Wed 30 Aug 14° Dulwich to Oakham

Two birthdays today Fiona and Willow, as we farewelled this jewel in the crown of London with its green walks and many parks.

Showers overnight and cooler as we head to Hampton Court. The rain got heavier and as we arrived we were told it was only a car park not suitable for large vehicles and the man on the gate suggested we try the train station. We drove round the corner but that car park had a barrier arm, there was a coach park but it was £15......the joys of motorhomeing. Had a coffee to see if the rain eased but it got heavier, so we decided to give it a miss and to continue on.

The sat nav and the map couldn't agree so we ended up going the long way towards Melton Mowbray to Northfield Farm at Oakham. We arrived just on closing but they let us into the shop and we bought some fresh pork chops,  eggs, milk and 2 local Ales, Rutland Panther and Rutland Osprey,  bit dear but parking overnight is free. The rain  had stopped and it is dry here so fine for tonight's stop.

This site was in the  Britstop book, no photo and the car park turns out to be more of a layby for cars to park when visiting the shop. However it was on a quiet, narrow, country road so fine for a free night.

Asian pork and vegetables for dinner washed down with local Rutland ales.

Tues 29 Aug 20° Dulwich House Sit

Our final day here, stripped the beds and washed the sheets and made the bed up for George so they dont have to do it when they return tonight.

Another great drying day and our last walk with Badger and Pickle.

After lunch moved everything back to Bessie, then cleaned the house ready for the family on their return.

Cooked a meal so Heidi didn't have to come back and start cooking.

Good handover, they had a terrific holiday sailing off Turkey so everyone had a great break, we had a lovely surprise they had bought us a yummy gift of real Turkish delight which we had a piece...or two.....with our cuppa back at Bessie.

Great house sit,  lovely family we had a great time but now it's on to the next adventure.

Mon 28 Aug 22° Dulwich House Sit

Wow what another fantastic day got up 27°, the news said this was the hottest bank holiday on record........ washed the towels and they got dry very quickly.

On our walk today met Lyn and Brian again, another long chat. The park was very busy again today as you would expect on  Bank Holiday.

After lunch walked to the shop for provisions for dinner tomorrow for the family's return, then to Bessie,  put the gas on for the fridge to get cold to load up tomorrow for our departure.

Mushroom omelet ford dinner.

Sun 27 Aug 22° Dulwich House Sit

What a stunning day again today, lovely walk with the dogs, clear blue skies, it was incredible to watch the Gatwick flights overhead, criss crossing the sky, big ones, smaller ones, low ones and high ones all traveling on the invisible highway in the sky, amazing how they always manage to travel along with no accidents.

We moved Bessie again and gave her a bit of an airing. Came back and sat in the back garden on the comfy swing reading the Sunday paper,  very relaxing afternoon.

Pork chops and roasting with mix veg for dinner.

Sat 26 Aug 23° Dulwich House Sit

Woke to a warm sunny day again, we could definately get used to this, first long spell of good weather.

On our walk today it was very busy in both parks, with lots of people out enjoying the weekend weather, people walking, running, with dogs or children or playing sport.

Pickle and Badger very well behaved the whole way round it was a real pleasure.

After lunch we walked to Herne Hill to get some nibbles for tonight, Jenna and Alex coming for drinks before going out to dinner at local Turkish restaurant.  Unfortunately the market is only on Sundays, but we're able to get want we wanted.

Enjoyed our pre dinner drinks and chat and walked to the restaurant,  a bit of a laugh with the waiter, a very pleasant evening, good conversation and very tasty food, great to have the time together.

We walked back but Jenna had new shoes on and we walking a bit more than she had anticipated.  Continued our evening at the house then they got an Uber taxi home.

They are off to see friends in Geneva next weekend, then Japan in October so we wont see them until Xmas in Portugal. Something to look forward to.

Fri 25 Aug 18° Dulwich House Sit

Another lovely day, after our walk put a wash on which should dry in this weather.

After lunch went to Bessie, took a few bits back and brought a couple back,  another chilled out day with nowhere to drive to and nowhere to plot a course for, we are enjoying this time before we get back on the road next week., 23° at 4pm washing nice and dry.

Salmon and salad for dinner.

Thurs 24 Aug 19° Dulwich House Sit

After our morning walk with the dogs, we caught the no. 3 bus into Trafalgar Square,  walked to Haymarket to NZ house to see if we could get voting papers, all changed from 40 odd years ago, no more NZ bits and pieces, not aloud in anymore, just a desk, the women behind who had terrible hair do and weird colour stripes gave us leaflet about voting. Not a very good impression for visitors looking into NZ., must be getting old.

