Andrew and Elizabeth Caldwell's
Travel Page
Act III – Scene V - Living in London Notes: 1. The diary from this point on is mainly in the form of bullet points, except where full descriptions are warranted. 2. The notes now relate to what I (Andrew) have done each day. 3. With regard to the descriptions of the weather, if two types of weather are listed (eg fine / raining) then it did both, in the order listed. Thursday 1 November fine, 15°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.30 tube home arr 6.30 · Lamb chops for tea · Out for walk @ 8.00 – 9.00 Friday 2 November fine, 16°C – London to Paris · Up @ 6.15 · Packed bags tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 3.00 · Tube to Waterloo meet Liz @ 4.00 thru to departure lounge of Eurostar · Changed money £201 = 2000F · Boarded train @ 4.10 front carriage with table, left @ 4.23 (on time) · Arrived Paris @ 8.30 (Paris time) · Walked to Hotel L’est about 10 mins from Gare du Nord · Unpacked bags, basic hotel but clean · Went for a walk @ 9.30 to Place de la Republique then back to bed
Saturday 3 November fine, 13 °C - Paris Up @ 8.00 breakfast @ hotel (bagette and coissant) Walked to Gare de l’est and waited for open top tour bus gave up after ½ hour & took Metro to Pyramids to Cityrama office to get evening tour tickets sorted out (supposed to be sent to hotel but not there) told to come back later. Walked to Louvre @ got open top tour bus (150f ea hop on hop off) Drove past Notre Dame across the Seine got of at Panthenon, walked thru (42f ea). Then walked to Luxembourg gardens, bought chocolate tart 40f & sat by fountain. Walked thru to Rue de Bonaparte to get back on bus. Stayed on past Place de la Concorde and up Champs Elysee, got of at Trocadero and walked down over the Seine to the Eiffel Tower. Lunch @ sidewalk diner. (hotdog 25f ea and crepe 15fea) Back to bus. Past Hotel Invalides to Madeline, changed to another bus up thru Clichy and to Mont Matre got off at Gare de l’est and walked back to hotel @ 4.00. Shower and change out @ 5.30 Metro to Pyramids for bus tour (got tickets @ booking office 50f ea) Walked to Seine & back thru Louvre, coffee on Rue de Rivoli. Then got on tour bus @ 7.00 for night tour, past Notre Dame, Hotel d’ville, Champs Elysee, Arc de Triomphe, & Eiffel Tower, Mont Matre. Dropped people off then onto Eiffel Tower for Dinner @ 1st floor restaurant (“Elevation 95”) @ 9.00. Back down @ 11.00 back to hotel via Opera Sq on Metro. Photo "Luxembourg Palace, Paris" Photo "Eiffel Tower from Trocadero, Paris"
Sunday 4 November ,fine 13 °C – Paris to London Up @ 8.30 breakfast @ hotel checked out left bags @ hotel Caught Metro to Chatlet & walked along Rue de Rivoli @ 10.00. Bought t-shirt for Mum (50f). Walked thru Lourve caught Metro to St Michael & caught train (RER) to Versailles @ 11.30 (31f return ea). Arr @ 12.10 walked to Versailles Palace then got on Petite train (33f ea) for ride to Petit Trianon and Grand Tianon. Walked from Grand Trianon thru park to Grand Canal. Had lunch beside canal then caught petit train back to Chateau @ 2.00. Walked back to station @ caught 2.50 train back to St Michael Walked along &
across Seine to Rue de Rivoli. Liz
bought Shawl for Cel (229f). Metro
from Pyramids to Gare de l’est to hotel to pick up bags.
Then walked back to Gare du Nord @ 4.30 for 5.40 Eurostar. Checked in etc left on time.
1st class this time, includes meal & drink.
Delayed in France & England because of engineering work. Arr @ Waterloo @ 8.00. Tube home arr 8.30. Eurostar/Hotel package £130 ea, incl 1st class Paris to London & 2 nights B&B. Spent 2000F (£200) Hotel OK but basic and old. Photo "Versaille Palace Gardens, Paris" Photo "West face of Versaille Palace, Paris" Photo "Versaille Palace from gardens, Paris"
Monday 5 November fine ,13 °C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Walked to Camden @ lunch bought gloves £5, dropped photos of @ Boots · Found out today that I was not working for £16ph but would get salary of £28,000 · Left work @ 5.30 · Walked to Camden picked up photos & cd’s £38 · Tube home arr 6.15 · Pork fillet for tea · Out for walk @ 7.30 –8.00 Tuesday 6 November fine,cloudy,drizzle, 13°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Banked £100 pay chq from Quaint @ lunch · Left work @5.00 tube home arr 6.00 · Out for Pizza Express @ 7.00 £20 · Told Quaint would leave on Friday Wednesday 7 November cloudy, 12°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left work @ 5.00 tube home arr 5.45 · Out for walk @ 9.00 to shop back 9.15 Thursday 8 November, cloudy 8°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Finished @ Quaint @ 5.00 · Tube home arr 6.00 · Got job at NBA Techtonics starting Monday thru Computer Futures (£14ph) in Camden town Friday 9 November fine, 10°C · Up @ 8.00 · Tube to Oxford Circus · Meet Laurence Doe @ Computer Futures signed contracts · Met Liz for lunch @ 12.30 for lunch @ Bon Pain · Tube home @ 1.30 · Out for tea @ Arbuckles · Then to football match @ Millwall (Millwall 1 Rotherham 0) Saturday 10 November fine, 13°C · Up @ 9.00 · Tube to Earls Court picked up AB’s tickets in Dublin at European Encounters · Walked to Kensington High Street then along High St · Bus to Picadilly lunch at Henrys · Tube to Oxford Circus walked along Oxford st · Bought crystal bells for Sues Xmas £17.50 · Tube home out @ 4.0 tube to Southwark for fireworks (Lord Mayors) · Tube home out for tea @ Chinese £20 Sunday 11 November cloudy, 13°C · Up @ 9.00 · Bus to Liverpool St · McD’s for breakfast · Walked to ice skating rink · Walked down to Moorgate, tube to London Bridge · Train to Greenhithe @ 11.39 arr 12.30 · Bus to Bluewater for shopping · Bought track pants £20, 3D Studiomax book £20, Xmas cards and wrapping paper · Left @ 3.00 train back to London Bridge · Out for tea at JD Weatherspoons Monday 12 November cloudy drizzle, 12°C · Up @ 8.15 · Tube to Camden town arr 9.00 started at NBAT 30-31 Lyme Street · Left @ 5.30 tube home · Picked up drycleaning · Chops for tea · Out for walk @ 8.15 –8.45 Tuesday 13 November part cloudy, 8°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Bought postal box @ lunch · Left @ 5.30 tube to Green Park met Liz · Tube to Kensington to Harrods bought Xmas balls £7.95ea · Tube home @7.00 · Chicken for tea Wednesday 14 November fine, 7°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.00 tube home arr 5.40 · Out @ 6.00 bus to London Bridge, train to Charing Cross · Walked to Astoria bought tickets for Garbage (£30 ea) · Tea @ McDonalds · Went to venue @ 7.30 show started @ 9.00 good show, no Butch Vig (drummer, sick), Shirley Manson had blonde hair · Finished @ 10.30 tube home Thursday 15 November fine, 8°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.45 running a 3d render over night · Tube home arr 6.30 · Pork fillet for tea Friday 16 November cloudy, 8°C – London to Dublin · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Doors locked got in @ 8.30 · Left @ 5.00 tube to Paddington · Met Liz caught Heathrow express @ 6.15 arr Terminal 1 @ 6.30 · Checked in had dinner @ Garfunkels then thru to gate @ 7.30 · Aerlingus flight boarded @ 8.30 · Left @ 9.00 landed in Dublin @ 10.00 · Taxi into town to Paramount Hotel (IR£15) · Checked in top floor room · Out for a walk around the block @ 11.00, then back to bed
