27 November 2011 BLENHEIM PALACE Sunday

A little change in scenery as we headed for the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill this morning.  The opulence of Blenheim Palace is evident in every aspect of the grounds.  We entered into the striking beauty of the Great Hall, surrounded by gilt framed oil paintings of Dukes and Duchesses and the watchful eyes of the many statues watching from their pedestals in every corner.
I really enjoyed the letters Sir Winston Churchill wrote to his dad when he was just a lad. He seemed so earnest from a young age already.  Of course, in the war he was captured and held in, what is now, Pretoria Boys High School, where Greg went for a year before we emigrated, which is part of the reason for our interest in Sir Winston's involvement in the war.

At midday, in the hope of a warm walk around the gardens, we strolled through the formal fountain gardens and along the riverwalk to the cascades.  The grounds are extensive, with a lake around the property creating a natural softness to the landscape.

Needing a bit of cover, we opted to do the 'Untold Story" audio tour from the servants point of view.  They were much loved and cared for and led interesting lives of drama and some infidelity.

Onwards to Blenheim Station to catch the choo-choo train to the Pleasure Garden and maze.  It looked deceivingly like a children's fun zone, but let me tell you, it is not!  We had a blast but admittedly took it in turns to get lost.  After 1/2 hour of walking in aMAZEment (sorry), we found the way out and made straight for the cafe and coffee.

Back on the choo-choo and home James.

26 November 2011 OXFORD Saturday

Now that we have constant wifi and our blog remains up-to-date, I can keep track of actual days and dates while travelling.  Veggies and ironing may have fallen by the wayside though.

We happened to be in Oxford on a Graduation weekend and were impressed with the regalia of the Don's in their ceremonious procession.

 The area that the graduating students first gather is the Bodlium Library Hall and they walk out under an open book moulding, into the Sheldonian College for their Graduation Ceremony.

When we'd had enough of the Graduation, Al and I climbed 127 steps, 60 of which are narrow spiral steps, into the tower of the Church of St Mary. 

Even the viewing balcony and alcoves were so narrow, Al had to wiggle through at an angle.  It was near impossible to let anyone go past.

The Church was the site of the first teaching of the University in the 13th century.  The balcony is 100ft high, with great 360 degree viewing.

The first tower is New College and the next two are the All Souls Twin Towers.
Incidentally, the name Oxford originates from Oxen ford when they used to cross the river back in the day.
We ended our day in The Old Black Horse Pub to watch the Barbarians / Australia rugby game and then, after the game, at 15.45, drove home in the pitch dark!

25 November 20111 OXFORD UNIVERSITY Friday

Definitely Park n Ride day today and with the promise of blue sky and sunshine, a walking tour of Oxford was booked.

Little did we know, blue sky and sunshine in the UK, does not necessarily mean warm weather!  Nevertheless, we were wrapped up warmly and met with the tour guide.  Our starting point was Exeter College where C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling studied.  Our first entry into any of the Colleges was Jesus College, built in the 1500's.  We were allowed entry into the dining room where T. E. Lawrence keeps a beady eye on the happenings, along with Queen Victoria I.  The College has a strong Welsh background, therefore, it's mascot is the dragon and one is sneakily guarding the entrance from a hidden lookout - studying too.

The Chapel too, was open for our perusal and equally impressive with it's mouldings and decorative tiles. Here is a photo of the formal quadrangle and only the Don's (Professor's) are allowed to walk on the grass.  Once can't help but be caught up in the atmosphere of tradition and history.

This diningroom is actually used by students and Professors, and in the background can be seen the 'high' table only for the Don's and Heads.

Next is Oriel College where Cecil John Rhodes studied and Al felt a sense of affinity with him because he graduated from Rhodes University.

All studies aside for the moment as we stumbled across an alleyway, housing a pub which used to be for cock-fighting in it's day.  Naturally, we had to stop to quench our thirst (for knowledge - HA) and feed the hungry monster.

Last, but not least, the infamous Harry Potter College aka New College, socalled because of it's renovations in the 1700's! and of course famed for starring in the Harry Potter movies

 - and look - there's Hermione casting a spell - WINGARDIUM LIVIOSA





24 November 2011 HARPENDEN TO OXFORD Thursday

We had an early departure with a taxi, to pick up our hire car from Luton Airport.  Hello keyless driving for the first time.....wha!?  As the drive from Harpenden to Oxford is not far at all, we refreshed ourselves with a warm mug of coffee at the Beaconsfield Services stop (Hi Dal !!)

After arriving at our hotel, we had a quick bite to eat and went to investigate Oxford city centre.  The historic buildings were fascinating, to say the least. However, the tiny roads are not built for sharing with thousands of students on bicycles in peak hour traffic and least of all in a 4x4.  As the air got chillier, we decided to rug up warmly, back at the hotel, nice and early.

