God I'm happy to be back

Yesterday was reasonably heavy going, but as far as getting across the world goes, was really pretty good.

The choice of hotel was inspired, The Mad Hatter is true to its name, and you know you are welcome when at check in they tell you that the bar is open until 3am for guests only - a nightly lock in - outstanding!

We woke around 6am and getting straight into - starting off on The Clipper (Thames Ferry) and working our way back.

K has touched on LAX on the other blog, suffice to say the LAX is short for laxative, where one loses ones sh!t!

In flight wi-fi and a little tear over Greenland

Two hours out of London, I am happy to report that we are both in pretty good shape and looking forward to our first catch up with Boy and Kitty tonight. Just finalised plans for tonight using the in-flight wi-fi and I can say that it is fantastic. $25 unlimited for the whole leg and pretty quick. I thought they would be tempted to take the Michael with pricing etc - but it is fantastic.

Which also enabled the first update from the home front.... Our house sitters have moved in and sent proof of life:

That did cause K's eyes to moisten a touch :-) Next stop, pub on South Bank 😎

And we're off!!

Pretty calm last day, it did feel a bit like the day of a big footy match, knowing that you had processes to go through, but just wanting to get on with the main event!

Thanks Hels for the pick up and kicking us on our way over a bubbles!

Sitting at Koru now enjoying being really moderate (but ensuring that we see maximum value out of all opportunities ;-) ).

Next update from London town!!

Feline industrial action

In the form of a sit in! I promised not to milk it, but my God he is making it hard.

Tuesday night and we are off too bed, Wills done, dump run done, garden done, you get the idea. We're geeks and we are ready to go! 🇬🇧

Don't tell him...

I promise I'll stop exploiting him when he stops being so damn loyal!!!

Mighty farewells, or is that, Mai Tai farewells?

It was very nice to receive a farewell ditty from Ma and Auntie H (currently holidaying together in warmer climbs) just before we get ready to head off:

(Any talent agents can contact me directly, but be aware that mainstream talent 

shows are not what Auntie H and Ma are looking for - touch passe)

15 years ago, I was at Mums place, having sold everything (nothing), and was tucking my precious little into a case ready to go to the UK for the first time. I was bricking myself. I was so unsure of everything, no idea what to expect. Although I had friends that had been, come back, and could speak clearly about it all, it all seemed completely 'otherworldly'.

Now, I am fairly chilled. I am excited, really excited, to get back to people, places and memories. Apprehensive about seeing how the London I lived in for 7 years has changed (more on that later), but for now just itching to get back there.

K has gone to bed, and I am having a reflective moment (listening to Morrissey and Madness etc) and getting in touch with my inner repressed Pom. Thinking about how at The Albert in Camden, asking 'who died' was not a euphemistic enquiry, it was asking why Reg was sitting where Old Arthur was last night...

It is funny balancing wanting to look after K knowing that she will be be (rightfully) wide eyed with all of the grandeur, history and, just depth of the UK - but remembering not to rush getting on a tube, short cutting a queue for fear of disapproving looks from locals etc.

One more day of domestic fastidiousness and we will be ito it!

Packing day, and a bit of Kitty Click Bait

Monday morning has come and gone without the sound of a single alarm, bliss!

The focus of the day is primarily around getting the domestics in order, paperwork can be tended to tomorrow. K has taken the lead on the packing front, which is probably for the best, as it has resulted in mildly sensible items being placed, in an orderly manner, into the appropriate piece of luggage. The floor and rubbish bin played a far more active role in my first attempt. It does seem simple when someone else does it... :-)

Charlie agrees with me, and is still hanging onto the idea that he is coming with, bless him...

Long days lead to questionable choices

Sunday afternoon and all pretty chilled after a marathon shopping day yesterday. I could tell my judgement and general ability to focus was on the wane when I found myself in Macpac buying this:

You never know when you might need to rug up when the weather is like this :-)

Anyways, just about to head to Nick and Duncs to say dome final goodbyes and then thought we best get pub fit by heading to the local for Sunday dinner. 3 days 'til the off and all is well :-)

Two weeks to off day!

Bonjour, Hola, Ela and Hi De Hi campers!

K is in bed, final day in the office tomorrow and only a couple of days to let go of all the things that invade the sleep currently.

Yours truly is sat here, cleaning up the Surface (laptop) making sure it is in good health for the rigours of travel, investigating SIM card options for the UK and Europe, and also ticking off a couple of 'minor health insurance queries'. When does a polite enquiry become impertinent I ask you!

Anyways - here we are, and here you are, maybe.? Who are you? I don't know, and it will be curious to see how not knowing who is checking in will influence the writing and level of sharing etc. Either way - this is what we have come up with to share some of ours adventures, sights, smells, and general experience. I want to write this thing for fun, and also to create a bit of a log of our adventures.

Feel free to share the link, please comment to encourage us to update (as we are both generally  as slack as  an anorexics belt when it comes to such things).

Counting down now - two weeks today, and we haven't started packing. Packing involves the denial of physics and the expansion of space. Getting to the airport involves leaving on time (ish), creating a little time to supplement the stolen minutes, and getting on board!! Join us....