Saturday 16 November cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 8.30, breakfast @ hotel · Out @ 10.00 walked thru Temple Bar to info centre @ St Andrews church · Walked down thru Trinity College then east thru Merrion Sq & on past Landsdowne Rd ground · Coffee @ Ballsbridge then walked to ground @ 1.00 · Into Landsdowme Road stadium and had hotdog, watched teams arrive, then to our seat @ 1.30 · Bought ref-link radios to hear the referee (£7ea) game started @ 2.00 bought programme (£3) · NZ40 IR29 · Walked back to hotel @ 4.30 · Out for tea @ 7.00 to Thunder Road (restaurant) (£33) back to hotel @ 9.00 Photo "Grafton Street, Dublin" Photo "Landsdowne Rd, All Blacks vs Ireland, Dublin" Sunday 18 November cloudy, 9°C – Dublin to London · Up @ 9.00, Breakfast @ hotel, packed bags checked out @ 10.00 left bags with hotel · Got on Dublin tour bus £8ea · Went to St Patricks Cathedral got off at Guinness factory. · Did tour of displays then went to top of factory to Sky Bar on roof for a pint (@11:00) · Back on bus then thru Phoenix Park & along North Bank to O’Connell St · Got off @ 12.15 lunch @ café (£IR8) · Back on bus for rest of tour across river round St Stephens Green then off the bus @ St Patricks Cathedral @ 1.30 · Walked thru Dublin Castle then thru Dame St to Grafton St for some window shopping, into mall at St Stephens Green · Walked to Temple Bar for coffee @ 3.30 · Back to hotel @ 4.45 to wait for taxi, arr airport 5.30 · On flight @ 7.45 arr Heathrow 9.05 · Cab home £56 @ 10.00 Photo "View looking east over Dublin from Sky Bar"
Monday 19 November cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.30 tube to Leicester Square, met Liz @ Piccadilly Circus · Bought tickets for “The Others” movie @ Trocadero Centre. Good movie, with a twist · Tea @ McDonalds movie @6.30 · Finished @ 8.30 tube home Tuesday 20 November cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.00 tube home arr 5.45 · Pork Chops for tea · Out for walk @ 9.00 Wednesday 21 November cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Picked up parcel from Mum & Dad @ lunchtime from Parcel Force depot Camden · Left @ 5.00 tube home arr 5.45 · Lamb chops for tea Thursday 22 November cloudy clearing, 12°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.00 tube home arr 5.45 · Chicken for tea Friday 23 November cloudy 10°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Liz came to work @ 5.30 · Went to pub in Pratt St with guys form work, left @ 7.00 · Tea @ Café Uno in Camden £10 as Liz’s meal had to be re cooked (raw in middle of chicken) · Tube home @ 9.00 Saturday 24 November fine, 10°C · Up @ 9.00 · Posted parcels home with Xmas presents Liz’s £18, mine £30 · Bus to Surrey Quays · Bought compass £10 · Bus Home · Walked to London Scotia Bar (Bermondsey St) @ 1.00 · Watched Eng vs S.A (23-9) and N.Z vs Scotland (35-12) rugby · Home @ 6.00 · Pizza for tea £20 Sunday 25 November
fine, cloudy rain, 10°C · Up @ 7.30 · Walked to McDonalds for breakfast · Picked up rental car at Easy rentacar (£181 for the week) · Drove to A2 then out thru Gillingham to Margate then to St Margaret-at-Cliffe · Walked along beach then had roast lunch @ pub in village £15 · Drove thru drizzle to Dover then to Folkestowe · Looked thru markets then drove to Channel tunnel then back to coast · Then drove thru Hythe then to New Romney, then to Ashford · Stopped at outlet mall · Drove home up M20 into rain in London · Home @ 5.30 · Got sausages and buns for tea. Photo "St-Margaret-at-Cliffe, Kent" Monday 26 November fine, 12°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.00 tube home arr 5.45 · Got parking ticket £40 · Drove to Old Kent Road to pay parking ticket and get resident parking vouchers · Shopping at Tesco · Got pizza from Pizza Hut for tea, take away · Home @ 8.00 Tuesday 27 November cloudy rain, 10°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.30 tube home arr 6.15 · Pork for tea Wednesday 28 November cloudy, 12 °C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 7.45 · Left @ 5.30 tube home arr 6.15 · Steak for tea Thursday 29 November cloudy, 14°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.00 tube home arr 5.45 · Out to get petrol @ 8.00 Friday 30 November cloudy, 12°C – London to Bath · Up @ 6.15 drove to work dropped Liz off on way, arr 8.05 · Got parking ticket £30(forgot to pay & display during afternoon) · Left @ 5.00 · Picked up Liz on Piccadilly then drove out on A4 thru rush hour · Piccadilly @ 5.40, M25 @ 6.45 · Drove on M25 to M3 then west. Stopped @ service stop for tea @ KFC · Left @ 7.50, drove on A303 to A36 then to Monkton Combe, near Bath, arr 9.15 @ Manor house B&B · Forgot to bring camera Saturday 1 December fine, showers, 10°C · Up @ 8.00 · Walked around village then back to B&B for breakfast · Left @ 9.30 drove around Bath and parked car. · Walked through town to Roman Baths, bought disposable cameras, did audio tour, £7.50ea, very interesting · Walked around markets amid showers · Got on Bus tour of Bath £6 ea for 40 minutes · Walked through shopping streets very crowded AC bought jeans £40 · Lunch @ Marks & Spencers · Bought tongs @ kitchen shop · Back to car then drove round Bath, then out through Englishcombe then along country lanes to Midsommer Norton, then back thru Radstock to Monkton Combe @4.00 · Walked to pub for tea @ 6.30 (£25) Photo "Roman Baths and Bath Abbey, Bath" Photo "River Avon and Pulteney Bridge, Bath"
Sunday 2 December fine, frosty, cloudy, hazy, 9°C – Bath to London · Up @ 8.00 walked across fields in frost then breakfast · Left @ 9.30 drove thru Bath to A4 then to Bristol · Found Clifton Suspension bridge looked from top then drove under bridge on A4, then onto M5 south. Off jct. 20 to Cheddar Gorge then to Shepton Market for lunch (Pork pie, crisps and Xmas cake from Co-op) · Drove thru to A303 then east to A34 north looking for Watership Down, too hazy foggy so gave up · Then back thru into London. · Got some groceries then home for tea. Photo "Mist and Frost, Monkton Combe, near Bath" Photo "Clifton Bridge, Bristol"
Monday
3 December hazy foggy, 8°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.00 bought 2 African violets (69p ea) · Picked up photos from Boots · Tube home (no Bank service so via Waterloo) · Arr 6.00 chicken for tea Tuesday 4 December fine/cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.00 tube to London Bridge · Met Liz tea @ Pommellers Rest · Home @ 6.45 Wednesday 5 December cloudy/windy, 9°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.45 tube to Leicester Square · Met Liz , David & Celina for tea @ Conquisto (mexican, £30) · Left @ 8.30 tube home Thursday 6 December foggy, 6°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.00 Tube Home arr 5.45 · Chicken for tea Friday 7 December fine, 10°C · Sick, sore throat, stayed at home · Pork for tea Saturday 8 December fine foggy, 7°C · Up @ 9.00 · Tube to Camden walked around Markets · Then along Canal to St Pancras then to St Pancras church · Lunch @ McDonalds in Camden then bus to Oxford St · Tube to Tower Hill then walked home · Chinese for tea (£25) Sunday 9 December fine, 6°C · Up @ 9.00 · Bus to the Globe Theatre for tour @ 12.00 · Lunch @ Starbucks then bus to Nine Elms & walked to Battersea. · Visited the dogs home then to Cirque de Soleil ‘Quidam’ @ 3.30 amazing show · Left @ 6.00 bus to Southwark Bridge then walked home. · Tea @ Pizza Express on way
Monday 10 December foggy/fine, 6°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.30 tube to Leicester Sq met Liz, walked around & watched people arriving for LOR premiere. · Saw Peter Jackson, Cliff Richard, Bob Geldolf, Brian May, Graham Norton, Ruby Wax, Liv Tyler etc · Tea @ 7.30 @ TGI Fridays £25 · Bought DVD player @ Virgin Megastore £200 Philips 612S + 5 DVD’s · Walked to Green Park, tube home @ 9.00 Photo "Peter Jackson (purple shirt), Lord of the Rings premiere, Leicester Sq, London" Tuesday 11 December foggy/fine, 6°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Bought LOR tickets for 21/12/01 · Left @ 5.30 tube home arr 6.00 Wednesday 12 December fine/cloudy, 7°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.15 tube home arr 6.00 · Lamb Chops for tea · Out for a walk @ 7.30 home @ 8.00 Thursday 13 December cloudy, 6°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Picked up parcel from Liz’s mum @ lunch time from Parcel Force · Left @ 5.30 tube home arr 6.15 Friday 14 December fine, 3°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.00 tube home arr 6.00 · Bought mini xmas tree in Camden £3 · Chicken for tea · Watched Three Kings DVD Saturday 15 December fine/cloudy, 2°C · Up @ 9.00 · Bus to Surrey Quays bought shirt £20 and shopping · Bus home · Bus to London Bridge Jennys for lunch then walked to Southwark Cathedral looked around then to Borough Markets · Walked through Borough & home via Long Lane & Tanner St · Out to tea @ Pizza Hut @ 7.00 then home. Sunday 16 December, Cloudy 6°C · Up @ 10.00 · Tube to Fulham Broadway walked to Stamford Bridge to try and get tickets to Chelsea vs Liverpool, sold out · Walked along Kings Rd, lunch @ pancake house £20 · Walked to Sloane Square then bus to Shaftsbury Ave walked to Oxford St · Along Oxford St to Tottenham Court Rd then home · Out for tea at Pomerllers Rest £12 home @ 8.00
