London - St Pauls

13-02-2015

Decided to try out the buses today.
Thought a short trip into the City to see St Pauls would be a good adventure.
Kids excitedly dashed up to the top deck off the double-decker bus.
Sadly it was a rainy day out so the we got to wonder what was outside the 'foggy' windows.
I insisted the kids listen to the audio guide(children's version) once inside St Pauls - in the hope they might absorb some info. Boys made more observations about a man having a sleep on a chair then on the architectural merits of the building. I decided to give up bombarding them with facts (ones I had only just learnt listening to my audio guide) and head to the stairs up! So we started with the 257 steps to the 'Whispering Gallery'(runs around the inside of the dome), where the boys did not 'whisper' as they raced around it. Then up the narrower twistier 119 steps to the 'Stone Gallery'. It was noted by me while listening to the audio guide at the whispering gallery level, that you could then decide if you are brave enough to climb right to the top(warnings of very narrow awkward spaces and claustrophobic conditions).
But no - not the case! Once to the next level I was told the only way down was to go right up(another 152 steps) and then down again. Boys were completely keen, but I stupidly had a bag over one shoulder and a very awkward big 'unzipped' shopping bag(with the big camera in it - which proved useless because I had forgotten that you cannot photograph inside St Pauls) over the other - I was not so keen. But with no choice we carried on - I was pretty nervous watching Lachlan (he only tripped once). Was a bit stressed at the top to take in the amazing view - you go outside onto a very narrow terrace around the outside. Pretty relieved to get back down to the cathedral floor without any loses.
Overall it was pretty cool that we made it to the top.
Had a quick look at Wellington's and Nelson's tombs in the crypt(missed out Sir Christopher Wren's tomb - the architect ) before afternoon tea in the crypt café.

Photo from the top - very nervously taken!

 Dashed into 'Boots'(chemist on Cheapside) on the way back to buy a couple of things. Turned around to see what the laughter was about -  Ollie and Jarvis had 'made-up' Lachlan with all the cosmetic testers. 'Ah, you have no girls', was the amused shop assistant's comment.

London - Bank of England

12-02-2015

Needed to visit Lloyds bank in the city today to try and open up a UK bank account.
Got out at Bank station - was overloaded with memories but also quite startled at the number of new glass high rise buildings and the mass of cranes in the skyline.
Was a massive effort to get the bank account process started - just couldn't provide the proof they needed of a residential address - no online documents acceptable, no trusts acceptable and nothing over 3 months old.
The boys were extremely patient - sat in the foyer(with their devices, of course) for a good 2+ hours (this resulted in the need for a public toilet which they have a major lack of in the city - Chris had to beg a café to use theirs for Lachlan).
After a squashed lunch - not much room to fit five anywhere inside during the peak of lunchtime especially in the winter and in the city(most people just takeout), we walked down to the 'Bank of England' Museum.




                       Lloyds Bank and the 'Gherkin'.                                        

Nice to have 'free' entry (admission charges have been very step) - boys got an activity pack with the carrot of a prize if they completed it (enough encouragement for Jarvis and Lachlan, not enough for Ollie). Poor Jarvis got an ear-bashing from a nasty older man and women while trying out one of the interactive devices(really designed for children, not adults!). Sobbing so hard he could hardly speak, he managed to tell me they had called him a 'stupid constipated idiot'. I was desperate to storm over and have a go ( I was absolutely wild), but I new that the sort of person that would say that to a child wouldn't think much of me and that I would end up even crosser (so I let it go - quite disappointed). Most people have been so lovely , especially to the boys, it gives you a big shock when you come across this.Anyway, moving on we spent quite a while at the museum(very well done), collected the prizes and headed back. I learnt quite a bit about the Bank of England which I would have benefited from knowing when I worked there - opps!



On the steps of the Royal Guardian Exchange, Bank of England in the background

Cranes in the 'City'

London - Tower of London

Tower of London today.
Ventured out (only a few stops on the tube) to Tower Hill with too little clothing on - got caught out with a particularly cold day. Tried to take the big camera out of its case and dropped it with my frozen fingers - crushed the lens cap on and couldn't tell if I had broken it - not a good start, I was 'grumpy' and cold and so were the boys. Tried to rush from the tube to the Tower to escape the cold - but remembered it is a castle (not warm) and mostly outside anyway.

Found a haven in the heated 'Crown Jewels' area. Tried to stir up some interest in the kids (we had a few child activity packs which failed to excite them). Got a bit of interest out of George IV's Grand Punch bowl - I remember this was the main point of interest for me when I visited years back.

After starting to warm up and feel better we walked around the top of the defensive walls, checking out the 'Royal Menageraire' display - very well presented and interesting for the kids (lots of things they could interact with). The boys were entertained by the story about the disappreance of the two princes Edward(12 years) and Richard in the Tower in 1483, believed to have been murdered by their uncle who was then to become King(Richard III). The White Tower was full of things to interest the kids (and keep warm) - 'Royal Amouries', lots of weapons and armour( Being built on the orders of William the conqueror as a fortress and palace and later to be used as a military storehouse) plus the basement believed  to be the site of the torture and interrogation of prisoners like Guy Fawkes.