Turns out we can print voting papers after 6th September for a postal vote, however as we will be touring Scotland looks like this will be the first election we will miss voting in. Never mind , we did try.

Walked to Covent Garden, walked and bus to the Old Bailey,  not sitting at the moment and can't just go in for a look anyway, so bit dissapointing. So we walked the streets of London and got the bus back, called into the local pub Half Moon, had a well deserved pint in a very well designed garden bar, very warm pleasant evening.

Chicken, mushrooms and veg with potatoes  for dinner.

Wed 23 Aug 20° Dulwich House Sit

Walked the dogs, met Lyn and Brian again, long chat, they were interested in our motorhome and travels.

There was a man waiting for us at back gate to the playing fields when we got  back, asked us if he could have a copy of the key to the gate into Belair Park,  told him Heidi had to negotiate to have access and to ask her about it when they get back next week.

Walked to sainsburys at Herne Hill to get a few bits,  the bus stop was closed due to shop renovations so had to walk back loaded up, good weight exercise haha.

Relaxing afternoon, deleted 2 years of old emails to try to free up some space on my tablet.   Tony mowed the lawns, not a very good fly mow,  seemed to hack it, still better than it was. Tony has now mown lawns in Lincoln, Limerick and London.

Tues 22 Aug 19° Dulwich House Sit

Warm and steamy today for our walk with the dogs, they are a pleasure to walk and let run off lead,  they have been very well trained, come when  called, don't wander too far and are extremely good with other dogs.

Planning day today, looked at return fares, return ferry etc and more notes for Scotland.

Mon 21 Aug 20° Dulwich House Sit

Wet overnight, damp underfoot when we walked the dogs through the playing fields that had just been mown, so grass stuck to our shoes. Met Lyn and Brian again walking their dog.

Relaxing day today, the day Big Ben stops ringing for 4 years while Elizabeth tower is being renovated, it will ring on special occasions and New Years Eve only.

Creamy chicken stir fry for dinner,

Sun 20 Aug 19° Dulwich House Sit

Walked the dogs then got the no.3 bus to Trafalgar Square and the 23 bus to St.Paul's Cathedral where Prue, Jenna and Rachel were waiting for us. Prue's birthday today.

We got in the security queue and entered the magnificent building,  greeted by wonderful organ music. Tony and Prue went to sit for the service and singing and were very taken with the new order of females able to take the service, the Very Reverend  Deacon taking the service today.

Jenna Rachel and myself walked around and into the garden admiring the architecture.

After the service we crossed the road to a cafe for lunch before the girls went to catch the hop on hop off bus and Tony and I wandered around before going back to Dulwich.

We moved Bessie, emptied the freezer and turned off the gas, Tony had a play with the dogs before we fed them and left to get buses back to Streatham. We had bubbles and nibbles for Prue birthday then walked in light rain to The Bull, a gastro pub where we were joined by Alex's parents for dinner.

After a very tasty and plentiful mini roast £8, we walked back to Jenna and Alex' for coffee and birthday cake.

A lovely day and evening and so good to all be together for Prue's   birthday. We farewelled Prue and Rachel as they had a day out with friends tomorrow then they were off to York for a wedding.

Jenna phoned the Uber taxi £8 and we went back to the house sit.

Sat 19 Aug 18° Dulwich House Sit

After breakfast and our dog walk Tony took the bus back to Streatham for his day out with Jenna, Alex, Prue and Rachel.

They got the train in to Victoria, then another to Westminster looked around the area at all the sites, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster and the bridge, they were amazed at the amount of extra security and barriers installed along possible tourist danger points.

Got on the Thames cruise for trip down to Greenwich, taking in London Eye, Tower of London and many other historical points as pointed out by the skipper on board who provided excellent free commentary.  Sounds like the same crew that took Pat and I on Tuesday.

Met at Greenwich by Tony and Prue sister Fiona and husband Peter and after quick local village and market tour went back to their house for lunch. Very impressed by all the renovations made since our last visit and hope they have the time to enjoy it.

After a delicious lunch provided by Fiona, and a good catch up, reunion, they had to make a hasty retreat back to the dock, quick look at the CuttySark and caught  their ferry back to city Tower Bridge.

They walked to the Tower of London and the Monument then up the Shard to see the amazing views, but felt a little uneasy as they have now imposed a dress code but still were able to go up and have a look 32 floors up.