Monday 17 December drizzle cloudy 6°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 8.00 · Left @ 5.30 tube home arr 6.00 · Pork chops for tea Tuesday 18 December fine, 5°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 7.45 · Left @ 4.30 tube to Green Park met Liz after work · Walked to Leicester Sq then to Somerset house to look @ ice skating rink · Walked to Maiden Lane to Maple Leaf met Jason Woolley & Chris Horan for drinks went to the Porterhouse · Left @ 9.00 train from Charing Cross to London Bridge arr home @ 9.45 Wednesday 19 December fine cloudy, 5°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 7.45 · Left @ 5.00 tube home arr 5.45 picked up drycleaning · Pork chops for tea Thursday 20 December fine, 5°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 7.45 · Finished work @ 6.00, Liz came to my work. · Walked to The Queens in Primrose Hill for NBA Techtonics Xmas do (Buffet) · Left @ 9.00 walked to Chalk Farm tube to London Bridge bus home @ 9.45 Friday 21 December cloudy drizzle, 6°C · Up @ 6.15 tube to work arr 7.45 · Left @ 5.30 met Liz then to Camden Odeon to see LOR (Fellowship of the Rings) £7 ea @ 6.10. Good movie · Tube home @ 9.00 arr 9.45 Saturday 22 December fine, 4°C · Up @ 9.00 · Bus to Surrey Quays · Lunch @ BHS · Tea @ Tower Bridge Tandoori Sunday 23 December fine, 3°C · Up @ 9.00 · Caught bus to Russell Sq @ 1.00 · Went to British Museum (free) looked around Greek/Roman & Americas · Then walked to Somerset House on the Strand @3.00 · Watched ice skating then bus home @ 4.00 · Tea @ Pommellers rest @ 6.00 (£14) · Home @ 7.00 Photo "British Museum, London" Photo "Skating Rink, Somerset House, London"
Monday 24 December fine, 4°C · Up @ 10.00 (Liz went to work @ 7.00) · Went to Surrey Quays @ 1.00 for Xmas shopping · Liz home @ 2.00 Tuesday 25 December cloudy showers, 4°C · Up @ 7.30 · DVD player for Xmas, Liz got DVD’s Bridget Jones Diary, American Pie · I got Ben Elton & LOR books · Liz rang her Mum & John · Watched DVD · Got call from Mum & Dad @ 11.00 · Out for Xmas dinner @ Thistle Tower Hotel @6.00 £48ea · Home @ 8.00 Wednesday 26 December fine, 3°C · Up @ 9.00 · Walked to Surrey Quays along river @ canals (ice on canals) · Shops all closed · Tube to Oxford St walked along Regent St bought CD’s (Kylie, David Gray & The Cure) · Then tube home · Pommellers Rest for tea Thursday 27 December cloudy, 8°C · Up @ 10.00 (Liz @ work) · Walked to Surrey Quays @ 2.00 for lunch · Walked home · Chops for tea · Bus to Decathlon @ 6.30 bought jacket (£49), ski trousers (£40) · Bus home Friday 28 December cloudy windy, 4°C · Up @ 10.00 (Liz @ work) · Out @ 2.30 walked to Mandella Way, picked up letter for Liz from Royal Mail · Walked to Surrey Quays @ 5.00 met Liz then tea @ Pizza Hut (£20) · Bus home Saturday 29 December cloudy drizzle, 3°C · Up @ 9.00 · Walked to Tower Hill tube to South Kensington · Went to Natural History Museum saw Dinosaurs etc · Lunch @ Museum · Left @ 3.00 · Tube to Leicester Square · Bought ticket to Rent (£18) · Tube home · Out @ 5.30 · Tea @ Aberdeen Steak House (£30) · Show @ 7.45 Good performers a bit of a strange script · Home @ 11.00 Photo "Natural History Museum, London" Photo "Main Hall,.Natural History Museum, London" Sunday 30 December, Fine 4°C · Up @ 8.30 · Walked to Easi rent a car picked up car (£84) · Drove SW on A3 thru Guildford · Stopped @ Hindhead to play in snow · Drove to Emsworth on A3 to church where Sir Peter Blake was buried got wrong church first time · Drove along river (frozen) then to Thomas-a-Becket church, correct one couldn’t find Peter Blakes grave. · Drove eat to Chicester for lunch @ McDonalds @ 1.00 · Drove along A27 to Brighton/Hove · Drove along waterfront then north (thru snow) on A23, M23 to Croydon @ 3.30 · Went to Whitgift centre for a walk around then to Liz’s Aunty Beat’s for tea @ 4.30 · (Beatrice, Beatrice jnr, June, Peter, Peter jnr. and Shaun) ate at 4.30 · Left @ 9.00 drove home on A23 · Home @ 10.00 Photo "Snow, Hindhead, Surrey" Monday 31 December fine, 3°C · Up @ 10:00 (Liz @ work) · Liz home @ 2:30 · Out to Surrey Quays @ 4:00 for shopping, chaos · Home @ 5:00 · Out @ 5:45 to Kylie & Johns for drinks · Left @ 8:00, Chinese for tea · Train to Charing Cross @ 9:30 · Walked to Maple Leaf pub, met Jason Woolley and Chris Horan · Left pub @ 11:00 · Tube from Embankment to Kilburn · Walked to Jason & Janes place · Saw in the New Year then left @ 12:30 · Walked to West Hampstead tube and caught Jubilee to Bermondsey, home @ 1:30 Tuesday 1 January fine, 3°C · Up @ 8:00 (Liz’s mum rang) · Left @ 11:00 · Tube to Belsize Park · Walked around through the frost · Coffee @ Starbucks then walked down to Camden Town · Went to Blockbuster video, signed up and hired DVD (Miss Congeniality) · Bus to Oxford Street · Went to Evans, Liz bought shirt (£15) · Tube to Bermondsey · Home @ 3:00 · Watched DVD · Chicken for tea Wednesday 2 January freezing fog / fine, 3°C (-5 overnight) · Up @ 6:30 · Tube to work, arr 8:00 · Dropped off DVD and films @ lunch · Left work @ 5:15, picked up photos from Boots (£14m standard size + CD) · Tube home, arr @ 6:10 · Lamb chops for tea Thursday 3 January fine, 4°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr @ 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr @ 5:45 · Chicken Kiev for tea Friday 4 January fine, 3°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Saturday 5 January cloudy/misty, 6°C · Up @ 9:00 · Liz went to work · Met Liz @ Westminter Station @ 12:30 · Walked to Westminster Abbey and looked through (£6 ea) · Walked through to St James Park (past Scotland Yard). Lunch @ café · Looked @ frozen ponds then walked down the Mall to Trafalgar Sq · Bus to Harrods · Bought placemats and coasters fro Liz’s Mum’s birthday (£20) · Tube to Canada Water, went to Decathlon · Liz bought ski trousers (£44) · Bus home · Out to tea @ Chop House (£30) Photo "St James's Park with frozen lake and Buckingham Palace, London" Photo "Frozen lake, St James's Park, London" Sunday 6 January cloudy, 7°C · Up @ 9:00 · Bus to The Strand, walked to Covent Garden · Breakfast in Convent Garden Markets · Looked around shops · Bought ski “turtle neck” (£14) (neck warmer) · Walked to Somerset House the across Waterloo Bridge to IMAX theatre · Bus from Waterloo home · Got “The Dish” DVD from local convenience store and watched it in the afternoon · Out to tea @ 5:30 to Pommellers Rest · Home @ 6:30 Monday 7 January cloudy, 6°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Tuesday 8 January cloudy, 5°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 7:00 along the river, home @ 7:30 Wednesday 9 January cloudy / fine, 5°C · Up @ 6:30 · Watched BBC item on Tiger woods in NZ · Tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left work @ 5:15, tube home, arr 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, back @ 8:30 Thursday 10 January cloudy, 6°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Friday 11 January cloudy, 7°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, picked up photos from boots, tube home, arr 6:30 Saturday 12 January cloudy, 12°C · Up @ 9:30 · Brunch at the Mill Street Café · Booked minicab for the next day to Gatwick · Bus to Surrey Quays · AC bought snow boots from Decathlon (£30) · Tube to North Greenich · Looked around tube station then looked @ Millennium Dome · Bus to Bromley-by-bow, tube to Bow Rd then DLR to Tower Hill · Walked around Tower Hill, went to Fenchurch Rail Station · Walked to St Katherines Dock, boat across to Butlers Wharf (Tower