23 November 2011 HARPENDEN Wednesday

We felt like real country-bumpkins this morning, strolling the farm lanes around Redbourne. We came across ploughed lands and overgrown cottages just waiting for me to occupy. I love the good,clean, crisp country air. It makes me feel so at one with mothernature.

A quiet afternoon spent with Uncle Tony and Aunty Verna to wish him well on his actual 90th Birthday. Fond farewells were shared as we went on our way.

We did a final lap of Harpenden to etch forever in our memories the quiet solitude and village atmosphere we have always enjoyed here.

22 November ST ALBANS Tuesday

Our day started with a little bit of drama as we walked about 100 yards to the bus stop. We came across a little old husband and wife who had both fallen on the roadside.  We stopped along with a couple other passersby to help, as the husband had a nasty gash above his eyebrow.  She had slipped and he had tried to help her up, nevertheless, the ambulance arrived and all was well, albeit shaken.

We immersed ourselves in the history of St Albans, with our first stop st St Peters Church and it's pretty stained glass windows.  We then found the self-guided walking tour and our next impressive sight was the only medieval clock in England.

We also found a couple of Hobbits' doors:

Next was the magnificent St Alban Cathedral, built in 793 around the tomb of St Alban, who was a Roman soldier, beheaded for sheltering a Christian priest.

We followed on to Verulamium Park, so steeped in history with it's Roman ruins from AD 256-270.

On our walk, we came across many ancient tudor style buildings with crooked beams and mantels. Of course, I had to spend a penny in the oldest licensed pub in England, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks.

Lunch was extremely non-St Albanish and unquaint at the Slug and Lettuce, and may have consisted of a decadent Chocolate Puddle pudding for one of us ; )







We ended the day back in Harpenden and a warming Indian dinner with Peter, Liz, Uncle Tony and Aunty Verna and later, back at the Silver Cup pub, we were sent off to bed with the second ringing of the bell.

21 November 2011 THE SILVER CUP Monday

How could I forgot?!  When Daleen and I were browsing around Nottinghill and Portobello Market, we came across a tiny Indian spice shop and bumped into someone famous.  I have many of his TV programmes recorded at home (Sydney, in case you forgot).  I was so excited and started to exclaim, and then realised he might want anonymity while out shopping.  He smiled politely though and went on his way.  Check out his link below to see his interesting information:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/alternativemedicine/4807237/Grow-your-own-drugs-with-James-Wong.html

We relocated from Harpenden House Hotel to The Silver Cup today and I did some delightful SMALL shopping in Harpenden Village.
The evening was spent in the pub over a few drinks and dinner until we were ushered upstairs with the help of brekky dishes being set up for the morning.

20 November 2011 THE SILVER CUP Sunday

We started the day off with a delightful fresh run in the mist and cold, which made Al's little bit of hair look sparkly with dew.  We then rewarded ourselves with a huge, warming brekky.

A little later, we joined Uncle Tony and his family for lunch at The Silver Cup, to celebrate his 90th birthday.  It was a lot of fun as there was a very noisy group at the end of the table......need I say more!

This was Al's cousin taking a photo of Al    t a k i n g     a     p h o t o    - their sense of humour is identical and, well, humourous.

Al and I walked off the big meal, having found our way to the Rothamstead Park and learnt two very interesting snippets of information:

The first one being that the Harpenden Football Club may not be having a good season

and the second one speaks for itself.

The park was pretty though and it was a new area that we discovered.



19 November 2011 HARPENDEN Saturday

The weather has been so good to us, waking us with another glorious day.  We popped across the main street to The Silver Cup B & B to meet Al's cousin and meander our way over to The British Legion for late-morning drinks - I can't do beer, so fortunately Daleen introduced me to an alcohol ginger beer drink called Crabbies.  It even looks like beer, so it's all good.

It has felt almost like a second-home "homecoming" with all the familiarity around us and today especially, as we had the pleasure of Uncle Tony and Aunty Verna joining us for drinks.  We have all aged since last being together, but still shared many a laugh and happy moments.

At lunchtime we tottered along back to The Silver Cup for lunch and at 4.00pm, we all went off in different directions.

Al and I had the most spectacular (Al is still looking for the spectacular that I saw {perhaps through rose-tinted glasses}) stroll along the Southdown Ponds and Common.
We even came across real live Christmas Holly - how can that not be spectacular!

Al tried to prove to all of you how early it has been getting dark, so these photo's were taken at 4.15pm

I thought I'd get away with leaving it at that, but couldn't, so admittedly, the pics don't actually appear as dark as it really was.



