Chris and Jenny
Sunday August 1st--a visit to Chalfont for a walk in Burnham Beeches with long-time friends Chris and Jennifer--a tradition to see them on the last day! We had a last meal with the family at an Italian restaurant -- where Jacqui, Tom and Michael shared some thoughts about
Overseas
Saturday 31st, we visited the Victoria and Albert museum, shopped in Harrods (where else?) and in the evening, for Mary's birthday, the family took us for a nice meal in Covent Garden at Chez Gerards then on to the Apollo Theatre for a performance of the musical '
Overseas
Friday we also visited the Albert Hall, where the 'Prom' concerts are in full swing. As we were walking around the foyer, who should arrive from their hotel, but members of the Australian Youth Orchestra, for their one-night performance of a piece by Shostakovitch--we greeted them
Overseas
Yesterday, Friday 30th, was the FIRST DAY of the new London bike hire system--we were all prepared to use them and make history! The attendant told us that we had to register and get a 'key' which would take three days--great disappointment. Daughter Jacqui was on
Overseas
Thursday 29th July we moved to Baden Powell Hotel in Kensington, after a nightmare trip returning the AVIS car to kensington --the GPS was an absolute God-send, with one-way streets, road works and things all causing changes of route. For some reason the lady on the GPS didn&
Overseas
Moving to Emsworth near Chichester on Tuesday 27th July, we stayed in a sort of 'stately House' hotel run by a family, visited Myra and spent a day at Bob's Mum and Dad's retirement town of Selsey, with Clifford, where we saw yat ANOTHER
Overseas
In Burleigh Tor, near Minchinhampton (Monday 26th) we caught up with Mike and Judith Mancktelow--schoolfriends from our 'Downer Grammar' days --who took us around the historic city of Bath with its baths and the Abbey. We discovered later that Sydney friends roger and Lorraine had spent a
Overseas
This is the house we are staying at--which looks suburban, but is a hundred metres from the beach. It sleeps nine and is extremely well appointed. In Cheltenham we caught up with the Godfrey's from Sydney--including Jason--due to return to Sydney this week. Rob informed
Overseas
Saturday--visited NT property +6000 acres of Kingston Lacey--home of the Bankes family for over 300 years, with some splendid formal gardens. Our great-niece Jamie (2 years) enjoyed it all. In the grounds were a 23 strong scout group from a local district on a 7-day camp.
Overseas
This evening we visited Geoff (now OBE!) and Patsy at Ringwood --schoolfriend from Downer Grammar days. Geoff is now a vegetable--I mean vegetable gardener. Thanks Patsy--for the excellent meal!
Overseas
Thursday 22nd--our (now temporarily extended) family went to Corfe Castle (ruins of--dating from 1100ad) and then a cream tea in the National trust cafe on site. Later we swam off the local beach in 15deg C water--!!
Overseas
At a Saxon village -Wareham--with Saxon walls--we found a Saxon church --over 1000 years old. Later this afternoon we expect a sister-in-law, niece, husband and baby to arrive for a couple of days.