London - the home of the two Bettys

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While Greg had been to London a few times since his first visit in 1979, Catherine had not been outside Heathrow since 1981. But the most wonderful change was seeing Elise, and seeing London through her eyes. We were in London a total of three times and this chapter is a merge of those times.


Elise walked out of the lift at her office block in St Martins Courtyard, Leicester Square and Catherine was there. The screams filled the lobby. The anticipation had built with Elise posting on facebook ‘In 12 hours my mum will arrive and I will tackle her with more love than she’ll know what to do with. A year without parents is far too long’ (52 likes).


After a lengthy breakfast near Elise’s work, Elise had to work for the rest of the 21 December. Catherine headed to Elise’s share house at Liverpool Road Islington. Then to wander the streets of the City of London, particularly around St Pauls and the northern bank of the Thames. Travelling was made so much easier using my ‘octopus’ card – aka oyster card. In fact a trend setting innovation with Elise and her friends now planning to jump on the ‘squid’ to move around town.



The Christmas decorations were up in all the streets, with lots of dark at this time of year to enjoy them. Elise and Catherine went to Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, full of stalls of venison sausages, ales, roasted chestnuts and other Pomland delights.


We next visited London after Greg met us in Oxford for Christmas, following the girls weekend in York.

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Comments

[Elaine Heath]

hello from the Netherlands
Dear Harpers, Happy New Year. Great to see you enjoyed your time in London, you followed our footsteps from the previous week visiting all the same sites. We did leave a message for Elise however did not hear back so assumed she was busy at work and getting ready to see her family - v exiting for you all. Flying to Bordeaux tomorrow and driving up the north coast before heading to Paris. Hope you are all well. xo The Heaths

[GregCath]

Great travels
Great to hear from you. Elise didn't receive your message so sorry about that. We are in Eperney visiting champagne houses. Back to Paris tomorrow and then overnight train to Salzburg for a week skiing in Austria. Absolutely brilliant travelling with Elise again. Enjoy travelling yourselves and we will see you in good old Brisbane in the not too distant future. love GC&E