Today, or rather this morning, is our last hurrah. If we haven't done what we want to do by lunch time...well...we haven't done it, for we leave for the Heathrow early afternoon.
Until last week we have absolutely had the time of our lives. Paris left a bit of a nasty taste to say the least.
Where as the holiday, before that, was some of the best times in our lives, Paris is definitely one, if not THE, worse week of my life...and that was just me, poor Paul was in a terrible position. But like always, he just 'gets on with it', without complaining or fuss. God bless him, he is an amazing man. Paris is not a good place to be ill, Parisienne hospitals, if that one was any example, are a disgrace...filthy...and that's just one thing. (shudder)
Anyway, enough of that, London has been a delight and has lifted our spirits no end. Such a great, majestic, vibrant and 'happening' city even in the rain and cold.
Yesterday we pretended we were rabbits again and headed for the underground...we'd got quite a handle on it. Well let us say the Badger did...I never know where I am or where I'm going, lets be honest here. So off to Selfridges for a spot of morning tea. The coffee was amazing and my little cake was to die for...it was a sculpture as well as delish'. yuuum.
On on for more shopping and naturally Harrods was on the agenda. Wow...we found our own Mornington Peninsula wines...in...HARRODS. 'Ten Minutes by Tractor' was one and is a favourite of ours. One of our very own lovely wineries. WOW. There is was, amongst the best wines the world has to offer...I must say I was pretty proud of that.
We had a beautiful lunch in Knights Bridge, then hiked up by train to Marble Arch and then the Tower Bridge, which I think is one of the prettiest bridges in the world.
After a good walk by the Thames, we found Shakespeare's Globe.
Upon returning to the hotel...the nightly cocktail party was just getting underway again...this hotel is brilliant. Not that we took full advantage hehehehe...alas getting very fatigued now 7 weeks on and....the rest of it...but the vibe was great.
So after another great day we came back up to our room for a steaming hot cup of tea, movie, an early night and a deep and peaceful sleep. All ready now to face the long flight home.
So...thanks for sharing this adventure with us and see most of you on the 'flip side'. X
Friday, 3 June 2016
Wrapping it up
Werewolf in London?...narh it's the Bat and Badger.
Well biding our time we may be, but enjoying it?...definitely.
I found the...shops...whoohooty...and more importantly...found what is probably my most favourite shoe shop in the whole world..and by accident....it's the cathedral of shoe shops....'Irregular Choice'. Oh my flipping goodness...I've only ever been able to by these babies online. Natasha was lucky enough to find a pair in a clothes boutique in Mornington once...but only once. Luckily the Badger had a newspaper...and they, being a the incredible place they are... had plenty of sofas for husbands, well he needed to rest anyway.
Popped up and down, in and out of the tube like a pair of rabbits and my goodness it is indeed a rabbit warren. Marvellous.
So shopping on Oxford Street and Carnaby Street, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, The Mall, Buck House, Westminster.....and that's just what I can remember...then back to the hotel..where there was a party going on for guests...drinks and nibbles on the house...how nice was that?
Wednesday, 1 June 2016
Northern Line...
Today it's raining again...just for something completely different....and c-c-c-c-cold. Is tomorrow summer though?...in which case it's going to be hot and sunny no doubt.
So the bike ride and the walking (to some extent anyway) was not going to happen. The tube was a better option...so off we went but alas with the VERY inclement weather...not much was going on...not in this neck of the woods anyway.
We grabbed some hot soup in cafe but then came back to thaw out, dry out and regroup...and just relax.
By mid afternoon it stopped raining and we did get to walk...to the Tate. So the day ended on a really great note.
My goodness...so many iconic and powerful pieces...and you can take photos???? unbelievable.
Apart from a small suggested 'donation' ...it was free, also unbelievable.
The Turner's have such a timeless ethereal feel, the Hockney's were vibrant and engaging...but the Singer Sargent's were absolutely breathtaking.
Thankfully there was only a very small area dedicated to those artists 'trying to find themselves'...I give adoration for that.
I may be showing my age here and perhaps the events of last week may be making me a little less tolerant but dear oh dear...I have no issue with experimenting...If no one experimented or pushed the boundaries there would never be any evolution...but surely there is a difference between dynamic and exciting art that is executed skillfully and some adolescent nong just wanting some shock value?
'Going to pop down into the dining room soon for the happy hour and then off to the local Indian for a curry.
Then day 2 in London as well as us...shall be put to bed.
