Sunday- affter a long and slighty boozy lunch ( we were dehydrated) we decided to knock one of the tourist "to do" activities off. We headed to the catacombs. A long line and an official informed us the our arrival at 3.30 meant we were too late as it closed at 4pm. I questioned this as my information said 5pm. I asked for a recommendation of other nearby activities but he had no idea. Stepped into adjacent park area and watched as Andy Roddick and his entourage were given the same information. They too were furious as they had rung to [View Full Entry]

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A very early start on Friday morning, taxi came at 4 .15 to take us to St Pancras, sat around for ages then waiting to leave on the 5.25am. I had brought the picnic back pack so we could particpate in the planned Bookcrossing picnics, this excited the Customs officials who pulled to bits and swabbed it for drugs. T and S were carrying it, James and I had already gone through and thisdid make us a little anxious. Most pleasant way to travel and James and S managed to have a doze. Arrived at Gare de Nord and couldn't reconcile [View Full Entry]

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Anne writing A quiet day needed as a very early start tomorrow 5.35am from St Pancras, ridiculous hour, but an immense saving. James thought the station most attractive the other day so we decided to walk there again, taking in the British Library on the way. The treasures room at the library is amazing, old and relatively new manuscripts with a great display for Beatles fans of the early lyrics for Hard Days night scribbled on the back of a birthday card of Julians by John, Michelle and Yesterday were also on display drafted on the back of an envelope and [View Full Entry]

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Anne writes: Used the London Bus System this morning, I prefer it. I feel like I am in control , I can sit with the map on my knee and follow where the driver of the big bendy bus is taking us, Secondly it is not hot and smelly like the underground, there were loads of seats and it left from our front gate and took us all the way to our destination the Nationla Gallery. National Gallery, number 2 on Trip Advisor after the Big Fat Tires and I agree. Billions of dollars of amazing works of art and all [View Full Entry]

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Anne writing Tuesday 19 May and we decided to be very brave and tackle the underground alone, this included a change at Embankment so we could get to the Science Museum. To me it seemed more like a transport museum although we did participate in the online GM debate and James designed small blue tomatoes with lots of flavour, and ones the size of pumpkins that were tasteless. The Natural History Museum was calling out to us so back we went and "did" the red zone earthquakes and volcanoes. After a very expensive and uninspiring lunch ( my resolve to save [View Full Entry]

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James writing Today I went to the Camden markets and we had lunch near the canal, I got a brazilian burger it was huge. Then we noticed a long house boat and it was a very beautiful and clean boat with nice people that own the boat. We had a chat to him about his boat and stuff then he had to get the boat through the lock and he offerd me to help him. So I pushed the lock thinking it wouldn't be so tough but I gave it a push and boy it was so so heavy. The man [View Full Entry]

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Monday morning, hosts T & S have gone off to work and there is time before James and I wander up the road to experience the delights of the Camden Markets minus the weekend crowds. So I shall now tell you of the sinking feeling one gets when the UK Customs official enquires as to your relationship to the child accompanying you. Young NZ Maori and white middle aged woman raises eyebrows and then comes a term that turns my bowels to water - Child Trafficking. I am his grandmother I protest, he and his mother live with me. So of [View Full Entry]

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We both had a full nights sleep and a lazy start to the day. Decided to walk the 20 minutes from where we are staying to the London Zoo. James has never seen a gorilla before so we were thrilled to see them up nice and close. The zoo seems to be very animal friendly. Disappointingly we had heard about an enormous elephant park, but it is not at the London zoo you have to travel quite some distance and I don't think we will be able to go. We were pleased we didn't pay to go the butterfly house at [View Full Entry]

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The Flight Over and First Days in London James and I are so pleased we had enough airpoints for the travel loumges. We were very tired and being able to relax and eat and drink , work on the computers and have the chance for a shower was wonderful. Unfortunately the showers were all booked and we got called for the flight to London fron Hong Kong so we missed out, but we enjoyed the Chinese Pork Buns and Pork Dumplings. The inflight movies and games were great. Grandma saw nine movies altogether and James saw heaps too and played lots [View Full Entry]

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Anne Writing: Money exchanged today, and we were lucky the exchange rate was the best it has been this year. Perhaps this is a sign of good things to come. James feeling very flush with relatives contributing to the cause. I suspect he will be shocked at the cost of food and activities in two of the most expensive cities in the world. I am all packed and James will pack soon. We will then have tea and head out to the airport around 7.00pm. I think my bag is overweight with books for the Paris Mega Bookcrossing and the English [View Full Entry]

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