3 in the UK 2023

 Last day in London and although we have to get up at the horrible hour of 5am it's really not that bad. Knock on the door that divides our rooms and the girls are up. Melody is packing but Ruby is staying in bed. She isn't coming home with us. I thought it would be good to catch the train to the airport. Cheap, fast and a 3-minute walk from the hotel. Melody has other ideas though and orders an Uber. She has offered to pay so I can't argue really. We get our stuff to the doorway and say our last goodbye to Ruby. It's kind of sad to say goodbye. Big hugs all around and we're down the lift and out on the street.  It's a bit of a drive to the airport. Twice as long as the train really but I guess a lot more comfortable. And we get dropped off at the front of the Terminal. Because my case doesn't look like it will make it without the zipper coming apart I get it wrapped in plastic. 16 quid. Ouch. After a bit of waiting around we are on the plane. Mel is in a di...

  The last day of our holiday. Sun is almost shining so before breakfast I walk down to the Post Office to post the CD to Andy up in St. Annes. The woman in front of me is having a breakdown because she can't send an electric toothbrush to her son in Europe because it has a battery in it. I keep hearing the word Brexit and they all seem to blame Brexit for their misfortune. Get back to the hotel and have our last brekky. Ruby is staying here and going to France tomorrow. Her travelling companion James is in town now so she she hurries off to meet him. Well not exactly hurried because he's already been here a few hours. Anyway by the time we stroll down to the station, Ruby is still there waiting for a train. Last day of shopping today and just picked up a few things. Get off at Tottenham Court Road and run into that multimedia room once more. We are heading to Stone Island to pick up a t-shirt for Remi. On the way I find myself on Denmark Street once more I find a rock and roll...

  Second last breakfast at the Drayton Court Hotel. I try the Omelette with Mushrooms and Spinach while the girls stick with bacon and eggs. Since this morning we are going to the Borough Market which is like a foodie heaven I probably shouldn't have filled up so much. Anyway, we get ourselves together and with Mel leading the way we make our way to London Bridge station. The Market is about 100 meters from there. As soon as you walk into the place you are hit by a sensory overload of fabulous smells. I didn't expect so many people walking around eating foods from all around the world. There were long lines at many of the food stalls. The paella line went on for ages. It really is a bit of a treat just looking at the food. The girls had strawberries and chocolate and then Melody bought herself a gnocchi dish and after tasting it I followed suit. It was delicious but I couldn't finish it being not so long before having breakfast. From there we checked out a couple of Harry P...

  Wake up early so I can drop the car off at Volkswagen before 10 a.m. Grabbed the full English Breakfast and I was off. The girls were still asleep. On the way I put a few litres in to bring it up to the level it was when I picked it up. Shouldn't have bothered because the guy I gave it to you bothered to check. Very easygoing guy and if I rent a car in the UK again I will come here. Checked out the Volkswagen museum while I was there. Not many cars but they all looked cool. I saw the one I used to have too. The GTI. When I had the Golf Convertible. Took the bus back to the hotel. Well, two buses. The first one I asked how to pay and he just waved me on. The second I asked a Polish lady at the bust. Just tap on once with the Oyster card. I was home in about 30 minutes. Checked in with the girls and soon enough we were off to the Tate Museum. Sitting on the train we get the announcement that the trains are delayed. Maybe for a long time. So we head to the buses but no joy there. Ev...

  I woke up feeling not so bad after a really big day yesterday. But take my time getting my bags packed and getting ready to leave. First of all, we have to drop off our wedding present as we forgot to take it yesterday. An envelope with money in it. So we head back to Middleton Lodge first and look for Sharon and Michael. However, we bump into Ellie and George. The car is full of flowers and Ellie is in the back seat. Give them our gift and more congratulations and then we are off. Nothing to really talk about here. 4 and a half hours of BBC One radio and motorways. A quick stop for food. There won't be any pictures today. Get to London at about 5 and the girls go to their rooms while I pop down to the pub below and have a couple of beers. There is an Italian wedding anniversary next door and lots of Italian pop songs being sung. I get comfortable and figure we may as well eat here so I get the girls down to share beef Nachos and chips. The Nachos are great and quite filling....

 Today is the big day, Ellie is marrying George. The reason why we are in the UK. But I woke up early and decided to go and have a look at Darlington. Pleasant and quick drive followed by an easy park. As usual, I put the address of the best record shop in Maps as my starting point. In this case Saxosoul and while I find nothing to buy it is a really good record shop. some record shops just have a cool vibe. Wander around the town and manage to find a tie in the Oxfam Charity Shop. Bargain. The town centre is really kind of Modern but old England. Lots of Union Jack flags and quaint buildings and alleyways next to new structures. Nice place but I need to get back to Scotch Corner and get ready. Suited and booted I get the girls from their room and they are not quite ready and have a go at me for not telling them what time we were leaving. I do my best to ignore them. And soon we are all out and away to Middleton Lodge. 3 minutes away. Lots of people were there as we waited for a bu...