They then walked to Covent Garden where Prue treated them all to £9 cocktails £18 in the Shard, and a nibbles platter.

Alex then took them to a chocolate specialty shop some 3 flights of stairs down into the depths below the streets of London  on Fleet Street. Extremely expensive chocolates and even more expensive packaging. Alex bought a couple of specials, nice to have a look.

Tony made his way back to Dulwich by bus and the others went home by train to Streatham.

In the meantime I updated the blog, plotted a rough route on the Scotland map and looked up busses to get into St Paul's Cathedral in the morning.

Another great family day out.

Fri 18 Aug 23° Dulwich House Sit

After we walked the dogs, we caught the 201 bus to Streatham then changed to the 118 to Streatham Common.......my oyster card not accepted...no money on it...whoops...the driver let us on to next stop to a shop so we could top it up...a very kind women told us that trains take a lot and each bus trip is £1.80 .

Topped up both cards and got the next 118 which stopped right opposite Jenna and Alex flat. We had managed to get appointment at Jenna 's dentist for a clean and Polish,  very handy right next to the station. Very gentle and friendly staff, £55 each and free samples of tooth picks,  toothpaste and I bought some more floss sticks.

Pouring with rain when we came out, so sheltered in their porch till it eased up then ran over the road to the pub for lunch, great the way a lot of pubs have diversified to cafe style food with tea and coffee at lunch time.  We had a child's breakfast, sausage or bacon with egg and beans on toast £4.50 each and we had a pot of spiced apple tea.

Jenna arrived home from work, Alex shortly after, got in the car and drove to Tesco supermarket for provisions for tonight's BBQ. It was raining hard as we came out so drove back to their place unloaded the shopping left Alex to sort and prepare and we hit the road to the airport.  Traffic was horrendous and rain didn't help, the plane landed, we messaged to say 20 mins away so they said they would have a coffee.

Arrived and got a park straight away, met up and it was a a lovely surprise for Prue and Rachel.

 The queue for coffee was so long they hadn't had one, so we all got takeaway coffee's and hit the traffic jam back to Streatham.

Tony and I had to dash back to feed the dogs, so Prue came with us to see Bessie,  while Rachel had a shower, Tony drove the car back fed and played with the dogs whike I took Prue to see our Bessie.

Then all back in the car to Jenna and Alex for delicious bbq cooked on his new gas bbq that his parents bought him for his birthday. Very enjoyable and successful evening.

Thurs 17 Aug 19° Dulwich House sit

Wet overnight, we walked to Bessie to check and get any washing, bedding etc. Came back still looked a bit grey overhead, walked the dogs and met ex neighbours Lyn and Brian  again walking their dog. The sun came out and had a good walk and with dogs hitting balls with one of the kids hockey sticks and dogs chasing the balls. They had a good run.

Did the washing and hung it out in the sunshine. Updated blog, Tony read the paper.  then I cut his hair and gave his beard a good trim for surprise meeting of Tony's sister and niece  Prue and Rachel tomorrow from NZ over here for a wedding.

Domestic day today.

Wed 16 Aug 18° Dulwich House Sit

After breakfast Pat came with us on dog walk then we went on bus into Trafalgar Square.  We had a little look around then lunch in Weatherspoons before getting the bus to Victoria coach station to see Pat safely on her way back to Lincoln.

Roadworks were causing diversions all over the area, we found the bus stop but traffic was at a standstill.

Farewelled Pat, crossed the road to the train station and Tony realised he had Pats food and purse in his back pack.  Quickly turned round , ran back to coach station and found Pat .....relief all round and another laugh and memory for the memory bank.

We got the train back to Herne Hill, into chemist to get rest of Tony's meds  and walked back to the house.  Jenna rang with plans and ideas for Saturday with Prue and Rachel and meeting at Fiona and Peter's for lunch.

Satay chicken for dinner.

Tues 15 Aug 19° Dulwich House Sit

Woke to another sunny day, perfect for our river trip today. Tony came back from Bessie and after breakfast  he went off to the doctor for his meds and Pat and I took the No.3 bus to Herne Hill, then the 37 to Peckham for a real trip down memory lane as we went to school there.

Pat has an amazing memory and remenised how the high street used to be, what shops were where...C & A department store was where the McDonald's is now, and at New Cross our Friday night trips with Mum and Dad when we were little to the butcher who held a meat auction.....I vaguely recalled these and many other memories she shared with me as we rode the bus back in time.

