! YAY!

I should have internet sorted in my room tomorrow (they are moving me) so will be able to do pictures etc then hopefully.

Cheers,
Mel

Heading to Europe in 2008

Europe November 2008

It’s now just 5 days to go till I will be sitting on a Qantas plane to London. I will be away for most of the month of November. I am going to the following places:

London: 6-10

  • I get to catch up with Dave!

Ireland: 10-17

  • Where I will be travelling around a fair bit by car to see as much as possible along with enjoying all the local food.

Amsterdam 17-22

Paris 22-25

  • Time to be a tourist and see the sights over the weekend.

Germany 25-27

  • I get to see the Liros factory!

I get back on Saturday the 29th of November.