Ghosts of London

Tuesday

Set off for Luton and took David to where I grew up and where I was born. 1 Blaydon Rd where I grew up was very run down and looked not cared for. It also looked a lot smaller than I remember then again so does everything! Then to 54 Rutland Cres – OMG! I got very upset and cried (again!) it was sooo horrible to see the whole street and house soooooo unloved and dirty.

We then drove to see Alison and her sister Susan, she owns a large hotel in Chagford Devon called Mill End Hotel http://millendhotel.com/ There were 3 dogs there (manic!) loved them though. Ali made us a bacon sandwich and doughnuts! We are so worried about our weight!!!!! As we are not in the gym everyday like when at home. We will catch up with them again after Christmas at the Hotel (sounds like Faulty Towers!)

Got lost on the way back to Harpenden and landed up in Bury Park! Very ethnic area (our family will know what we mean)!

Walked to the Harpenden train station with Mike and went to St Pancras then got on the underground with 2 changes to St Pauls £12.20 $23 each. It was peak hour and had to wait for the 3^rd train and still had to muscle our way in (a bit scary). Claire met us (Mikes eldest daughter who works in Fleet Street for BAFTA as an events producer).As we came out of St Pauls station we were blown away with our first sights of London after so many years. Tall beautiful old buildings everywhere you looked. Christmas lights and OMG! St Pauls! Beautiful. We were waiting for our tour guide (Ghost tour of London, a work function for Mike that he managed to get us on£30 $56 each)  Police sirens started and traffic stopped-right in front of us pulled up “B” list Royal the Countess of Wessex Prince Edwards wife. Shame is wasn’t William & Kate!

The walking tour was 1½ hours and was excellent we even saw Sweeny Todd’s barber shop and The Old Bailey and listened to many spooky tales. We loved the fact that around every corner there was a visual delight. We love London and after Europe we will come back and spend a week there (even that won’t be long enough). The 40 of us on the walking tour then arrived at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub in Fleet Street rebuilt in 1667 http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=154.Had a lovely 3 course Christmas dinner and met a lovely couple from Bath who had just sailed their yacht around The British Isles. Got the train home and walked back to Mikes and was in bed by midnight. Another fabulous day.