London

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After a long flight from Malaysia we finally arrived at Heathrow Airport. Armed with a bottle of champers we scored from the flight attendants (neither of our inflight entertainment units worked!!) we caught the tube to Amber's (thanks for putting us up!) in Fulham.

Our first day was spent with Amber , who showed us the sights of Notting Hill and Portobello Rd. We brought our LP Beijing guide from the 'Travel Book Shop' where Hugh Grant worked in the film 'Notting Hill'.

After some well earnt sleep, we met with Angie (who got stuck in some doors before meeting us...) and headed to Lords, the home of cricket. We missed the opening of the County cricket season by a day which started with MCC v Sussex. The pitch looked a green top so good luck to whoever opened the batting. No Glenn McGrath or Shane Warne in bronze as yet, maybe next time. For the record, I got in a chant for all times sake.

Our next stop was just up the road to Abbey Rd Studios. It's a humble building and difficult to imagine the money that has paseed through it. We had our own brush
Abbey Rd Studios
Moments before Ozzywith fame whilst taking a couple of pics at the front of the building. Ozzy Osborne hopped (read: stumbled) out of a brand spanker 7 series BM and said "Hello" to us (we were the only people there). By the time we realised we should be taking photos, etc he had stumbled up the stairs and disappearred inside the Studios. We took a lot of photos of us crossing over THE crossing from The Beatles cover of the album Abbey Rd and it was quite amusing to watch the disruption caused to motorists as numerous people (including us) cross the pedestrian crossing for their piece of fame (some in barefeet).

Our next stop after some helpful directions from the locals was Hamstead Heath. A lovely big park that gives great views of hazy London. Without getting lost, we made it to the mansion featured again in the movie "Notting Hill" (don't you just love Hugh) and most importantly to the pub, Spaniards Inn. It's a pub built in 1585 and did we work up a pirate thirst with all that walking, "...arrhhhh".

A lovely greek dinner followed in Putney, "Yasou" but probably not as good as Lamb or
Abbey Rd
John, Paul, Ringo or George??others near Chapel (we do have the highest greek population outside of Athens).

Friday was a cruisey day with a picnic at Hyde Park before stopping Kensington Gardens (and Cafe Diana). We met up with our overseas local (Amber) and did a few of the tourist sights which included Hambley's toy store and Trafalgar Square. We went to visit the queen but she was having a nap so we decided to drink our bottle of champers at "home" and head out to The Whitehorse. Tomorrow, we off to Scotland. The land of the Brave.

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Photos

Lords - The home of cricket
ooh ahh Glen McGrath, ooh ahh Glen McGrath

Abbey Rd Studios
Moments before Ozzy

Abbey Rd
John, Paul, Ringo or George??

Hampstead Heath
Angie & Eve

Hampstead Heath
Sconies

Hampstead Tube Station
James Bond - Die another day..

Big Ben
Tourists..

London Eye
In the tulips

Comments

[Wombat]

Fred Lives
Thanks to the Care of DSM Shane- Fred is alive and well.