Bridge closed for maintenance for 5 weeks) · Out for tea @ Pizza Express Sunday 13 January London to Soldeu, Andorra, cloudy, 6°C · Up @ 4:45 · Minicab @ 5:30 · Arr @ Gatwick @ 6:15 (£45) · Checked in etc · Flight left @ 8:30, arr Toulouse @ 11:00 (Eurotime) · Took 1 hr to get bags etc · Onto Inghams coach and left @ 12:30 · Headed south · Stopped @ Ussat les Buins for lunch then drove over Pasa de la Casa to Soldeu, arr @ 4:00 · Checked into Hotel Himalaia · Quick look around town and organised skis, boots etc and arranged a locker at the bottom of the gondola (E48 E1 (1 euro) = £0.6 = NZ$2) · Tea @ hotel at 6:30 · Orientation meeting @ Pussycat Bar @ 7:30 · Started snowing · Bed @ 9:00 Photo "View from Hotel Room, Hotel Himilaia, Soldeu, Andorra" Monday 14 January cloudy/snowing then fine, 3°C · Up @ 7:00 · Breakfast @ 7:30 · Walked to Gondola Station, got skis etc from locker then joined queue @ 8:15 · Gondola started @ 8:30 · Went up to skifield · Liz booked a 1 hour lesson @ 10:00 (E25) with Jan (dutch) which she didn’t enjoy · Skied around for a while then had lunch @ top of gondola @ 12:30 (E12) · Skied back down to Soldeu, arr 2:30 · Stored our gear then walked back to Hotel · Had a Jacuzzi @ hotel then walked around town · Liz bought socks (E13) · Bought some groceries and a bottle of Baileys (750ml for E9 (£6 NZ$18) · Back to hotel for rest and coffee · Tea @ 7:00 · Bed @ 9:00 Photo "Soldeu Skifield, Andorra"
Tuesday 15 January fine, 3°C · Up @ 7:30, breakfast then to gondola @ 8:45 · Gondola started @ 9:00 · Skied round to 12:00 then back down gondola · Lunch in town · Picked up @ 2:00 and taken to Pasa de la Casa for Skidooing (Snowmobile) (E24ea for ½ hr) · Started to snow · Back to hotel @ 3:00 · Jacuzzi then rest · Tea @ 7:00 Photo "Liz Caldwell skidooing, Pas de la Casa, France / Andorra border" Wednesday 16 January snowing then fine, 3°C · Up @ 9:00 · Breafast then caught the free bus down to Canillo to go ice skating. This does not open till 12:00 · Missed bus back so wandered around Canillo, Liz bought new skigloves (E27) · Had a coffee then caught bus to El Tater @ 12:00 · Went up chair lift and had lunch (E13) · Sat in the sun till 2:00 then went to Husky Sledging (E30ea). Good fun but hard work · Back down the chair lift @ 3:00 and caught bus back to Soldeu · AC went up for a ski but too cold · Tea @ 6:30 Photo "El Tarter Skifield, Andorra" Thursday 17 January fine, 9°C · Up @ 9:00, breakfast then caught 10:00 bus to Andorra la Vella via Canillo and Encamp (E2 ea) · Walked up main shopping street, looking in shops, then had coffee · Walked to Caldea pools @ 12:00 · Went into pools (E29 for 3 hours) · Went on the Helimotion helicopter simulator then into pools (Jacuzzi, roman baths etc) · Out @ 2:15 · Walked back down main street, McDonalds for lunch · Caught 3:00 bus back to Soldeu · Back to hotel for coffee then to room for rest · Liz went to hotel movie (American Beauty) · Tea @ 7:30 Photo "Andorra la Vella, Andorra" Friday 18 January fine, 4°C · Up @ 7:30, breakfast then up the mountain @ 9:00 · Skied round till 2:00, lunch up the moutain, then skied down to Soldeu · Back to hotel for Jacuzzi · Relaxed in room then out to farewell meeting to get info on leaving time (6:45am Sunday) · Tea @ 6:30 Saturday 19 January cloudy, 3°C · Up @ 7:30, breakfast then up mountain @ 9:00 · Skied till 11:15 then skied down · Caught 12:00 bus to Canillo and went iceskating (E8 ea) till 1:15 · Lunch at the bottom of the Canillo gondola (Telecabina) then rode to the top of the gondola · Had a look around the skifield then back down · Walked around Canillo, looked at a couple of 12th century churches · Caught 3:00 bus back to Soldeu · Returned skis etc then back to hotel for Jacuzzi and coffee · Tea @ 6:30 · Early to bed Sunday 20 January Andorra to London, fine/foggy/windy/cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 5:45, left on bus @ 7:00 · Drove to Ussat les Buins for breakfast · Carried on through the fog to Toulouse airport, arr 10:30 · Check in etc, boarded @ 12:00 · Plane delayed because 2 passengers went AWOL · Left @ 12:40 instead of 12:05 · Arrived @ Gatwick @ 1:30 (UK time), bumpy landing due to the wind · Train to London Bridge (£8 ea), then bus home @ 3:15 · Tea @ Pommellers Rest @ 6:00 Holiday costs: airfares/skis/accommodation/lift passes £1000 Huskies/skidoo £68 Spending £200 = £1270 Monday 21 January cloudy, 11°C · Up @ 6:30 · Tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left work @ 5:15, tube home, picked up dry cleaning, home @ 6:00 Tuesday 22 January cloudy/showers, 8°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, picked up photos from Boots, tube home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 7:00, home @ 7:30 Wednesday 23 January rain/showers, 6°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube to Leicester Sq · Met Liz, tea @ Pizza Hut (£15) · Walked to St Martins in the Field, met Angels & Alan (from Quaint). Angels going back to Barcelona · Walked to Charing Cross, coffee @ café then to pub for a pint · Left @ 9:15, train to London Bridge, walked home, arr 10:00 Thursday 24 January cloudy, 8°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Friday 25 January cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Saturday 26 January rain/cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 9:00 · Pottered around then tube to Bond Street @ 11:00 · Walked along Oxford Street, then down Regent Street · Bought Lord of the Rings poster @ virgin megastore (£3.99) · Met David Ryan and Selena @ Piccadilly Circus then to Waggamama for lunch (£15) · Left @ 2:30 · Walked along to Planet Hollywood and bought AC’s Dad’s birthday present (shirt £30) · Tube to Kentish Town · Bought box for photos and, stopped raining, so walked down to Camden Town · Caught tube from Mornington Cres, via Euston, to London Bridge · Picked up DVD on the way home (Snatch) · Out for tea @ 6:30 to Arbuckles (£20) · Home @ 8:00 Sunday 27 January cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 9:00 · Breakfast @ home then housework · Out @ 1:00 · Bus to Elephant and Castle · Went to National War Museum. Good display of planes/tanks etc · Left @ 3:30 · Tube from Elephant and Castle to London Bridge · Coffee in the Hays Galleria · Walked home @ 4:30 · Out for tea @ Pommellers Rest (£14) · Home @ 7:30 Photo "National War Museum, London" Monday 28 January cloudy/torrential shower/fine, windy, 10°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 · Watched the news of storms through Scotland, 7 people dead Tuesday 29 January cloudy, windy, 10°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15. tube home, arr 6:00 Wednesday 30 January cloudy/rain, 11°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr @ 7:45 · Posted Dad’s birthday parcel at lunch (£9) · Left work @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk in the rain @ 8:00 for ½ hr Thursday 31 January fine/cloudy/rain, windy, 9°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube to London Bridge · Met Liz @ Pommellers Rest @ 6:00 for “Curry Club” · Home @ 7:00 Friday 1 February cloudy/rain, windy, 10°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Saturday 2 February cloudy, windy, 12°C · Up @ 8:30 · Breakfast @ home then tube to Kings Cross · Trains to Cambridge cancelled due to overhead line damage, so tube to Liverpool Street · Caught 9:49 to Cambridge (£15 rtn each) · Arrived in Cambridge @ 11:10 · Walked into town, went to info centre and got map · Got on a Guide Friday hop-on-hop-off bus tour around Cambridge · Did a complete loop then got off @ 1:00 · Lunch @ Bakers Oven (£4) then walked around town, down through Kings College to the River Cam (hence Cambridge) · Walked to botanical gardens (£2:50 ea) and wandered around till 3:00 then walked to station · Caught the 3:34 train to Liverpool Street, arr 5:00 · Bus home · Out for tea to Pizza Express @ 6:30, home @ 7:30 Photo "Cambridge, Cambridgeshire" Photo "Kings College, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire"