We got off the bus and were waiting for the 177 bus to Greenwich,  when it came from the other direction,  so had to dash across the road to catch it.....whewww...caused a laugh haha. Really living up to being tourists for the day,

When we got to Greenwich we went into the Royal Navel Museum, one of the few things that are free, very interesting. Then walked up the steep hill through Greenwich Park to the Observatory and the Greenwich Mean Time...now a Unesco World Heritage site.....there was a fee for this and as we had both seen and done everything years ago, decided to sit in the park and admire the view over the city.

Walked back down to the CuttySark,  also a fee  to go on board,  we spotted  a Pie and Mash shop, a very traditional  London meal usually with jellied or hot eels. Well this is a trip down memory lane.....be very rude not to......yum yum......

We walked under the foot tunnel from South to North Greenwich which goes under the river Thames, and back again.....good thing to do to walk off our lunch 😄

Caught the City Tours  boat for our trip up the river to Westminster,  stopping at the Tower of London at Tower Bridge.....which now has  a walkway under for pedestrians, also a fee and lots of steps to climb up each tower to get to the top.

We got off here and walked around the area, seeing  how it had changed, much more tourist oriented than we remember,  as with most places now trying to earn the Tourist dollar...well pound that is.

Pat said what we need now is a Weatherspoons......and as if like a honing device.....there was one right there.....1/2 pint each of local ale  then sat in the Trinity gardens with lovely views of the Tower of London just thinking of all its history,  pretty mind boggling.

Back to the ferry London Eye close up, but couldn't work out how the pods rotated, a real feat of engineering,  and Westminster, very good commentary by the boatmen, we stayed on board enjoying the relaxing pace and views of London from old father Thames back to Greenwich, a very special time for us, topping up our memory banks.

Waterloo Bridge built by women in the war when the men were away fighting....good job very well done.

Went into M & S for a few bits Pat got her salad for the coach home tomorrow then the 177 bus back to Peckham and 37 to Herne Hill,  walked back to the house.

Blackfliers bridge, only with with a station built on the bridge.

Selfie.....haha

Pat and I had walked 12,500 steps and Tony 24,000 steps, poor thing had a real hassle with the doctor but eventually got his prescription and part of his meds, has to go back tomorrow for the rest.

Relaxing with the dogs after his stressful day.

Ordered Chinese takeaway, rice for the dogs. Rang Jean for her  birthday,  Pat rang Les, he had been polishing Ruby with a special UV Polish to protect from the sun....good idea but he needs a day off tomorrow....overdid it a bit.....as you do. He will go for a ride on his electric bike.

Lovely, lovely day for sisters around London on our trip down memory lane.

Mon 14 Aug 17° Dulwich House Sit

Tony came back we had breakfast together, then Pat and I got the bus into Trafalgar Square, the fountains were being cleaned so no photo opportunity but noticed the absence of pigeons , it was actually clean with signs saying so not feed them,  went into the National Art Gallery.

We walked to Leicester Square had a coffee.

Then along The strand had a look around Somerset House, next to Kings College and met Jenna for Lunch. We enjoyed a delicious bream fillet with salad and ate it on the terrace overlooking the river and London Eye.

Then saw a sign for smoothies.....one was called Grape Escape...be rude not to have one,

Jenna walked with us to Waterloo Bridge then she went back to work. We walked down on to the embankment,  along through St James Park, past a park benches with sleeping Japanese family and arrived on time for our epm tour of Buckingham Palace.

Let sleeping Japs lie.....

We were in a very long queue, heading for an airport type security screening , our bags went througn an xray maching and we had to walk under a scanner, I got through but Pat set it off....she had her fit bit on....all good so we're given audio  guides and off we went.

Lots of the Queens gifts were on display from all around the world, including a large display from New Zealand.

Then a small display of Princess Diana's private things, chosen by Prince William and Prince Harry, everyone was filing past very slowly, taking their tome and taking it all in, quite moving.

At the end of the tour there was a lovely garden cafe, so Pat treated us to coffee and profiteroles with a little chocolate button with a gold crown on. The coffee was in very sturdy takeaway cups, so when we had finished we wiped them out with serviettes and hey presto, souvenirs.

The way out was through the garden and around the lawn a very nice end to the tour.

We caught the bus back to Victoria, topped up the oyster cards and got the train back. We started walking and beat the bus back to the house.

Tony had nibbles and a cold meat salad ready for us with boiled potatoes.

Had a catch up then Tony walked back to Bessie to go to bed.