London

Hi folks, well here we are in Londons fair city and mighty fine it looks too. After a slight delay in the flight from Belfast we landed at Heathrow and took the express train into London Paddington, Fifteen pounds and 15 mins, and was a fabulous way to get into central London, recommended.

We are staying at 41b Brecknock Road, Kentish town which is one stop on the Northern Line from the hustle and bustle of Camden Town, famous for its huge alternative clothing markets. Our accommodation is five star (thank you Naseem & Grant).

(our) London Transport!

We have the use of this rather dinky electric car the 'G-Wizz' to nip about town. In certain local council areas we are exempt from parking costs and the dreaded congestion tax too. The City of Westminster have even provided a re-charging station slap bang in the heart of Covent Garden (the car only has a range of approx 30 miles). That turns a few heads when we arrive, pull out the extension cord and plug it in to a socket!

I took Jim out for a drive on Friday evening down to where I used to live in Kennington to visit my dear friend Linda Burns. Not haven driven in London for quite a few years our trip took us through, Euston, Marylebone, Oxford Circus, Picadilly Circus, Trafalger Sq, Whitehall, Parliament Sq, over Lambeth Bridge, Vauxall and on to Kennington. It was such a hoot, although Jim was a bit traumatised buy the BIG red buses what seemed to be only cms away. I loved it though and soon found that other drivers here are very courtious and the chaos just seems to work. The drive back in the dark was even more fun!. (Just how many Aston Martin V8 Vantages did we see..OMG it is my favourite car..ever).

Woof! A halarious street performer on the South Bank

Saturday we went into the West End for brunch at Pret a Manger, delicious granola porridge, breakfast in a bun and delicious coffee. This was followed by a walk across the new Hungerford footbridge, a stroll alond the revamped South Bank and along to the London Eye, however, THOUSANDS of others has the same idea. The que for tickets was massive as was the que to get on the Eye. So needless to say we are putting the London Eye back on the 'to do' list (maybe next week). In the afternoon we met up with a our gorgeous friend Eddie Stirling for a bit of shopping in the West End plus a trip to Vivienne Westwood's at Conduit St...OMG my poor old visa card will get a hammering there when I get down to the serious shopping business on return from Paris!

Last night we caught up with Eddie & Ollie, Christine, Jane and a few of their friends at Box Bar before jumping into a black cab and off to Arena nightclub at Vauxhall. We had a good nights dancing and carrying on before heading home at 5am..slept into 12.45 this glorious Sunday afternoon. Today we jumped into "beep beep chugga chugga little purple car" and drove up to Hampstead village where we had a roast dinner at the King William IV, Lovely food and a big glass of Aussie Red (nobody does red wines like us in Oz let me tell you!). Now back at base camp planning the next few days in London before we leave for Paris on Thursday....