Sunday 3 February drizzle/rain, 10°C · Up @ 10:00 · Breakfast at home then out for a bike ride (in the drizzle) to Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays · Bought food for lunch then bought movie tickets for Monsters Inc @ 3:00 · Rode home and had lunch · Bus to Surrey Quays for movie @ 2:30 · Watched “Monsters Inc”, very good, then home @ 5:30 · Out to Pommellers Rest for tea @ 6:15 (£12), home @ 7:00 Monday 4 February cloudy/rain, 8°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Tuesday 5 February fine/thunder shower/fine/rain, 8°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Bought anniversary present for Liz @ lunch (necklace and bracelet from Argos) · Left work @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Wednesday 6 February Waitangi Day / 4th Wedding Anniversary, fine/cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 6:30. tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 · Out @ 6:15, tube from Bermondsey to Stockwell, walked to Brixton · Tea @ Favourite Fried Chicken · Joined the queue for the Tim Finn, Bic Runga, Dave Dobbyn concert · Show started @ 8:30, good show, lots of crowd singing · Left @ 11:30, tube from Brixton to Bermondsey, home @ 12:00 Thursday 7 February fine/cloudy/showers, 8°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home via Waterloo, arr 6:00 Friday 8 February fine/cloudy/showers, 9°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Posted card to Paula East, £1:09 · Left work @ 5:15, arr home @ 6:00 Saturday 9 February rain/mainly fine, 8°C · Up @ 8:30 to news that Princess Margaret had died · Breakfast @ home then bus to Waterloo · Caught 10:30 train to Windsor (Riverside Station), arr 11:15 · Walked up the hill to the Castle, bought tickets and went in (£11:50ea) · Bought guide book (£4:50) · Went through State Apartments (including the parts burnt in the fire in 1992) · Met David Ryan & Selena · Went through St Georges Chapel then into the town of Windsor · Had lunch @ pub (fish & chips) then walked down to the Thames and over into Eton · Walked through Eton to the College (shut) then back to train @ 3:30 · Caught 3:55 train back to Waterloo, arr 5:15, then Jubilee Line to Canada Water · Went to Decathlon, AC bought sunglasses (£35) · Bus home @ 6:00 · Ordered Pizza for tea and watched TV Photo "Windsor Castle, Windsor" Photo "The Quadrangle, Windsor Castle, Windsor"
Sunday 10 February cloudy, 8°C · Up @ 9:00 · Rode to Waterloo Station, caught 10:12 train to Wimbledon, arr 10:40 · Rode to Wimbledon Tennis courts then up to Wimbledon Common · Rode around the common, through the mud · Lunch @ café in common @ 1:00 · Rode back past tennis courts, through Wandsworth to Clapham Junction, caught train to Waterloo and rode home, arr 2:30 · Out to tea @ Pommellers Rest @ 6:00, home @ 7:00 Monday 11 February rain, 10°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Tuesday 12 February fine/partly cloudy, 11°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:50, tube to Leicester Sq, met Liz · Tea in China Town then walked to Borderline to see Chris Whitley (£8 ea), which was a bit disappointing · Tube home, arr 11:15 Wednesday 13 February fine/cloudy/showers, 9°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Thursday 14 February fine, 8°C · Up @ 6:30, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 65:15, tube home, arr 6:00 · Packed bags Friday 15 February fine, 8°C · Up @ 7:00 · Tube @ 8:00 to Stanmore, arr 9:10 · Picked up by Bespokes @ 9:30 · Signed forms etc then picked up red 911 Porsche Targa (1983) · Left @ 10:30, drove round M25 to M4 then west · Stopped @ service point for drink and toilet then on west to Bristol, then on to M5 south · Stopped for lunch just south of Bristol @ Avonhead @ 12:30 · Drove on thru Somerset, then to Exeter · South to Torquay and to Paignton · Stopped for walk along the beach @ Paignton @ 3:00 · Got back to car and it wouldn’t start · Called Bespokes then the AA · AA arrived @ 3:30 and diagnosed a “dicky startermotor”, but not serious · Headed up through Newton Abbott and Bovey Tracey to our cottage for the weekend near Chagford, Devon. Cottage, “Mill Cottage”, owned by the National Trust, £150 for 3 nights, self catered,. Very peaceful, no TV! · Out for tea in Chagford @ 7:00, roast chicken in pub (Three Crowns) £13, back to cottage @ 9:00 Photo "1983 911 Porsche Targa, Paignton, Devon" Photo "1983 911 Porsche Targa at National Trust Cottage, Chagford, Devon" Saturday 16 February foggy/fine, 10°C · Up @ 7:30 · Went for a walk through the surrounding field then back for breakfast · Left @ 9:00, drove to Castle Drogo (closed for winter), walked around gardens then west on the A30 to Penzance and then on to Lands End (eastern most point in England) @ 12:00 · Paid to get in (£1 for the carpark). Walked to the point then back to car and left @ 12:15 · Drove into Penzance and had lunch (Cornish pasties!) then walked around town · Drown round the bay to St Michaels Mount · Walked out to mount along causeway (low tide). St Michaels closed, but walked around houses then back to car @ 2:30 · Drove east then south to Lizard Point (southern most point in UK) then back thru Truro to A30 then back to cottage @ 5:30 · Out for tea @ Ring o’ Bells pub @ 7:00 (£27) · Home @ 9:00 Photo "St Michaels Mount, Cornwall" Sunday 17 February foggy/partly cloudy, 14°C · Up @ 7:30, breakfast then out for a walk around the block · Left @ 8:30, drove west on A30 tto St Austell turnoff then to Eden Project, arr 9:45 (opened @ 10:00) · Went in (£9:50 ea) and looked through the two biomes, one humid and one temperate. Very impressive · Had morning tea (Cornish cream tea, scones with clotted cream) then left through the shop (bought some fudge) @ 12:00 · Drove to China Clay museum to see how they quarry clay for china then @ 1:00 drove back to then A30 then east to the A38 then south east to Whitsand Bay · Drove to Torpoint and caught the chain driven car ferry to Plymouth (£1) · Drove north through Plymouth then east through Dartmoor NP, past Dartmoor Prison to Two Bridges for another cream tea at the pub @ 3:00 (Devonshire this time!) · Carried on along the B3357 then via back roads to Chagford then to Whiddon Down and back to the cottage through the forest and farms. · Out for tea @ 6:30 to Three Crowns again, home @ 8:00 Photo "Eden Project, Cornwall" Monday 18 February fine, 10°C · Up @ 7:30, breakfast then walked up the hill looking for deer and woodpeckers, saw neither! · Packed the car & left @ 9:15 · Drove east on A30 to Exeter, then on to Honiton, then onto A35 to Dorchester · Small detour to see the Cerne Giant chalk figure (the one with the big…) then back to A35 · Onto the A31 to Ringwood for lunch · Carried on east through the New Forest to M27 then onto M3 then north back to the M25, then round to Watford to drop car off @ Bespokes · Got a ride back to Stanmore station in an E type Jag and tube home, arr 4:15 · Out for tea @ Pommellers Rest @ 6:30, home @ 7:45 Photo "Cerne Giant, Cerne Abbas, Dorset" Tuesday 19 February cloudy/rain, 9°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Dropped off films for processing @ Boots · Left @ 6:00, tube home, arr 6:45 Wednesday 20 February cloudy/showers, 8°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, picked up photos, tube home, arr 6:00 Thursday 21 February fine/rain, 9°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Friday 22 February cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Computer broke down, so left work @ 10:45, tube home, arr 11:30 · Worked from home on 3d Models for NBAT Saturday 23 partly cloudy/snow shower, 8°C · Up @ 9:00, left home @ 10:00 · Walked to Borough Markets and bought mince beef, and ginger loaf · Bus home · Tube to Camden · Walked around markets, Liz bought vinyl carry bag, £5 · AC bought CD’s (The Strokes and Sting, £20) · Walked to Café Uno for lunch @ 1:30, watched snow falling outside · Walked to SpecSavers, Liz got eye test and 2 pairs of glasses (£129) · Tube home · Out @ 6:00 to Surreys Quays to see Ocean’s Eleven @ 6:45, bus home @ 