Lots of interest about the beheading of Anne Boleyn and the hanging of Lady Jane Grey on the Tower Green - the boys like a bit of gore.
Got up pretty close to the Ravens( tried not to scare them away and cause the 'Kingdom to fall') - I remembered how they used to land on our balustrade when we lived in Tower Hill(apparently they do 'go absent without leave' sometimes).



Jarvis excited to see the 'Queen's Guards'.

Tower - prisoner's writings on the wall behind Jarvis.

Traitor's Gate

View from Tower Bridge ('Yes' we are cold!)

Then walked over Tower Bridge (admiring the views) to Butlers Wharf on the south side of the Thames. Had a brisk walk along the South Bank - popped in on Hays Galeria to admire Chris's favourite sculpture there. Was pretty amazed by the number of new buildings(very modern) - a lot of 'flashing' up. Had dinner at the 'Chop House' (an old haunt for us). Sadly not the best of meals this time (kids got to try mushy peas), but I did love the views(out at the Thames and Tower Bridge) and the memories.

London Day3

10-February-2015

Chris being Chris 'ran' into work today with his shirts for the rest of the week('shorts on', in the cold!) - sounds like him.
I started the kids on their correspondence school, looks good but will take a bit of fine-tuning.
Visited the British Museum today, had lunch(well just 'cakes'(mostly left uneaten(icing picked off)) at Patisserie Valerie on the way - noticed a bit of 'Allpress' coffee around).

Grimacing in the cold outside the British Museum

Too much to take in at the museum (super fantastic), so we concentrated on the 'not to miss' list.
The Grand Court is fabulous!





The Grand Court - Never a Dull Moment with the boys.

Did some prep work while there for our Greek trip to come (looked at all the bits of the Parthenon that won't be there in Athens!).
The kids felt pretty happy with themselves when they saw all the school trips 'working'.

The 'Rosetta Stone'(key to the modern understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs) - surely this is educational for the kids??

The compulsory 'mummy' section.



They mummified everything - even 'eels'(in small bronze case).

Headed back to the apartment through the 'rush' traffic - had to watch out for Lachlan being squashed(too little to be seen in the huge waves of people getting on and off the underground).

 

 

London Day2

9-feb-2015

Did the first supermarket shop - wow wee! Great looking wines for under 6 pounds. Well know champagne more expensive here then in NZ(strange?)  but champagne labels I haven't heard of are a lot cheaper.
Kids were pretty into it too - most unusual. A few comments about the kids energy levels from other customers(mostly quite fascinated - 'Does he stop talking, who winds him up'(positively referring to Lachlan)).
Supermarkets are more like 'one-stop-shops' - linen, appliances, clothes, tvs etc ...
Lots of 'new' food items to try to educate the kids about - although they display much less interest then I do.
Lots and lots of convenience meals of all cuisines - tempting to not cook at all.
Quite a lot of 'organic' and 'low fat' options.
Confectionery way too cheap for the kids and 'my' good!

London Day1

8 - Feb-2015
So exciting, I was let loose for a few hours in Oxford Street.
Chris took three eager boys of to Hamleys, while I did the headless-chicken thingy on Oxford street.
Doesn't take long for the crowds and over-stimulation to get you though - so many people and so much stuff!
Loved looking at Selfridges again - it is such a beautiful store, even with masses of people in it. Hordes of people photographing the window displays - which were amazing. I immersed myself into the food court coming out laden with chocolate(easy purchasing - the fashion is too difficult). Reminisced about buying cigars for Chris (for Ollie's birth - not the best idea in hindsight) as I passed the cigar shop inside Selfridges. Pretty fascinated by the large number of 'beautiful' men(customers) in the men's fashion area - very well groomed hair, fabulous clothes, stylised walks ...
Lots of people queuing for 'fancy' afternoon teas. Lots of queues everywhere.
Dashed into the other big department stores - John Lewis, Debenhams  ...
Started jetlag 'wobblying' a bit too much so decided to call it quits with still a lot on my list.

Very excited boys back at the apartment, with very successful purchases from 'Hamleys' - Chris did well. They all enjoyed the in store demonstrations, Ollie buying the magic trick they were demonstrating(very cool, he has done a few performances for us).
Jarvis bought a great 'nano drone' , Lachlan a 'Big Hero 6' figure (quite large to squash into his bag).
Chris got the boys started on working out how to navigate the tube.
Underground not looking too bad (newish trains), a lot dirtier then the 'newish' immaculate/slick Dubai metro(not really a fair comparison).

Chris and kids had done the supermarket shop and started cooking dinner when I got back(quite unusual events - but well received from me). Amazed at what he had bought - whole 'Le Rustique' cheese for under 3nzd, stone fruit, berries in winter etc - I am very contented!

London Arrival

7-february-2015

Great flight from Dubai to London.
Arrived to a cold 5degC (at bit of a shock from Dubai and Bangkok).
Lachlan slipped in and out of sleep as we drove through London to our apartment, while I prattled onto the kids about all the landmarks we were passing on the way(memory lane) - Harrods being one of the most significant (very excited!).
Received a 'frosty' reception from the security guard at the apartment - Yes, 'welcome' to London! Nice apartment from the inside(plenty of space - most unlike London), The East End outside(still haven't been out yet - have filled the kids in on 'the Ripper') looks 'interesting' out there - I know things have changed a lot from our time here 18ish years ago - but?

7 February 2015

Dubai(2:30pm)-London(6:15pm) EK0003

Airbus A380