London Sightseeing Day 2

On Sunday I left a little bit later in the morning to avoid the cold, and walked down to the river and this time headed East to London Bridge, Tower Bridge and The Tower of London.

The guided tour of the Tower of London, with a Yeoman Warder, was excellent. I visted the Crown Jewels, interested in particular with the Cullinan I and II diamonds (The Star of Africa), in the corronation staff and crown of Queen Elizabeth II respectively. The Cullinan I is the largest cut diamond in the world with perfect clarity, cut from the Cullinan diamond.

Also the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, from India, in the Crown of Queen Elizabeth.

Also of interest was the museum housed in the White Tower at the center of the Tower of London, containing hundreds or suits of armour, weapons and other artifacts, and the White Tower itself, built in 1066. Definately the oldest building I've ever been in.

I also crossed the Tower Bridge, impressive and looking much better than in pictures I had previously seen of it - they are renovating it. There was a sign claiming that its the 'most famous bridge' in the world. Really? I would have said the Brooklyn bridge in New York, or the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, or even our own Sydney Harbour Bridge would me more instantly recognisable to more people...

On the way along the southbank of the river Thames, I also happened past the original 'Clink Prison' on Clink street. Cool. Obviously the origin of the phrase "Thrown in the Clink".

Yeoman Warder - audio

Sun 24 Jan 2010 | /Trips/United_Kingdom | permalink

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London Sightseeing

I walked 50,000 steps, about 35 km's this weekend, and took in the sights of London. I first walked past St Pauls Cathedral to the river Thames, and turned west along the river to Westminster - Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament and House of Commons.

I had intended to vist the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms but at this time of the morning, they were not open yet. I pressed on through St James Park to Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial, through the Australia gates (very fitting!). The crowds were beggining to intensify at the palace now, so I did not stay to long.

I walked along Constitution Hill to Hyde Park Corner and through Hyde Park, were I was accosted by squirrels and found the Rose Garden and the Serpentine.

I took the tube from Hyde Park Corner back to Westminster and visited the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, which was utterly brilliant - like stepping through a time machine to 1940. The combination of air raid sirens, Churchill's speaches played on speakers with the dim lighting and cramped rooms with yellowed maps covered with urgent pin pricks marking the progress of the war transported you.

I walked along Whitehall, past Number 10 - bristling with security, and on the Trafalgar Square, and Nelsons column.

I took the tube again to Leichester Square, had lunch and returned home, comprehensively bushed.

Hyde Park Birdsong - audio.

Sat 23 Jan 2010 | /Trips/United_Kingdom | permalink

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Annabel - Baby Elephant Walk

Annabel has hit the world of crawling. Here is a few snippets of her first ambles.

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Wed 30 Dec 2009 | /Video | permalink

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Camping at Coolendel, and Fitzroy Falls.

We took the girls camping with Gina and Matthew. Between the 6 people camping it was the first time camping in Australia for 5 of them.

We had a splendid weekend. Swimming in the Shoalhaven river was perfect and not to cold - getting Isabella back out of the water was the only problem.

We saw Cockatoos, Peacocks, Wombats, Wallabies, Goannas, Phesants and Possums. Isabella was chief wildlife spotter, Annabel was trying for Pro league hardcore sleeper titles - the fresh air and warm breeze were just right for her.

On the drive home I took Kangaroo Valley through Bowral and the Campden bridge. We stopped for coffee at Fitzroy Falls.

Coolendel's website...

Sat 14 Nov 2009 | /Trips/Australia/New_South_Wales | permalink

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Thailand Trip 2009

We took two weeks holiday in Thailand with the girls so they could meet their grandparents and aunts and cousins.

It was a lot of hard work traveling, but Annabel is a perfect baby on the plane, and Isabella had a ball playing with her cousins, fishies, chickens and doggies.

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Wed 11 Nov 2009 | /Trips/Thailand | permalink

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Annabel 5 Months old

So very hard to beleive, Annabel is 5 months old tomorrow. Time has blasted past. Here is a quick montage of her moments for the last few months and a collection of photos.

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Mon 09 Nov 2009 | /Video | permalink

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Isabella Cooking, and Bubbles

Isabella helping Dad make Pizza, and playing with Bubbles.

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Wed 24 Jun 2009 | /Video | permalink

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