Three Wonderful Weeks!

Last Wednesday I took my sister to Heathrow airport and said goodbye to her! It was a really sad time! And for a couple of days I missed her terribly. Having someone to share my everyday moments with had been so very special. Talking to a baby all day just isn’t quite the same. And because I am only here in London for three months, I haven’t the same friendship base that I have back home in New Zealand. I must drive Daniel and Marysia to despair when they get home from work. I chat about every little thing that Sophie and I got up to during the day, and believe me it’s not all that interesting. But still, I am loving my time here and I do try to make the most of every day. And, I am happy 🙂

Judy had flown over from New Zealand to London to keep me company for three weeks, and we certainly made the most of our time together. Not only did we see some amazing places, but being together did something in my soul. I felt such joy at being able to share my ‘life in London’ with her and also seeing new places with her by my side to chat over details and laugh! Boy did we have some good laughs! I am so spoilt to have a sister that I get on so well with and we enjoy each others company…. lots!

Judy arrived on her birthday, the 4th of November, and that is the day our fun together started. Sophie and I got up early to catch a bus to the train station, and then the Piccadilly underground to Heathrow airport, terminal two. The trip takes approximately an hour and a half on the tube, and ten minutes on the bus. It was a good trip and we stood at arrivals and waited excitedly to greet Judy as soon as we could see her. And then it was back on the tube with baby in pram, and my sister and suitcase in tow! Then dragging that suitcase on and off the train, up the escalator, on the bus, off the bus, and then down the road to home 🙂 All to be reversed the day Judy left hehe 🙂

The next day Marysia stayed home with Sophie, so Judy and I could spend the day in London together. Our first stop was Harrods!

Me with my cup of tea :-) — Me with my cup of tea 🙂

Our plan was to go and book in for the tour of Buckingham Palace. Both of us have been to London before and had the celebratory photo taken outside the palace gates, but we hadn’t been inside. We ventured off feeling very excited at the prospect only to be told once there that the palace was now closed to visitors until after Christmas!!! How disappointing! But we were told we could tour the Royal Mews instead. The stables with carriage houses? Why not? So off we went and if you have a look at the photos, you will see that we had plenty to look at. Actually it was really quite interesting.

Here I am with one of the first carriages we saw

And we did get another photo taken in front of Buckingham Palace :-) — And we did get another photo taken in front of Buckingham Palace 🙂

A lovely view on the walk from Buckingham Palace

And as we were going to Piccadilly Circus for tea and a show so we just had to have a look at M&M world!

Our next venture into London was to meet up with my friend Bessie. We decided that Westminster Abbey would be a great place to start. Unfortunately we didn’t realise that there was a huge ceremony going on in town to remember the soldiers from world wars one and two. The town was crowded and the two places we wanted to see were just packed with people.

Westminster Abbey on a very busy day in November. Celebrating and remembering 11/11/1945

Little crosses in place in rememberance of the lives lost

And a little video of my visit to Wesminster Abbey in October…

The Parliament Buildings and the Clock Tower, Big Ben! View from the Westminster Bridge.

At Westminster beside the Thames is this artwork!

More on another wall :-) — More on another wall 🙂

We walked to Covent Garden and saw the Christmas decorations there

It was amazing at just how much effort had gone in to decorate the buildings

And then as it was getting late in the day we caught the bus to london Bridge and the Tower of London. the traffic was horrendous and the bus trip took way longer than it should have. We arrived as it was getting dark but we still managed to see all the wonderful ceramic poppies that were ‘planted’ in the Tower of London, also to help us to remember the lives lost in wars.

The poppies in the ground of the Tower of London with London Bridge in the distance

Another wall of the Tower with the poppies below

It was as if they were pouring from the wall!

Now there is a train station by the Tower of London but it was packed with people. It also had steps and we had Sophie in the pram. So after a long walk Judy and I managed to get to another station that had a lift and us three very tired people managed to get home again. What fun!

On our next venture into London we visited the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Waiting patiently outside for our turn to go into the house

Judy in Sherlocks Lounge :-) — Judy in Sherlocks Lounge 🙂

Judy with Sherlocks hat and pipe :-) — Judy with Sherlocks hat and pipe 🙂

We wandered down to Oxford Street and walked through Selfridges. Selfridges is voted the best department store in the world and has all the designer collections and must haves (toys and gifts) for the whole family.

Now who could buy me this for Christmas?

Just a small portion of the Play-Doh display

Selfridges had the most amazing Christmas decorations!

I think I could make these amazing Christmas Stockings!

Selfridges had a room that was just about Paddington Bear!

And their window displays were a work of art inside and out! Fully decorated :-) — And their window displays were a work of art inside and out! Fully decorated 🙂

And then we move on to John West Department Store and their Christmas toy is the Penguin named Monty. These sell out every day! — And then we move on to John Lewis Department Store and their Christmas toy is the Penguin named Monty. These sell out every day!

Here is a link to their very cute Christmas advert…

We finished off the day with a meal at Bubba Gumps Restaurant... Yum! — We finished off the day with a meal at Bubba Gumps Restaurant… Yum!

Our next venture into London was to see the British Museum

And then on to the Victoria and Albert Museum

Here's Judy on the steps. The place is huge! — Here’s Judy on the steps. The place is huge!