Tuesday, 31 May 2016
Doin' the Lambeth Walk...oiy.
Waved Paris goodbye via the Eurostar. What a great trip...even the tunnel didn't phase me. Seemed to be over in no time.
Arrived in London, got settled into the new and last 'home' on this trip...which is brilliant by the way...super huge room in a very trendy and new hotel. The staff were super friendly and all seems right in the world again....hhhhhahhhh (sigh)...then had a walk by the Thames, found a pub around the corner from the hotel and had a good old fashioned pub meal...cod and chips for Paul lol.
It was a bank holiday so the place was buzzing on the South Bank....
Today...an early breakfast and then out and about...if the weather permits we are going to hire the roadside bikes and go for a ride up to the borough markets.
Monday, 30 May 2016
Paris -Take Two
If I didn't get to see or do anything else this year...at least I got to walk around Notre Dame, got to see it in all it's magnificent gothic glory....awesome. A positive memory of Paris to try to cling to and wipe away the horror that was this last week.
What an amazing structure...I was literally in awe of it. It was misty and spooky and well...just right.
Paul continues to be well and we are off to London in the morning. I think we will both feel better for that.
I managed to get a pic of the Moulin Rouge...hookers across the road...or 'hoovers' as my auto correct wanted to say...bit of a seedy area...but then what else would it be like?
The arcade in the pic reminds me of our very own Royal Arcade in Melbourne...do you think they copied it? hehehehehe Lovely shops and boutiques.
Sunday, 29 May 2016
On the Buses
We are pretty focused now on 'blowing this town' and getting to London...then of course getting home. However, as we are stuck here until Monday, we thought we'd try to make the most of it.
After a relax yesterday once he'd rejoining the world, a good night sleep, some fresh air and his meds....we decided, since the Badger has been told to walk about a bit, that we would get out and about.
After much deliberation we decided that one of those 'on-off' bus tours of Paris would probably be our best option. The bus was parked right outside the hotel and it gave the option of pulling the pin at any time and returning.
It was actually really nice. It was warm and sunny when we left and we sat on the upper deck with a brilliant view.
We had a really nice lunch near the Eiffel (alas not in it...we missed that..should have done that last Tuesday), but we did it last year so no biggy really.
Anyway I digress...we managed to see quite a bit before the storm rolled in and the weather changed. We found our bus once it started to rain and lightning bolts were descending and we made our way back to the hotel.
On the way...the bus is diverted...blasted rioters again...the riot squad have roads block off grrrumphft *@#&%~`#*...this is getting tiresome...Scotty beam me up...'Can't get to the UK soon enough.
I swear if I see any more rioters while I'm away I'm jumping out and smacking them around the chops with a wet trout.
So today...day one of 'Paris take 2' was pretty good really. We are back in the hotel room for an early night...and a movie. Never leave home for OS unless you have a heap of books, movies, TV shows and the like on tablets/iPads and usb thingies...they have been a God send his last week.
Tomorrow? well we have a 2 day pass...so
It's on the busses again.
Saturday, 28 May 2016
Going to Extremes
Well...I don't know Badger...I know 24/7 with me may have been challenging but I think checking yourself into a different 'Hotel' was a bit extreme don't you think?...you could have just said something....
So as most of you know, things went a bit belly up upon our arrival in Gay Paris...as soon as we arrived an ambulance was called and Paul was whisked off to the very grand looking L'hopital L'lariboisiere (as seen in the photo of the garden in the foreground of the palatial building somewhat like cloisters). Looks can be deceiving by the way...but that's a story for another day...needless to say I was relieved when he was out of there. They got him back on his feet and that is the main thing..but I will never ever... ever hear a bad word about our hospitals in Australia ever again.
I know I must be sounding like a broken record now...but to all of you who were there for us...via 'messenger', phone and 'whats app' and email...I am eternally grateful. For you gave me my sanity in a totally insane situation. I have been in awe of the amazing people we have in our lives. Our amazing family and friends...we are truly truly blessed.
Anyway..on on...he's made the great escape and we can pick up where we left off...well, we can bide time hopefully pleasantly, before getting on that marvelous flying tin can next week and get home.
So that has been our week...
We had a sedate day yesterday taking a deep breath and today we are going to take a bus trip ...one of those on-off jobs around Paris. Nice and slow and doable. He has to walk...so seems like a good way to manage both sightseeing, filling n time and getting his exercise.
Here until Monday and then back to the comfort of our second home land...
