Smith's Away

Sadly left Kim and her family after a lovely meal at the 2 Brewers opposite. Had a deli is meal...roast lamb followed by toffee pudding. Kim dropped us at the airport and off to Cairo. Full flight and arrived at 3.30am and had to pay $25 US again to simply fly out again to tonight. Grrr. No where to go to sleep so we have lashed out to stay at the Meridian again. Got a room and   about to shower and go to sleep. Next stop Dubai then onto Melbourne.  What a wonderful  holiday we have had.

Yep couldn't  resist  writing about this experience.  Still have lunch to go at the 2 Brewers pub opposite with Kim's family but Jude and I got seats in the chapel of Windsor Castle, ie St George's Chapel where Megan and Harry etc got married and almost sitting where the Queen sat.  What a service and what a Chapel.  Mind blowing really. The pomp and ceremony was incredible. The old Windsor knights sat in front of us and the choir were nearby. Very moving Remembrance  service.  2 mins silence, last post, reveille and lots of lovely hymns to sing out. And a beautiful  sunny day. Jude and I had to pinch ourselves. So lucky Kim's friend  knew a chorister who gave us her guest seats. Heading to the airport later.

Up to see the changing of the guard again as a different regiment. Artillery and they March fast. Great band, full brass one this time.  While they changed in the castle we whizzed in and got some things for Kim. Came out in time to see the other group March back...the ones with bearskins, not Busbys. Kim was at a school meeting so Jude drove her car to Poppys school, Wellington, a very nice private school. It was raining and we got a tad lost trying to find where Poppy was playing netball. Eventually found it and relaxed watching the game. Poppy is a great goal attack and I enjoyed watching, in the gym, not in the rain. We then headed over to afternoon  tea...wow what a treat.  Even prawn sandwiches,  beautiful  sponge cakes etc. We then drove back home...Kim driving so back very quickly. Then we headed into London by train to the Comedy Store. Lots of fun and very entertaining.  Most impressed with 3 comedians doing their stand up comedy. Home on the train, and

Up and off to Henley to meet Sara, a friend of Kim's, who owns and lives on a barge in Henley. If and when we cruise next year we could pop into see her!! Saw many barges like Deb and Mark's one in Holland and lots of different types in the marina. Sara's is long and wide and low. Lovely inside with lots of room and very cosy as cold outside. Kim then drove us to Marlow for lunch. Beautiful  drive there through coloured autumn trees, narrow roads with hedges either side. Very English countryside. Marlow is another cute town with old shops with lots of character and charm. Home and dark by 4.30, so a drink in the pub opposite.  They do a lovely  shandy so had a pint this time so very chatty in the pub!! Home to another delicious meal that Kim had whipped up. Lasagne tonight!!! It will be very hard to leave on Sunday night!!!

Spoilt with Kim bringing in a cuppa this morning.  Really is delightful  staying here. Harry took us up to the best position to see the changing of the guard. We stood in the sunshine and not much of a crowd at all. The Welsh Guards came up playing piccolo and drums and in their gray overcoats and great black Busbys. They go into the castle and change over and after about 15 minutes come out again. Very strict security, even the past boxes are closed off. Bigger crowds and very cold. They marched past us again and we then went down to meet Kim for coffee and cake. Jude and I walked around the shops. Lots of Christmas decorations  up and I love all the shops. We called into get Kim some fudge and watched how they make it. Home for lunch and then off to visit a place where we could perhaps hire a boat to sail up to Oxford and back next September. Something we have talked about doing. Home again and Jude took Barney  for a a long walk, down the long walk. I ambled

Got up and after breaky I hailed a cab!!! And we headed to the seaside, port area. Another glorious day and we got to see the sea and monuments along the water front and some very snazzy boats. Walked along the foreshore and found a place for coffee and I finally  found a hot chocolate. Not as syrupy as I was expecting and nice. Another taxi back to our Airbnb where we got ready  to head to the airport.  I hailed a other taxi......feel like Carrie in Sex in the City, hailing NY cabs!!! Got to the aero bus that took us to the airport.  Smooth flight back, a sad goodbye to Jo who returned  to Romsey. Jude, Harry and I walked to Waitrose to buy some dinner, then home again. A fantastic  4 days in Barcelona.  I'd  go back there as very impressed by the city.

Woke early and read, then breaky. Off to get a taxi to take us to a bus that takes us to Guell Park, designed by Gaudi, so lots of mosaics.  I'm  becoming  very good at hailing taxis, so got one straight away. Really  clean taxis and efficient and not into wanting tips. Got on the bus and up the hill to the park. A tad cooler today and windy. We found the earing umbrella  man again....with different ones so had to buy some more!! Our wander through the park was lovely and back we went with me getting another taxi back into the main square. Bit of window shopping and back home. Lovely dinner out again and now getting ready to watch a movie. We leave for London tomorrow  after a wonderful  time with the girls, Kim and Jo, and of course Jude.