18 November 2011 ODESSA WHARF TO HARPENDEN Friday

Our last morning in London has arrived.  After checking out of Odessa Wharf, we drove a couple of blocks to Surrey Quays to feed the ducks, swans, seagulls and pigeons.  We shared the food equally amongst them all and left for Harpenden.  Lunch was at the Old Bell pub

Then Kit and Daleen went on their way home and Al and I checked into the Harpenden House Hotel.

We had a wonderful reminiscent walk through Harpenden village, after having many holidays here with Al's aunt and uncle.  A quick visit from Al's cousin to catch up on the weeks planning and a quiet evening at the hotel.

17 November 2011 PORTOBELLO MARKETS Thursday

We have the tubes "down pat" now, so Daleen and I led the way to Nottinghill where we ditched the men and browsed to our hearts content through the Portobello Market.  We bought odds and ends and stopped in every single shop that intrigued us, at our absolute leisure.

Then, ALL BY OURSELVES, caught the tubes back to Kit and Allan at London Bridge.  We walked through the fresh food Borough Market and met up for a drink at the Market Porter pub.  Just for fun, we bought two tubs of Vietnamese chicken from the market and ate them in an alleyway before catching more tubes to Hammersmith.  We had heard that there are pubs along the waters edge and so we walked

....and walked until we found the first two, which were not too good and finally found The Old Ship pub, with water views and a good menu.  Daleen even spotted a fox trotting along the path!

16 November 2011 SWEENEY TODD Wednesday

Toffed up to the nine's, we found the local train/tube station at Surrey Quays today, instead of ferrying in to London.  We hopped off at Canary Wharf and Al and Kit made their way to The Gentry Barber.  They had appointments for a wet shave and haircut.  As Al went in first, the barber introduced himself as Sweeney Todd, to which Al, ever the gentleman, shook his hand and said "pleased to meet you, I'm Allan".  Sweeney and his client chuckled and then relayed the story of Sweeney's clients disappearing underneath the barber shop into a tunnel and appearing as burgers in his partners butcher shop.  Kit and Al both thoroughly enjoyed their treatment and were gleaming clean for the next two days!

Thereafter, we made our way to Top Hat and Tails in the Bank of England.  Unfortunately, we were greeted by another doorman, much more politely this time.  We did our banking and had the pleasure of Top Hat watching us depart and before I could stop myself, as we passed by him, I toffed my nose at him and said Good Day! True story!

The afternoon was spent lunching at the Prince of Wales in............Nottinghill.  We went on a mission in the late afternoon/early evening to find the famous Travel Bookstore from the Nottinghill movie, with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.  To our great excitement, we found it, only it's no longer a book store, but a shoe store.  However, we were allowed to take photo's of the Nottinghill movie poster (to follow asap).
We had a quick march through the Portobello Market and tubed home for dinner.

15 November 2011 HIGH STREET Tuesday

An early start and on the ferry to Oxford Street.  We saw the moxt exquisite Christmas window dressings with more exotic decor than Chrissy decor, in Harrods, House of Fraser and other, equally up-market, department stores.  Incidentally, we had seem them on Sunday night, just driving past and also a hugely attended lantern parade with all manner of lanterns for a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.

After browsing the Hight Street shops, we made our way to the Bank of England.  At this point in my story, I have to stop and apologise in advance, to anyone I might offend - sorry for the following story:

The four of us entered the BOE and before we were all actually inside the door, we were afronted by a doorman wearing a 2ft top hat and 2 metre tails, with his hands on his hips and frowning deeply he asked "what we were looking for".  As I was in front I answered "the Bank of England", he replied, "yes, this is the right place.  What business do you have?" and I stoicly replied "currency exchange".  His reply was "we don't keep bank hours" and with that, he ushered us right back out the "in" door to which we all hooted with laughter, once outside the formality of top-hat and tails!

14 November 2011 LONDON Monday

Yikes, it is very much colder today than the sunny weather we had yesterday, so a slow start was the order of the day.

Later, already in the semi-darkness at 3PM!!!, we wandered along to the Greenland Dock ferry pick-up point and went sailing merrilly, merrilly down the stream where life is but a dream.  We saw the fabulous sights of London in the darkening light and took a few improved photo's.

After many miles of walking and asking, until the whole of London knew we were looking for the Trishna Restaurant, we found our way there and had a delicious and entertaining dinner with a colleague of Al's.

Back home on ferry into the freezing night air and home.

Kit and Daleen on the ferry

13 November 2011 WINDSOR Sunday

We woke to a beautiful sunny day, and so we decided to visit Windsor Castle.

After a quick browse through the shops.....



