Yes you win! I am in Ealing. It is raining outside which it has been all day although – what’s that? A patch of blue?! Ah no clouded over… sigh. The FA Cup is on. Arsenal v Man United (I think). We are staying with R&J who came over to our wedding all those years ago.

They now have two boys, with (yes you guessed it) the reddest hair you’ve ever seen. Our kids have been playing nicely and I now have a few minutes to talk with you and update you on our travels.

Now last we spoke we were in Bath. After the email session we went to the Roman Baths – a 2000 year old bathing complex unearthed in the heart of Bath itself. It is a fantastic relic with very funny guides and it was a thrill to run my hand through the warm (46C) waters from the spring that fills the bath. They also have a great audio tour which fills you in on many of the features.

For me one of the highlights was realising that Minerva – the Roman goddess the baths is named after (along with Sulis the Celtic goddess), is in fact the Roman version of Pallas Athena. I was home! I love Bath. The Georgian buildings, the atmosphere. It’s all good.

They are building and have been for some time, a new spa, using the hot waters of the spring but sadly, although the opened the building two years ago, it is yet to be in operation. Problems beset them. First I believe it was the open air swimming pool at the top which was so defiled by defecating pigeons that it failed public health standards. It will be great when it is finally finished. Price tag = £40 Million.

Anyway after Bath we headed back to London and arriving a bit early we headed to the Natural History Museum for a little look around. Lots of very big dinosaur exhibits is my main impression of that. We had a quick look through the V&A too but were a bit hungry and tired by that stage.

We then headed to Highbury to catch up with our old neighbours and friends. K was there to greet us (and direct us by phone). They live in a small house near a big park and even have an allotment! The first people I know with an allotment. Apparently M waited 9 years for someone to die or get divorced so he could plant a few veg… bless.

Anyway we had a lovely dinner and several too many wines and camped out in their spare room which was fantastic of them. It can’t have been easy with all of us there! The line of the night came from Georgia. Groover said that we should do a house exchange one day… to which she quipped “Yeah, forever!”. G would like to move back to Australia!

Next morning we walked the kids to school – that is L & G, E was staying home, and on the way back I took a photo of the front of the house that was in Four Weddings and a Funeral – you know the end scene in the rain – which is just around the corner. Foods rich in cialis uk pamelaannschoolofdance.com selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B3 and its the blood enlarging impact of this vitamin that can support your sexual coexistence, particularly the individuals who have erectile dysfunction suffered from anxieties. It is a temporary condition is the person that an individual must cialis levitra generika look out for in case of any sexual issues including erectile dysfunction. My wife Patricia surprised me when have a peek at this site buy levitra she sat beside and started caressing me. These devices have the ability to increase dopamine levels in the brain and protect viagra online ordering nerve cells against a wide, and growing, number of neurotoxins, it has been found to be especially beneficial for alzhiemer’s disease treatment and treatment of early parkinson’s disease where all other medicines have failed to provide any beneficial effect. Felt like a real tourist but it had to be done.

We then caught the tube into central London and managed to walk to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard – along with a thousand other people. They came in, played a few toons and stomped about a bit and then stomped off as they do everyday. Amazing.

We were a bit tired by then so Groover decided we ought to experience a ride in a London Cab, which took us back to the station and back to Highbury.

It was very gritty in London and Dippity and I spent a lot of time trying to dislodge bits of soot which seem to find our eyes magnetic – as I’m sure you have (hehe).

Then it was time to move the car to our next lodging at Tower Bridge. Well that was an experience driving in London Traffic. Groover had prepaid the conjestion tax – nightmare – so we drove right through the centre (it works by the way) – to the Tower of London and we found our self contained apartment overlooking the Thames – well the muddy bottom of the Thames.

It had a washing machine – bliss – and I soon stripped the kids and started washing. I guess I hadn’t expected the weather to be quite so rainy – the kids only have a couple of cold weather outfits. I don’t know what I was thinking. This is England you know!

Groover’s sister joined us a bit later on and we all trooped out to see the London Dungeon…

Groover by some miracle managed to get us in free – don’t ask me how – unfortunately we were with a group of screaming giggling Czech Republicans who needed translations but it was a lot of fun. Especially memorable was D being signalled out in the Courtroom and tried for being a witch – she had been found dancing naked on the common begging evil spirits for a man apparently – this caused a great deal of hilarity among our party. Well Groover and I doubled up in laughter, D only managed a wry smile…

Then Dtook the kids off for a meal and an early night and Groover and I went out for a night on our own. Well to about half eight – we were knackered! We found a restaurant though that served grey squirril on the menu! Grey squirril – wouldn’t that be akin to eating rat?

Anyway D had settled in with a bottle of wine so we stayed up chatting til it was finished – Groover having gone off to bed at 9!

Next day we got organised and headed off for the Tower of London having left the car at the apartment which was great. The Tower was huge – far bigger than I remember but I think I did the same bits as last time – nearly 20 years before. I must go back one day and AVOID the crown jewels and the white tower. We went on a walking tour with a Yeoman Warder to start with and he was a treasure – very funny. Especially at the end when after exhorting us all to turn off our mobile phones as we entered the chapel – his went off!! Very funny.

It was the day after the anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s execution and there were fresh flowers in the chapel and on the tower green where she died.

It was all too much for the kids though and after a couple of hours they had had enough. We left to catch a tube to Westminster then for the London Eye. Big queue. Expensive tickets. Impressive view. Luckily the weather had cleared and we could see to the horizon.

By the time we got back to the car it was five o’clock and we started for Ealing. Two hours later in Friday night peak hour traffic we got to R & Js where we had a lovely dinner and sleep. But we have done enough sightseeing for now. Tonight dinner with friends and possibly cards…. 🙂

A final thought and a little joke to share with you thanks to Radio 4.

The thought is that if you are planning a trip to London check out wotif.com and tripadviser.com, they have been invaluable at scoring us fantastic (and discounted) accommodation. We managed to get the Tower Bridge apartment at a third of its normal rate.

And this is the joke: Why did Chris de Burgh cross the road? To get to the middle. (the middle of the road – geddit!)

When next we meet I will be in sunny Italy – well hopefully sunny…. ciao!