Blogs from Chiswick, Greater London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Can I last two more days of getting up at 5:30 am and commuting to Chiswick during final Budget week? The thought of a pint on Friday night at the Royal Oak in Aston Abbotts is driving me on! Must book the coach today then we're nearly there. Sophie taking me to the airport on Thursday (must remember to check the flight time!) Phil W very kindly picking me up. Still got loads on the list though.... read more

Just got to organise the flights to Mount Cook and we're almost there!... read more

M and I are all set and ready for our 3 month trip! Cannot believe it's actually happening... so much time spent dreaming about it, talking about it and actually taking the leap of faith to do what we REALLY want to do: see the world! well at least a part of it... We've said our goodbyes and are now waiting around anxiously, is it called hovering??? We want to leave and we want it to happen now, in the next hour! Next time I use this blog I'll be reporting from Tokyo, dizzy with jet-lag and excited at the prospect of eating sushi for 2 weeks! See you soon friends xxx... read more

We packed our bags with concern that morning. We had added a fair bit of camping gear to our load, and it was a worry for people used to carrying their stuff on their backs. We would be staying with Simon and Tracey (friends of ours from Australia) for a few days in London, so it was easier to drive our stuff back there, drop the car off at Heathrow, then catch a train back. I was only a little sad dropping off the Kia – we really hadn't had a chance to get to know each other. It hadn't been a bad little car, but definitely not one I would choose for myself. Happily, the rental car bloke at the airport didn't pick up the scratches I had added to the wheels - probably because ... read more

So, a bit of an update. I’m writing this from the back of our van while on the way to a kite location for the weekend south east England with Dan and Jeremy (Kiwi). We really loved Barcelona, meet some really neat people in our hostel and did a few day trips to Monserrat and to Casteldefells to visit the Ozone importer Ian. The fun really started when we came back to England. Our EazyJet flight went off without a hitch…even with Dan spelling my name wrong on my ticket no one noticing. It seems to be a comedy of errors. The issue was that we had extended our stay in Spain by a day but it coincided with Champions League Final of football, someone from UK verses Barcelona. This meant that there was NO accommodation ... read more

Hello again people, Our first week in London was really more than we expected. After Bangkok, London was a piece of cake. We spent a horrible night staying at the Piccadilly Backpackers with a crazy guy from Burma who didn't know how to shut-up, (funnily enough Katie's husband Rory had the same room mate when he stayed there). Dan had a great but busy day taking a few paddleboarding workshops for Active 360 run by Paul Hyman, whos wife Liz invited us to stay with them during our stay. We were super lucky with their hospitality and also that they lived so close to the river we just walked the boards to the Chiswick Pier. Really enjoyed meeting up with Benjamin Crellin, also Katie and Rory MacKinnon who took us to a fringe show/production. Did all ... read more

Day Trips outside of London: Day Trips outside of London included a fantastically organized bus tour of Windsor Castle, Bath, and Stonehenge. The tour made visiting three must see sights in one day, simple and easy. The White Cliffs of Dover provide a scenic walk on rolling green hills overlooking the English Channel. Hampton Court, set along the Thames, displays the splendor and richness of Henry VIII’s castle.... read more

We had heard from the English Heritage Magazine that Chiswick Garden had been restored. We decided to explore the garden on the Bank Holiday on 30 August 2010. As we had visited there last year, we remembered the route from Turnham Green. Upon arrival at Chiswick Garden, we followed the woodland walks and found the cafe and children's playground, which had been added on the park. We walked through the backyard of the house and sat down on the bank to the river. We had a picnic overlooking the river and cascade. There were many families with children and dogs playing with the water in the warm afternoon. The water was flowing down from the cascade and it looked stunning with the rock plants. Cones of the cedar trees have come out. We saw brown, cream, ... read more