...we had a hearty hamburger at the GBK - Gourmet Burger Kitchen and then had fun feeding the leftovers to the elegant swans.

Al did feel bad not sharing his bread with the forlorn-looking girl next to him, but he only saw her in the photo's later.

On our way home, we took fewer "detours" this time and even managed to get some sight-seeing done - drive-by fashion, with some excellent pics......

Big Ben and The London Eye - how could you not see that!

Dinner at the next local pub - Moby Dicks.



12 November 2011 London Saturday

8 Hours later, we arrived at Heathrow airport on Saturday 12 November.
Our dear friends Kit and Daleen picked us up and a good while later (with a few "detours") we arrived at Odessa Wharf timeshare.
A good, warm brunch at the local pub, Ship and Whale or Whale and Ship (?). And a perfect home-cooked South African boerewors and pap for dinner.........mmmmmHmmmmm

11 November 2011 NYC to LONDON Friday

A late afternoon flight to London.
We realised en-route, that the flight height at which you are allowed to use your electronic gadgets, is the same height Al drove the RV in the Tioga Pass in Yosemite.  You don't believe it do you?......

You're allowed to use electronics at 10 000ft - that's high!

10 November 2011 NYC Last Sleep Thursday

Another glorious run in Central Park and a successful tube ride this morning.

After gagging, shoving and death-staring (Yes! I've perfected the art) our way through China Town and then muscling our way through Little Italy's mafia, we found a quiet spot at Casa Bella to recuperate.

Yup, that IS as Godiva chocolate martini in my hand.....mmmm

Our plan for our last night was to have an all-nighter, so does it still count as an all-nighter if we had an afternoon/evening snooze from 5.00pm to 6.30pm?  And does "all-nighter" mean until 1 minute after midnight?  If yes to all of the above, then we qualify!



9 November 2011 NYC Wednesday

Tickets in hand, map at the ready, we made our way to the subway, chuffed to have found the station with the ease of a seasoned New Yorker, we hopped on to Line E and took off.  Literally.  It was an express train to Queens......which was not our intended destination.  Nevertheless, a kindly citizen helped us on our way.  So back on the E Line express train, but in the right direction this time.

On a more sombre note, our destination was to the 911 Memorial site to pay our respects.  It was a very moving visit and almost incomprehensible to us, being so far removed from the reality.  The memorial is very honourably done, paying homage to so many innocent people, with their names engraved in the perimeter of each water feature constructed for each of the towers.

Even more moving, for me, was the Ladder 10 memorial moulded into the wall of their fire house.  So full of sorrow, it felt too disrespectful to photograph.

We found a very fitting restaurant for lunch, called Trinity Place, which used to be a vault in it's day.

We also admired the St Paul Church which stood tall and strong through the disaster.

On a lighter note, we had no trouble getting the subway back.  Jumped in line at the Times Square discount ticket office and made off with half-price tickets to see Jersey Boys!

Such a great show, with songs we never realised were from them.  Great entertainment with really talented singers - Sherry Baby, Can't Take my Eyes off of You and too many others to mention.

8 November 2011 CENTRAL PARK Tuesday

The weather was so pleasantly warm today, we just had to go for a run in Central Park.  It was chock-full of other runners and walkers enjoying the mild weather at 59F (+-19C) at 8.30am.

Thereafter, we rewarded ourselves (ok, maybe it was only rewarding to me) with a shopping spree at Macy's.  We really don't have any spare luggage weight to be able to do much shopping, but one of us has had a SLIGHT expansion of the waist, so it's no longer a 'want', it's a necessity.

This Macy's store is the biggest in the world with 7 floors for both men and women, so quite justifiably, we flopped ourselves on the couch for the rest of the afternoon, totally exhausted from this major shopping event.

We were revived, however, with the offer of drinks by an old school mate of Allan's.  So off we went to the Heartland Brewery for dinner and drinks, which was very satisfying.

8 November 2011 BROADWAY Tuesday

Sing along everybody..........you know you want to : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV02nP9PLnQ&feature=player_embedded

7 November 2011 CENTRAL PARK NY Monday

After an early start to the 24 hour Apple store which, just on it's own, was as busy as any Mall in a big city, a touch of housekeeping and then a leisurely 2 hour stroll through Central Park.

The temperature was civil, although we did have big jackets on, but everyone was out and about.  Children were playing, cyclists and runners doing their thing, squirrels and dogs frolicking and all just generally having a wonderful time enjoying the great outdoors.

An unexpected visitor

John Lennon's memorial in Strawberry Fields.

Now off to find an Italian pasta restaurant for dinner!
Just came back from dinner at Joe G Restaurant - the best pasta on the Planet!!  Gnocchi for me and fettucini alfredo with sausage for Al - molto buona!