Day One in London.

A slow rising, followed by a leisurely breakfast and plenty of chat, on a day which dawned with not a cloud in the sky. Once we got moving we found a brisk cold wind blowing bu the sun was still shining. We decided to head for the river and left the tube at Westminster. The crowds of people were amazing. I had imagined that as it was winter there would be fewer people around. I swear that on Westminster Bridge there were more people than when Helen and I were their in September a couple of years ago. Crossing the bridge was like coming out of a packed stadium after and All Blacks' Test Match. We headed down river, past the long queue for the Eye heading towards St Paul's and the Minell........(oops) the Millenium Bridge. Rumbling stomachs getting the better of us we slipped in to a riverside pub for a pint and a plate of sausages and mash, at least that's what I had!
Full and satisfied we continued down river to The Tate Modern. London's temple of modern art is housed in the old Bankside Power Station and it is the building itself which is the best exhibit. The vast Turbine Hall is the entrance space. Currently is has a crack running down the entire length of its floor. Put in there by the artist Doris Salcedo (no I haven't heard of her either!!) it is strangely fascinating. (http://www.tate.org.uk/tateshots/episode.jsp?item=12198)
A wander around the various galleries often left me cold. A lot of the stuff in my opinion is just a load of Jackson Pollocks (arty joke!!) but it was interesting to see works by Picasso, Mondrian, Miro, Braque, Pollock, names which even I was familiar with. In spite of my cynicism this place is definitely worth a visit and if I was in London longer I would go back.
Over the Millenium Bridge, past St Paul's, we decided to walk to Covent Garden. This took us down Fleet Street, past the Royal Courts of Justice. Covent garden was buzzing as usual and we spent some time listening to a quintet, strings and a flute, playing various classical pieces in a very entertaining manner.
A quick pint, a visit to a book shop devoted to travel books and maps (I'll pick up a map of France, Michelle, to help us follow Le Tour) and we joined the crowds again as we struggled through Leicester Square and then to enter the tube at Picadilly. I never remember crowds like this on my previous visits. On the way home we stopped off at Gourmet Burger Kitchen in West Hampstead for dinner.

We're off!

At last the trip has started. Michelle drove me to the airport. Checking in was so painless. My bag was checked through to London in under three minutes! We left Wellington in a blustery wind with the customary buffeting of the aeroplane which Wellingtonians would hardly have noticed. For most of the journey the land and sea were obscured by clouds looking like vast expanses of snow cut through in places by channels like those produced by an icebreaker in the Antarctic. A fortuitous gap in the clouds revealed a classic example of diffraction (of ocean waves) (http://www.ngsir.netfirms.com/englishhtm/Diffraction.htm) round a headland near Raglan.
A stocking up of the whiskey supply and a Burger King chicken burger and chips washed down by a Sassy Red helped pass the time before boarding the 'plane to Hong Kong. This leg of the trip, in darkness was uneventful. I had the usual difficulty getting any sleep so was glad to arrive in HK.
We were quickly shuffled up into the waiting area which, at 6 in the morning was shut. Slowly the place opened up at the same time as it got light outside to reveal an airport surrounded by hills wreathed in haze which never lifted while we were there. A quick meal of noodles Japanese style (well I had to spend some of my HK dollars!!) and it was off again. it was at this point that my decision to opt for an aisle seat for the overnight leg backfired. Now we were to fly over China and Russia and I was stuck two seats away from the window. Still the trips down to the back of the 'plane to look through the window gave me some useful exercise. The flight over China revealed a vast area of what looked like desert. We then encountered a very mountainous area which I would think would run to the south west into the Himalaya region. Russia revealed vast plains covered in snow with some evidence of settlements. It brought to mind the Siberian Gulags. What a dreadful place to be sent to. I saw a lovely example of ox-bow lakes adjacent to a meandering river. (http://www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupDownloadFile.asp?file=21606)
In the meantime I watched the odd movie or TV programme and chatted to the couple from Liverpool in the seats beside me. They had been out to see their son who had arrived in NZ with his family only a few months earlier. I managed to get some sleep on this leg of the trip but was brassed off when I found I had nodded off during the time we flew over Moscow. Even at 11,000 metres I would have liked to have had a look.
Arrival at Heathrow was painless and I was very soon through the formalities to be greeted by Sarah and my friends Norman and June. Sarah stayed on at Heathrow to see Marzena off on her trip back to NZ (Craig will be pleased!!) and I went over to Norman and June's place. Sarah caught up with us and we stayed for dinner. It was good to arrive at Sarah's flat. Anthony soon arrived looking fit and well. I was pleased at this stage not to have fallen asleep and soon went off to bed.

Two Days to Go

After a very pleasant, relatively quiet Christmas Day, spent with family, it is now time to pack. In the past I have taken clothes to England and not worn them. Travel light is the mantra this time. I have a lot of presents to deliver so that will force me to jettison useless clothes.

Four Days To Go

Four days to go, with Christmas in between. It is hot today and the prospect of sub-zero temperatures in London is tempered only by the fact that I will see Sarah. It will be good to catch up with her. Norman and June will be at the airport to meet me with Sarah. It will be good to see them again. Norman has arranged for us to meet Bob Blackshire for a meal at his place later in January. It will be good to see Bob again after all these years. No doubt there will be a lot of stories of our time as a trio at Nottingham University. I'm also looking forward to seeing my actor mate Phil Jackson who I last saw in London in 1971. On then up to Aberdeen to see my eldest sister Kathleen, her daughter Anne and Ann'e husband Doug( and Karen's Mum and Dad). After a week I will be heading south again to see Pat and Colin in Gainsborough, before heading back to London to spend a few days with Sarah again. But that's not all....... On the way back to NZ I will call in to Portland Oregon to spend a week with Nic. It's a rather nice feeling, the trip now almost here, but with Christmas to fill in some of the time before I go.