9:15 Sunday 24 February fine/cloudy/rain, 10°C · Up @ 9:00 · Walked to London Bridge then tube to Green Park for brunch @ Henry’s (£13) · Tube to St Johns Wood and walked to Abbey Road, to the recording studios and the crossing · Took photos then tube to West Hampstead and caught train/replacement bus to Camden Road · Picked up Liz’s glasses and got Almost Famous on DVD · Tube home via Waterloo · Watched DVD · Out for tea @ Pommellers Rest @ 6:00 (£14), home @ 7:30 Photo "Abbey Road Studios, St Johns Wood, London" Monday 25 February partly cloudy/showers, 9°C · Up @ 6:20 · Worked from home for the day · Finished @ 5:00 Tuesday 26 February partly cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 6:20 · Worked @ home till 12:00, tube to work, arr 1:00 · Told that my contract would finish on 12 March · Computer still not ready so left again @ 2:30, tube home · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:45 Wednesday 27 February partly cloudy/showers, 9°C · Up @ 6:20 · Worked @ home till 10:00, tube to work, arr @ 10:45 · Worked to 5:00, tube home, arr 5:45 · Spike Milligan died Thursday 28 February fine/cloudy, 8°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Friday 1 March fine/partly cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 4:45, tube home, arr 5:30 · Out for a walk @ 7:00, home @ 7:30 Saturday 2 March fine/cloudy, 7°C · Up @ 7:00, left @ 7:45, caught tube @ Bermondsey to Baker Street, then to Paddington · Caught 9:00 train to Cardiff, via Bristol · Arrived in Cardiff @ 11:00 · Walked to info centre, got map then to the River Taff · Walked up the river, past the Millennium Stadium, then past Cardiff Castle and into town · Had lunch in Queens Arcade then walked around town, though markets and arcades · Went into Stadium @ 1:00 · Watched Wales vs Italy game @ 2:00 (Wales 44 Italy 20) · Left @ 4:00 · Walked around town, coffee @ Coffee Republic then tea @ Louis’ Restaurant (£9) · Walked to Railway Station @ 6:00, caught train to London @ 6:30 (rather than our booked 7:30 train) · Arrived @ Paddington @ 8:30, tube home, arr 9:00 Photo "Millennium Stadium, Cardiff" Photo "Wales vs Italy, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff" Sunday 3 March cloudy, 8°C · Up @ 9:00, left @ 10:00 · Tube to Caledonian Road, walked along Market Road (looking for camper vans) then bus to Archway · Walked around then tube to Angel · Lunch @ Ruby’s (£14) · Walked down to the Regents Canal then east along canal to New City Road · Walked to Old Street Tube and tube to London Bridge · Walked home, getting a DVD on the way, arr 3:00 · Watched “Unbreakable” DVD · Out for tea @ 6:00 to Pommellers Rest (£14) · Home @ 7:00 Monday 4 March cloudy, 11°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Tuesday 5 March cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Bought kitchen knife & egg slicer @ lunch · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Wednesday 6 March partly cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 · Walked to John & Kylies @ 7:00 to get photos signed for drivers license applications · Home @ 8:00 Thursday 7 March fine, 12°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Friday 8 March cloudy,
14°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arrive @ 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Saturday 9 March fine/cloudy/windy, 10°C · Up @ 8:00 · Gas man came round @ 10:00 to check boiler, all ok · Rode to Surrey Quays and dropped bikes off @ Decathlon for free service · Bought Mothers Day card (10 March over here) · Tube to London Bridge then to Caledonian Road · Walked along Market Road to look at campers, nothing interesting · Tube to Seven Sisters and walked to Summerhill Road to camper yard · Talked to man and looked at a couple of vans · Walked back to tube, tube to Green Park · Walked through daffodils then to Pizza Hut in Regent Street for lunch @ 1:30 (£12) · Walked through Leicester Sq, then to the Strand then caught bus home · Watched Perfect Storm DVD then out for tea @ 7:30 to Arbuckles (£20) · Home @ 9:00 Photo "Daffodils, Green Park, London" Sunday 10 March cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 9:00 · Tube to Earls Court, to Home Show · Walked around home show then lunch on Earls Court Rd @ 1:00 · Tube to Canada Water, walked to UCI Surrey Quays cinema and saw Beautiful Mind @ 2:15 · Out @ 4:45, picked up bikes from Decathlon and rode home · Out to Pommellers Rest for tea @ 6:30, home @ 7:30 Monday 11 March drizzle/cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr @ 7:45 · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Tuesday 12 March cloudy, 12°C · Up @ 6:20, tube to work, arr 7:45 · Last day @ NBA Tectonics today · Left @ 5:15, tube home, arr 6:00 Wednesday 13 March cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 7:00, train to Croydon @ 8:15, arr 8:30 · Walked to Home Office to apply for leave to remain @ end of my one year spouses visa · Joined queue outside building @ 8:45, building opened @ 9:00. Crowd of about 200 people already there · Got into building @ 9:45, through security · Went to first counter, got numbered ticket and sent upstairs · Seen on first floor @ 10:45, woman checked documentation to make sure I had enough · Given second numbered ticket and sent to second floor for application to be assessed · Seen on second floor @ 1:45, application looked at. Told to wait till it had been processed · Called back to counter @ 2:45 and given passport with leave to remain approved · Train home @ 3:00, arr 3:30 · Bus to Liverpool Street @ 4:15, arr 4:30 · Went to AndersElite Recruiting, met David Bell and had interview · Left @ 5:30 and met Liz @ Liverpool St Station · Tea @ Pizza Express on London Wall ·
Left @ 7:00, bus home, arr 7:30 Thursday 14 March cloudy/rain, 10°C · Up @ 10:00 · Tube to Green Park @ 1:00, met Liz for lunch · Got phone call from Eden Brown about interview with Tangram @ 5:00 · Walked to NZ House to check Air Points situation with Air NZ · Tube to Waterloo, booked flight on London Eye for Saturday @ 9:30 · Tube home @ 3:00 · Walked to the Leathermarket @ 4:30 to Tangram Architects · Had interview, left @ 6:30. Start work on Monday on hospital project on 13:50 per hour, using a new CAD package. Friday 15 March cloudy, °C · Up @ 10:00 · Out @ 1:30 · Tube to Kentish Town to see Quaint, no one there · Tube home, arr 3:30 Saturday 16 March cloudy/fine/rain, 13°C · Up @ 8:00 · Tube to Waterloo for London Eye · Went up @ 9:15, amazing views · Back out @ 9:45 · Walked along south bank of the Thames to Millennium Bridge, walked across then through the City to the fire of London Monument · Had a coffee nearby then walked up the Monument (311 steps) then back down · Walked across London Bridge to Borough Markets · Bought daffodils (£1.50 per bunch), ostrich mince (£4.00) and strawberries (£1.50 for 2 punnets) · Bus home @ 12:30 · Tube to Queensway, walked around shops then got lunch and ate it in Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens · Walked through Park then through Bayswater to Notting Hill, bought 2 vases from charity shops (£3 ea) · Tube from Notting Hill Gate home @ 5:00 · Ordered pizza for tea (£12) Photo "Looking south west from London Eye" Photo "Buckingham Palace from London Eye" Photo "Looking west from London Eye" Photo "Millennium Bridge and St Pauls, London" Sunday 17 March cloudy/fine/rain, 12°C · Up @ 10:00 · Tube to Green Park, brunch @ Henry’s (£14) · Tube home · Out for a bike ride, rode across Tower Bridge · Rode along The Highway to Limehouse Basin then onto Grand Union Canal · Rode along canal to Victoria Park then around park · Got an ice cream then back onto canal and around to Angel · Rode back home through Shoreditch and back across Tower Bridge · Home @ 4:00 · Out to Pommellers Rest @ 6:00 for tea, home @ 7:00 Monday 18 March cloudy/rain, 10°C · Up @ 7:45, walked to work at Tangram (Unit 3.2 The Leathermarket, Weston Street) @ 8:45, arr 9:00 · Walked to Borough High St for lunch in the rain · Left @ 5:30, picked up photos, walked home, arr 