Still the museum but the other side of the inner courtyard

Our first view of the Prince Albert Hall

Next day! On our way to the Zoo we stopped at Camden Town. Well known for the shop fronts, Goth clothes for sale, the markets and the Camden Lock.

And evidence of our very short trip to the London Zoo. Sophie was having an off day and cried the whole time.... so we left! — And evidence of our very short trip to the London Zoo. Sophie was having an off day and cried the whole time…. so we left!

London by night.. along bankside :-) — London by night.. along bankside 🙂 The top of St Pauls in the middle!

Early on in our walk along the bank of the river Thames. Great views.

A Carousel by night :-) — A Carousel by night 🙂

The Parliament Buildings and Big Ben at night

Looking across the Thames at the London Eye :-) — Looking across the Thames at the London Eye 🙂

On the last Friday that Judy was in London, we caught the train into London again, but this time we were to meet up with Dan and Marysia after work.

We went to Borough Market for lunch with Marysia and afterwards went for a walk to St Pauls to meet up with Daniel after work.

Outside The Shakespeare Globe Theater. The ‘YOU+’ Sign was for a friend 🙂

Crossing The Millenium Bridge with St Pauls Cathedral at the end.

I crossed this bridge earlier in my time in London with Sophie after visiting the Tate Museum.

Pushing Sophie across the Millenium Bridge

St Pauls Cathedral. — St Paul’s Cathedral.

We had time to spare so we went to the Museum Of London. And it was well worth the visit :-) — We had time to spare so we went to the Museum Of London. And it was well worth the visit 🙂

The night Sky at St James Square. Walking to Piccadilly Circus for tea.

After Dan and Marysia finished work we all went to The Rainforest cafe for tea. A great experience and Sophie loved the animals.

Here’s a short film of Sophie with the gorillas at The rainforest Cafe…

We visited Fortnum and Mason on our way to the Train Station. A very extravagant shop! Here is one of the displays.

Another shop display. Just one of the very many I could have taken photos of. They were all very special.

Here's another example of the fabulous displays in this shop. — Here’s another example of the fabulous displays in this shop.

No! This one is definitely better :-) Sorry Judy :-) — No! This one is definitely better 🙂 Sorry Judy 🙂

A mall with it's christmas decorations... but it was closed this night. — A mall with it’s christmas decorations… but it was closed this night.

On Judy’s last Saturday we all went to Winchester to have a look at their Christmas markets. It is a two hour drive south of Barnet where Dan and Marysia live, but it was definitely worth the trip.

One of the many stalls selling food and Mulled wine.

The brave people trying out the ice skating rink... in the rain and cold! — The brave people trying out the ice skating rink… in the rain and cold!

The stalls were all around the Cathedral and on the main streets

The main street with the old buildings and crowds of people

So on the Sunday, the last day Judy and I could venture out without Sophie we decided to do all the other things we had planned to do, but just hadn’t had time. We left nice and early and caught the tube to Baker Street station. The first place to go was Madame Tussards Wax Museum. What a lot of fun!

Yes that's me and Johnny Depp! — Yes that’s me and Johnny Depp!

Looks like Judy is trying to push Marilyn off the stage hehe

Why oh why Robin??? You look so happy here, and were so successful and loved! Money and fame sure doesn't bring happiness! — Why oh why Robin??? You look so happy here, and were so successful and loved! Money and fame sure doesn’t bring happiness!

The wax museum was very interactive. You could pose with all the models and the 4D movie experience at the end was all laughs. Judy and I had so much fun and were so thrilled we went!

And from the wax museum it was onto the London Eye! What an amazing experience, even in the rain!

Here's Judy in the eye :-) — Here’s Judy in the eye 🙂

The fantastic view, even through wet windows!

And after that fabulous experience we went on the London Dungeon Tour. I have seen this advertise the last twice I was in London but thought it would just be all touristy and not really worth going to, but it was well worth it. It lasted an hour and a half and was entertaining the whole way through. Great actors and also great scene sets!

Lastly for the day we wandered through Hyde Park and the Winter Wonderland. Luckily this was the first weekend it had opened. We were able to wander around and enjoy the place. I went again the following Saturday night with Marysia and Sophie in her pram and it was a nightmare. The people were squashed in like sardines! And we had to find Daniel. Consequently we didn’t stay long!

The Haunted house. The only ride Judy and I went on! It was great!

On our ride. Like kids again :-) — On our ride. Like kids again 🙂

Monday we relaxed, Tuesday we walked to Alexandra Palace and Wednesday was the trip to Heathrow Airport by the Piccadilly underground line!

It was uphill all the way to the Palace, but a great walk :-) — It was uphill all the way to the Palace, but a great walk 🙂

Alexandra Palace. This isn't far from Dan and Marysias place. Judy and I walked to the Palace, had a super lunch, and then back home again in the dark. — Alexandra Palace. This isn’t far from Dan and Marysias place. Judy and I walked to the Palace, had a super lunch, and then back home again in the dark.

Another view of Ally Pally :-) — Another view of Ally Pally 🙂

Now in amongst all the above places and things we saw, Judy and I also went to two shows, both were wonderful! We went to Les Miserables after our first dinner at Rainforest Cafe. Both great experiences! And we also went to Billy Elliot. That was actually Judys Birthday present as she arrived in London on her birthday 🙂

We also had the three day weekend in Switzerland. So all in all we definitely had three amazing weeks together. And can you see why I missed her so much when she left?

Three Wonderful Weeks!

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