Cornwall travels

Up yesterday and finally on the road. The Mercedes hire is great and we moved along.

A few detours as we trained the sat nav girl! In any case we made it to our digs at Camborne. Great pub and super friendly.

Tyacks Cramborne

Just a quick post now as we head off for day. Will catch up soon.

Again the Kinky Boots!

As forecast on another groundhog day Fi and I took mum to a West End show. Kinky Boots again but it was what she wanted. I feel like I need to start wearing 6 inch stilettos after it but all is good.

Mum and I made our way close to the Adelphi Theatre and took up a spot at the Nell Gwynne pub next door, which again was where we waited for Fi last year!

Similalrly to all the artwork we saw yesterday the women seem to have problem keeping their tops on!

Pub Shingle

In any case Fi arrived after work and after a time we headed next door to the theatre where civilised people can take their wine into the theatre for the show.

Mum getting excited

Show was great although the cast was a bit different this time. In any case we had a ball and got into the mood as did the other theatre goers. Very uplifting and a marvellous spectacular for the sight and sound organs.

Afterwards we made our way home where we sat for a short time before bed.

Mum is up and gone to a hair appointment this morning, and I will be off later to pick up a hire car for our 3 day trip to Cornwall starting tomorrow.

Fi is now joining us so I will drive the 2 mums and Fi on th magical mystical tour of King Arthur's realm! Not sure what access I will have to post but will catch up when I can.

Deja Vu day at Wallace collection

With days remaining nice, but days with Mum running out we decided to get some culture. Although I have done it before (well last year) neither Leann nor mum had seen it.

A really great collection in Marylebone gifted to the nation from Sir Richard Wallace. It is believed to be the single greatest gift of art by anyone and inluded the actual London family home of Hertford House where the collection is housed.

Collected by his 3 predecessor the Maurquises of Hertford, it has half a dozen Rembrandts, Van Dyks, Titians, Gainsborough and the list goes on. Also an amazing collection of furnishings decorative bowls cameos and statues.

Part of the collection is rooms of medeival amoury and weapons.

Hertford House

Although it is wonderful, I have never been crowded there, it appears to not have same drawing power as National Gallery nor Tate, but that is to our advantage.

Mum and Leann were suitably impressed and we wandered through for a couple of hours absorbing the wonders on offer.

Main Gallery room

The main gallery is spectacular, however is only a fraction of the floor space which has loads of other rooms suffed with treasures.

The Laughing Cavalier by Frans Hals

Cultured up we then went for a late lunch at The Ivy Cafe where we caught up with Leah and over a wine and a couple of G&Ts talked through the art.

Bidding farewll to Leah the 4 of us walked down to Bond St station for the tube (very hot) ride to Canary Wharf where we met up with Scott, Ritchard, Kevin and his family. Nice interlude on way home and broke up the trip nicely.

Finally home around 7.00 we relaxed for the evening, still outside enjoying this tremendous UK summer (a rarity).

Up today and Mum has gone off to get her nails done and we are off to a West End show tonight. Again it is one I saw last year (Kinky Boots) but it is fun and am sure Mum will enjoy.

Until next time. Ciao

Oxford for the uneducated

On mum's list was a visit to Oxford. Years of watching Morse and Lewis ensured this was a must do!

A hot day was forecast so loaded with water we tubed to Paddington for the hour tain ride to the hallowed university town.

As I have done before we did the hop on hop off bus which gives you a great overview

Astronomy Hall

We got off near the Bodlean theatre and wandered through a couple of quads and streets. A little walk up to the High Street followed for a quick bite for lunch then past the Randolph Hotel and Ashmoleum museum.

Mum ticked off all the things she wanted to see so back on bus back to train station.

Cute places abound

Back to Paddington then a hot tube ride back home saw us happy but tired. Later on we all met up with the girls after they finished work at the wine bar and then moseyed home to sit in the twilight of the garden.

Up today to do some things and who knows what we will see in next couple of days.

London by bus and ferry

With a lovely day on offer, I stepped out with Mum for the cooks tour of London.Made our way back to Waterloo and jumped a hop on hop off bus. Great way to tick off all the boxes without having to do much!

We circulated around inner London past Westminster, The Abbey, schools etc to Buckingham Palace.

Westminster itself althoug Big Ben is still covered

We changed buses at the palace to head further West and North. Went through Paddington where we got off and had a coffeee with Fi. Back on did a loop around Marylebone, St Pancras and then back into town through Fleet St, past St Pauls then we got off at the Tower.

I really am here!

Had a look around the Tower area and an ice cream as it was sweltering by that time.We decided to head bsck from town on the ferry to Greenwich which is always nice.

Treated to see the Tower Bridge open up to allow a tall master through.

Tower Bridge opening and yes that is blue sky

From there it was a nice journey down the Thames past Surrey Quays, Canary Wharf and we disembarked at the Cutty Sark at Greenwich.

Stopped at M&S fo some dinner fixings then took th DLR back to Greenwich proper. Back to the house around 4.30 so day was done! Mum was happy to be home so I left her there and caught up with the crew at the Mordern Arms before meeting Fi at Daveys.

Easy dinner and then day was done. Up today cleaning and will prepare some dinner for girls tonight. Until next time.....

Out and about Greenwich

Last couple of days saw us mostly at home waiting for weather. Shirley returned from Wales and her and Kath left for Malta yesterday.

Nicer day today so Mum and I toddled down to Greenwich proper and with sun out able to get some nicer pictures of the area.

Cutty Sark

We went through parts of the old naval college and sadly the Painted Hall is still being renovated so unable to see the full ceiling. Went to the chapel, which is great in its own right.

The old navel college was built on the site of the old Greenwich Palace which was demolished in 1641 to make way for the christophe wren inspired college. As below it was where Henry VIII, Mary and first Lizzie were born. They were also baptised in the Greenwich St Alfreges church.

Plaque

We wandered a bit and then made our way back to the High St for a welcome cup of coffee.

Part of Naval Colege

After that we came back via sipermarket and now resting up again. Hopefully weather will hold and we will attempt the London tour tomorrow.

Mum back and endless summer over

Friday was hot for here and the weather broke with a thunderstorm. Although not to my standard, they were suitably impressed here.

Behind the storm the wind blew all day Saturday and was a lot cooler. Guess they will whinge about that now.

Waterloo station

In any case mum got back to Waterloo area on the Saturday afternoon, and Fi and I met her. Quite busy in town with a cycle race closed off most of city area to traffic.

We made our way back to Greenwich and then went to pub for dinner. Back home saw us pull up stumps fairly early.

Rainy here this morning, so will see what happens with day. Major lamb roast planned for tonight, and maybe we will get down to markets.