6:00 Tuesday 19 March cloudy/rain, 12°C · Up @ 7:20, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Went to Epsom Hospital by train with Alex from Tangram @ 9:00 · Back to work @ 1:00 · Left work @ 5:45, walked home, arr 6:00 Wednesday 20 March cloudy/rain, 11°C · Up @ 7:20, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, walked home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Thursday 21 March cloudy/fine, 15°C · Up @ 7:20, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:15, walked home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 8:30, home @ 9:00 Friday 22 March cloudy/fine, 12°C · Up @ 7:20, walk to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, walked home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Saturday 23 March fine/cloudy, 13°C · Up @ 9:00 · Walked across Tower Bridge through Petticoat Lane to Spitalfield Markets (closed) then to Brick Lane · Went to Bodyworld exhibition (plastinated human bodies) £10 ea. A bit strange but very informative and interesting · Had a cup of coffee then walked to Bethnal Green High Street, then to Liverpool St · Lunch @ McDonalds @ 1:30 · Tube to Oxford Street · Walked along Oxford Street, bought film then to Tottenham Court Road tube · Tube to Hyde Park Corner · Walked through Hyde Park then sat on the grass in the sun · Walked along the Serpentine, bought an ice-cream · Walked through Bayswater to Marble Arch, tube home @ 5:30 · Out @ 7:00 to China Town, Chinese for tea (£25) then played the slot machines · Walked to Charing Cross then train home @ 10:00 Sunday 24 March fine/cloudy, 12°C · Up @ 10:00 · Walked to All Bar One on the Thames for breakfast (£15) · Walked along the river to the Globe then to Waterloo Station · Caught 12:48 train to Hampton (£4.40 rtn ea) · Walked to Howard and Liz Stroombergen’s house · Had lunch · Left @ 4:45, walked back to train station and caught 5:15 train back to Waterloo · Train to London Bridge then walked home, arr 7:00 Monday 25 March hazy/fine, 13°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, walked home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 7:30, home @ 8:00 Tuesday 26 March fine/cloudy/fine, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, walked home, arr 6:00 Wednesday 27 March fine/cloudy/fine, 13°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 5:45, walked home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 7:30, home @ 8:30 · Dudley Moore died Thursday 28 March fine, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 5:45, arr home @ 6:00 Friday 29 March Easter Friday fine, 14°C · Up @ 9:00 · Tube to Victoria · Caught train to Bearsted, Kent for Leeds Castle @ 10:22 (£21 ea, for train, coach and entry) · Train arrived @ 11:30, arrived Leeds Castle @ 11:45 · Walked through grounds then had lunch, burgers · Walked through aviary, saw Kea (cage only, didn’t see the birds) and Toucan · Went through Castle, then sat on the grass and had an ice cream · Walked back to bus @ 3:00 · Bus to train @ 3:15, train left @ 3:50 · Arrived @ Victoria @ 5:00 · Walked to Buckingham Palace then through St James’s Park to Horseguards Parade · Watched guards then went past Downing Street and caught tube @ Westminster for Tower Hill · Walked across Tower Bridge and had tea @ Tower Bridge Tandoori (£20) · Walked home @ 7:00 Saturday 30 March fine/cloudy, 14°C · Up @ 9:00 · Walked to London Bridge McDonalds for breakfast · Tube to Ravenscourt Park · Walked along King Street, bought crisps and drinks and strawberries @ Safeway · Walked to Funival Park on the Thames (near Hammersmith Bridge) @ 11:00 · Sat on the river wall in the sunshine · Watched Oxford/Cambridge reserves row past @ 1:50 · Watched the start of “The Boat Race” on the big screen in the park then watched the boats go past @ 2:20 then the finish on the big screen. Oxford won! · Left @ 2:50 and caught tube back to London Bridge · Went to Borough Market and bought chocolate nuts then walked home, via shops, picked up DVD (Charlies Angels) · Home @ 4:00 · Saw news that the Queen Mother had died @ 4:45 · Watched DVD and TV Sunday 31 March cloudy, 13°C · Up @ 10:00 · Out @ 12:00, walked across Tower Bridge to Petticoat Lane markets · Liz bought shampoo (£1 ea), tissues and trousers (£12). AC bought shirts for home (£10 for 4) · Walked to Spitalfields Markets, looked around · Crepes for lunch · Walked to Liverpool Street, caught bus to Surrey Quays UCI cinema · Went to Ali G Indahouse, very funny, @ 3:15 · Left @ 5:30, bus to Pommellers Rest for tea (£15) then walked home Monday 1 April partly cloudy, 15°C · Up @ 9:00 · Rode bikes through Rotherhithe, to Greenwich · Rode around Greenwich Park, then lunch in village @ 12:00 · Walked through tunnel under Thames to Isle of Dogs · Rode through Isle of Dogs to Shadwell then to Tower Bridge for icecream · Rode home across Tower Bridge · Out for tea to Pommellers rest for tea @ 6:00 Tuesday 2 April cloudy, 15°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 5:45, arr home 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 9:00 Wednesday 3 April fine, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:00 · Left @ 5:45, arr home 6:00 · Caesar Salad for tea, eaten by Tower Bridge · Home @ 7:00 Thursday 4 April fine, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, walk to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Friday 5 April fine, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:15, tube to Bond Street, met Liz · Tube to East Acton, looked at camper van (£800), too rusty! · Tube home, arr 7:00 Saturday 6 April fine windy, 12°C · Up @ 9:00, tube to Waterloo, train to Wimbledon · Bus to look @ camper (£750), ex-ambulance, too big/rough · Bus back to Wimbledon · Looked around shops, lunch @ KFC · Train from Wimbledon to Hampton Court Palace · Went into Palace (£11 ea) · Looked around the inside of the palace rooms (quite plain and empty) then walked around the gardens. · Afternoon tea @ the coffee shop · Walked back to train · Train to Waterloo @ 4:00 · Walked to the Globe Theatre and bought tickets for Twelfth Night on May 17 (£23 ea) · Bus home, getting DVD (O Brother where art thou) on the way · Out for Chinese @ 6:00 · Home @ 7:00 · Watched DVD Photo "Hampton Court Palace, London" Photo "Hampton Court Palace, London" Photo "South Facade, Hampton Court Palace, London" Photo "Andrew and Liz Caldwell, Hampton Court Palace, London" Sunday 7 April fine, 12°C · Up @ 10:00 · Tube to Green Park, brunch @ Henry’s @ 12:00 · Tube to Sloane Square, walked to National Army Museum · Met David, Selena and Selena’s mother · Looked around museum, interesting in places · Left @ 3:00 · Walked back to Sloane Square, tube to Tottenham Court Road, looked around shops · Tube to Canada Water, walked to Surrey Quays but it was shut · Bus home @ 6:00 · Out for tea @ Pommellers Rest @ 6:30 (£15) · Home @ 7:30 Monday 8 April fine, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left work @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 · Liz home @ 6:30, Pizza for tea (£10) · Out for a walk to Southwark Park @ 7:00, home @ 7:45 Tuesday 9 April fine / cloudy, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 8:00 (still light!), home @ 8:30 Wednesday 10 April fine, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 Thursday 11 April fine / cloudy, 13°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 Friday 12 April fine, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, tube to South Wimbledon · Went to Dept Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), lodged application to swap NZ drivers licence for UK license · Tube home, arr 11:30 · Got changed and went to work, arr 12:00 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 Saturday 13 April partly cloudy, 11°C · Up @ 9:00 · Tube to Oval, walked past Oval Cricket Ground to Newport Street to look at camper van dealer · Not open to tube from Vauxhall to Caledonian Road to look @ “Camper Market” on Market Road · Nothing of interest so tube to Seven Sisters · Lunch @ café (£5:00) · Walked to Summerhill Road to van dealer · Looked @ vans and went for ride in one, looked good · Paid £100 deposit for van (1984 Bedford Autosleeper, white, pop-roof, 2.3 petrol) · Pick up van on Tuesday · Walked back to high street then walked to Stamford Hill and caught bus to Camden · Walked around shops, then tube to Covent Gardens · Looked around camping shops the walked to The Strand and caught bus home @ 5:00 · Out for tea @ 6:00 to Pizza Express (£20) · Caught bus back to the Strand to the Aldwych Theatre to see “Bedroom Farce” (starring Richard Briers and June Whitfield). Very funny (£27 ea) · Bus home @ 10:30
