London

And what an adventure it's been so far.  We had to drive right into the very centre of London to collect house keys from my cousin.  We're staying with her, but she's got a job interview in Manchester tomorrow and won't be home until tomorrow night.

It's only been 2.5 years since I've driven through Central London, and only 15 years since I lived in (and owned a car in) the inner west of London, but nothing prepares me for the challenges that driving through this congested city brings.  Thank GOD for Austin Powers (the faithful voice on our TomTom GPS machine) who got us through without TOO much swearing and without ANY incidents involving anything outside our own vehicle!!

(actually..... it was kind of fun!!)

After 5 hours in the car.... still in Central London

Tower Bridge taken from the car, by H

The Tower of London, from the car, taken by H

If this is the queue for the London Dungeon, imagine the queue for the London Eye tomorrow!

Looking back at Tower Bridge from the car, taken by me (the driver).  Ooops.... didn't notice that policeman at the time!

Sheesh.  So we found our way to Hackney..... which is the only part of London that I really don't know AT all.  I've lived in West London, had friends and rellies in North and South London, but never really gone anywhere NEAR the East of London.  Which meant that I really had NO idea when trying to find my cousins' digs.  But we FOUND it!!!!  Yeah!!

She's got a funky little flat in a really diverse area.  The boys and I took a walk this afternoon, on our way to find dinner, and they both held my hands the entire way.  And both want to be back in Glasgow (or Southwell, or York).  I think they'll change their tune after a visit to the London Eye tomorrow, but right now both are completely overwhelmed by how overcrowded and polluted London is.  And the fact that we're all on our own in a completely new part of the world.

My cousin Naomi will be here tomorrow night.... and we'll have seen some of the more famous London sights, and then I'm sure all will be right in our world again.  Right now, we're watching Top Gear DVD's and hunkering down.  

Big H!!!!

Of course our visit to Big H had to begin with a visit to his local....

..... and then a walk around his beautiful home village of Southwell....
.... to see the 900 year old Minster....

We completely took over his little house.  A graceful and wonderfully generous host.

Need I say that this will be the LAST AIR MUSEUM that I want to include in our trip?!!!
(although this sign is one that I'd like to replicate in my home!!!)....

I'm a saint.  Well, an Air Museum visiting Mum kind of saint.  Truly.

So we then opted for a bit of a "cultural" afternoon and visited nearby Newstead Abbey (click here for more info) which was the ancestral home of Lord Byron.  We were too late to get inside the house, but spent a couple of hours wandering in the spectacular gardens.

Leaving York...

A couple of pics from our last day in York.  Sarah and her kids took us for a walk around the town before meeting up with my Uncle for a last relaxed pub lunch.  It really was as peaceful and enjoyable as it looks.

And then we drove on to Southwell, Nottinghamshire.

Hanging out with Family in York

Another Air Museum....

Two seatbelts for 4 kids. Ooops. (it wasn't far..... I promise!)

The Millenium Bridge, which crosses the River Ouse between my uncle and my cousins' homes. Beautiful. And without one single symmetrical line.

Big cousins, little cousins.

PS....

I finished THIS BOOK before I left Glasgow (quite a feat as I haven't been reading much at all) and it's worth a mention as a really fabulous read.  Seriously..  Get yourself out to the bookshop and buy a copy now.

Especially those of you who are in my bookclub.  he  he 

and then we were in England....

We took a detour over the Pennines.....

before we found our way to my uncle David in his home on the river in York....
and then my cousin Sarah and her divine husband Tim (pictured) showed up to introduce me to their children Thomas and Sophie (who may well find themselves smuggles onto our flight home)

*sigh*

a wonderful night.

Just missing Gillian.  Lot's.  

Leaving Glasgow.

Words just don't cut it. Gillian is a part of us. It is painful to have to say goodbye again. Extremely painful.

We spent Friday night playing Wii with great friends of Gillian's (you know who you are!!!)

.....

Not that we take that rubbish seriously or anything.