London

Christine and Barry took several days driving around the countryside. I stayed home with John. On Saturday the 9th nice and early in the morning, Christine Barry and myself travelled to Heathrow to return their hire car. From Heathrow we took the train to London. It was a wet day typical English weather, I had organised to stay at Kurt’s place that night, the following evening I was to be staying with Chris and Barry.

We got to Paddington and found the Abbey court hotel where Chris and Barry were to be staying for the next four nights, we dumped our bags and set off. We all agreed a bus tour would be good, as it kept raining. Kurt rang and said he had double booked and had no room for me so I would have to go home that evening.

One week in four we ladies go through something that is not that pleasant, and it was my week. Feeling wet cold and in pain I persevered with the day but tried my best not to whine and spoil Christine and Barry’s. Most of the day was spent in queues in the rain either waiting to purchase a ticket or waiting to gain access to an attraction. On several occasions Barry stood in line with the rain, while Christine and I found a dry spot and waited for his return with our tickets. We were very appreciative.

The train trip back to Reading was very scary because the train was filled with drunk football fans returning to Wales. Police were every where on the station but only a few were on the train strolling through the cars. Most fans just sang and chatted, some were obnoxious. When I reached Reading I did have to walk through a rowdy bunch near the exit that yelled obscenities to the leaving passengers. Where were the police now! I wish I had a gun I could have got rid of a few vermin.

John was late picking me up from the station, but I was happy to get home and have a hot shower a pain killer and a drink.

Sunday 10th
The taxi took me to reading station then took John to the airport. I joined Christine and Barry for breakfast. The sun was shining with a promise of a beautiful day. We queued for Buckingham palace, watching many arrogant and rude people sneak into the line before us. We shuffled forward ever so slowly an hour later we were in the castle, but the crowds stayed making the viewing very difficult. It still was impressive despite the crush of people.

Onward to the London Eye again there were queues. We managed to get on before it become very overcast and started to rain. Not far from the London Eye was a bar so we all went and had a few drinks……. A while later we emerged the crowds had dispersed, and it was off to find a restaurant for dinner. It was late and the only place open was a chippy. Well we all had fish and chips cooked by a very flirty greek man, he kept suggesting to Barry that I should be left behind. The cheeky bloke didn’t even give us a discount. I stayed with Chris and Barry that night, it was a small room but clean. I opened the window as it was hot, the street lay below us and it was very noisy.

Monday 11th It was a long night with no air conditioning or breeze through the window it was so hot. This day we were to visit the British museum and Madame Tussauds wax museum, but we were not going to wait on the three hour queue for the wax museum. So we walked about London discoving some lovely little streets, and lots of pastry shops where Christine and I just had to stop and druel.

The Brittish museum was huge. I was feeling hot and lightheaded and had to get outside. In the early afternoon I thought it best to go home, maybe I was over tired as a feeling of nausea came over me every now and then. By the time I got home to Mortimer I was rather sick and went straight to bed, it was awful coming home to an empty house, no John and leaving my friends in London. Next morning I had a very sore and raspy throat and an aching body, so it was a day of moping about feeling sad and sorry for myself and missing everyone.