Sunday 14 April fine / cloudy, 12°C · Up @ 8:00 · Watched start of the London Marathon on TV then walked to the end of our street to watch the real thing @ 10:00 (women started @ 9:00, wheelchairs @ 9:15, men @ 9:45) · Walked over Tower Bridge to watch some more then home @ 11:30 to watch then finish of the mens race · Had lunch then tube to Canada Water to Decathlon. Liz bought jandels (£4) then tube to New Cross Gate · Walked / bus to Harfords and B & Q on Old Kent Road · Bus back to New Cross Gate then tube to Surrey Quays to Tescos · Bought frying pans (£4) and hairspray · Tube home @ 4:00 · Out for tea to Pommellers Rest @ 5:30, home @ 6:30 · Watched FA cup semi-final (Chelsea v Fulham (1-0)) then US Masters Golf (Tiger Woods won) Monday 15 April cloudy / drizzle, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 · Out to Halford on Old Kent Road @ 7:00, bought steering wheel lock for van, home @ 8:00 Tuesday 16 April fine, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, walk to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:30, tube to Angel · Met Liz then bus to West Green Road / Summerhill Road to pick up van · Paid the money etc then drove down through Stamford Hill and Liverpool Street · Home @ 7:45 Wednesday 17 April fine, 16°C · Up @ 7:00 · Went to Post Office to get Vehicle Tax (to avoid being clamped!) · Eventually got it, £160 for 1 year · Walked to work, 9:30 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 Thursday 18 April fine / showers / thunder, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 Friday 19 April fine, 15°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 · Out @ 7:00, put petrol in van and bought jerry can (£45), drove to Old Kent Road, to Halfords · Bought oil, swapped steering wheel lock for a longer one, bought jumper cables · Left @ 8:00 · On the way home the gear stick came loose · Stopped, called AA, joined up · AA man arrived @ 9:00, reconnected gear stick to selector · Then van wouldn’t start, flat battery. AA man replaced connection to alternator · Got it all fixed. Home @ 10:00 Saturday 20 April fine, 16°C · Up @ 8:30, packed van and left @ 9:00 · Drove to McDonalds for breakfast then east thru Dagenham on the A13 to West Thurrock · Went to Halfords and bought a bucket then drove north to South Ockendon · Went to Essex Camping Centre · Bought electrical lead, water hose, kettle, pots (£30) · Drove on to M25 then round to the M11 · Headed north on M11, pit stop near Harlow then on to Cambridge, onto A10 to Ely for lunch @ 12:30 · Looked into Cathedral @ Ely but didn’t look around (£4 ea) · Walked around town, bought some bread, milk etc and a fire extinguisher · Left @ 2:15, drove north to Sandringham. Got out and went to look @ craft fair in the estate grounds but would have had to pay to get in. · Bought some Coconut Ice and left · Drove northeast on A148 then southeast on B1354 and B1062 to Ludham to our campground, in the heart of “The Broads” · Checked in and paid for one night (£10) and parked · Very nice camp ground, 50 sites, 1 toilet block · Walked down to the river (broad) and along the banks a bit · Back to the van then out for tea @ 7:00 to the pub by the river (£20) · Back to the van @ 8:00 Photo "Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire" Photo "Wroxham Broad, near Ludham, Norfolk" Sunday 21 April fine, 17°C · Up @ 7:00 (with the sun) · Had breakfast etc, packed up and left the camp @ 9:00 · Drove east, south then west into Norwich · Found a park then walked to the Cathedral · Looked around inside for about ½ hour then walked to the Castle · Castle didn’t open till 2pm so looked around town then back to the van @ 11:00 · Drove east on A47 to Great Yarmouth, past lots of windmills · Park on the esplanade and walked across the large beach to the water (cold!) · Drove south to Lowestoft (the easternmost point of the UK) and parked by the beach · Looked at the beach and the fishing / oil rig boats then hot dogs for lunch · Back on the road @ 1:30 · Drove south to Dunwich to look @ beach and old town being eaten away by the sea · Back onto the A12 and south back to London, arr home @ 4:45 · Unpacked van · Out for tea @ 6:00, walked across Tower Bridge to J D Wetherspoons pub for roasts · Walked home, arr 8:00 Photo "Norwich Cathedral, Norfolk" Photo "Great Yarmouth Beach, Norfolk" Photo "Easternmost point in the UK, Lowestoft, Suffolk" Photo "1984 Autosleeper CF Bedford Van, Dunwich, Suffolk" Photo "1984 Autosleeper CF Bedford Van, Dunwich, Suffolk" Photo "1984 Autosleeper CF Bedford Van, interior" Photo "1984 Autosleeper CF Bedford Van, interior" Monday 22 April fine, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:30, arr home 5:45 · Drove to Southwark Parking shop, bought visitors parking permits (£30 for 10) · Did the shopping @ Tescos · Home @ 8:00 Tuesday 23 April fine, 22°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 7:00, home @ 7:30 Wednesday 24 April fine, 23°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 · Worked on van then went for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:45 Thursday 25 April fine, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 · Worked on the water pump in the van, went to petrol station to get water, home @ 7:30 Friday 26 April rain / fine / showers / fine, 15°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:30, home @ 5:45 Saturday 27 April cloudy / showers / fine / showers, 15°C · Up @ 8:30 · Dropped off drycleaning · Out in the van @ 9:00, drove to Vauxhall looking for a van repairs / spares person, couldn’t find it · Drove through New Cross, Greenwich and Woolwich then onto A2 and then to the M25 and over the Dartford Crossing into Essex · Went to the Essex Camping Centre in South Ockendon, bought new electrical plug for the mains power feed, and a new water pump (£6 and £20) · Drove to Lakeside Shopping Centre @ 12:00, had lunch then wandered around · Left @ 1:30, drove to Curry’s, Halfords and Dixons. Bought CD player @ Dixons (Hitachi with radio £40) for AC’s birthday present · Left @ 2:30, drove back into London on A13 then across Tower Bridge and home @ 3:30 · Liz washed the van then working on replacing water pump and electrical connection on the van · Finished @ 6:00. Water pump now works · Tube into Leicester Sq, walked into Soho, went to Bay of Bengal for tea (yes, a curryhouse!, £25) · Coffee @ Café Nero (£1:80 ea) and watched the world go by · Left @ 8:30 · Tube home @ 9:30 Sunday 28 April partly cloudy / fine, windy, 15°C · Up @ 9:00 · Had phone call from AC’s Mum and Dad · Tube to South Kensington @ 11:00 · Walked to Victoria and Albert Museum (free) and went inside · Looked around various exhibitions on sculpture, Japan, etc · Went to café outside museum for lunch @ 1:00 · Back into museum to carry on looking · Left @ 3:00 · Tube to Tower Hill · Walked across Tower Bridge to Starbucks for a coffee · Home @ 4:30 · Out @ 6:15 to Pommellers Rest for tea (£13), home @ 7:30 Monday 29 April cloudy / thunder / hail / fine, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, walk to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:45, home @ 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 7:30, home @ 8:00 Tuesday 30 April rain / showers, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, walked to work, arr 8:30 · Out for lunch to pub with team from work · Left work @ 5:30, home @ 5:45
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