London, the highs and the lows!

Well that little jaunt will always be remembered for its ups and downs that's for sure...!  The good points? Loads!  London was beautiful, almost exactly as I remember it from 20 odd years ago, although a lot busier. I got to see Buckingham Palace, met Prince Charles...  Oh yes I did!  I was stopped by a handsome Police Man when I was about to cross the road, stood and waited, saw two big cars coming out of Clarence House and the second car had a very handsome, well adorned Prince Charles in it.  I kid you not.  

I also got to go to the National Gallery and saw Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers".  Amazing.  I saw every brush stroke, could almost feel him painting it.  Was a strangely emotional moment for me and I'm so glad I got to see it first hand.

And of course we had the two birthday presents:

 The Palace Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.  Absolutely gorgeous road, we had a lovely meal in Soho, Eldest had her first whisky sour (twas her birthday after all!) , and we got to see the world's longest running musical.  Weren't we lucky?!

 Smaller than I expected, but perfectly formed nonetheless, like all little things...!

 Waiting for the show to start.  In the cheap seats but who cares!?

Think she enjoyed it! 

It was absolutely brilliant!

We also went to Abbey Road for Robbie's early birthday present.  He's a massive Beatles fan, as are all of us, and was very keen to add to the wall...

 Superior photographer Wendy takes a picture of a silver car.  While Robbie makes a valiant effort to be a lone Beatle crossing the famous zebra crossing!

I am married to a hippy...

So, we squeezed in some sightseeing too:

 Buckingham Palace.  Very big, the Queen must be rattling around in there!

 This carriage kept coming back and forth.  Makes one wonder what was in the back...!

 A wander through the park.  Was needing a bit of green.

 An old double decker.  Much nicer than the new modern ones in my opinion.  Mind you, I think all old things are nicer than modern things.

We had tea in the crypt.  Very thirsty work this sightseeing lark.

 The blue cockeral at Trafalgar Square.

 Machine guns at Downing Street.  Such a friendly, approachable government we have...

 Me wearing a Big Ben hat at the Houses of Parliament.

And finally my rebel husband proudly holding his Yes for Scottish Independence sign that he'd had tucked in his pocket all day for this very reason.

So they were the highlights and we'll always remember them.  But oh my, there were a few negatives that we must learn from!

1.  Never let hubby drive from Scotland to London, then York, then Leeds, then back to Scotland.  Over 1000 miles and very few of them pleasurable.

2.  Never take a car that can't get above 50mph without squealing with pain...

3.  Don't pack a picnic for the car on the way down.  No one will eat it and your strawberries will leak all over your Cath Kidston bag...

4.  Don't try and get accommodation, at night, in York, during the Races.  This may lead to having to drive to the next city at 2am to book into the only remaining hotel on Plant Earth.  For £160 you don't have.

5.  On the same night don't assume you can just go home.  The motorway could be shut for the night...  (I swear...)

6.  Don't assume your Youngest, who is very shy and struggles with crowds, will enjoy everything you throw at her.  Expect many tears.

Hahahaha...  Am laughing about it now....!!

Be back soon!

Wendy x