Our last day in London

It is so great to get everyone's comments and emails. Thank you so much. Harry and I are both enjoying doing our blogs - quite an interesting experience writing it. When we are in Bristol we are going to have to sit down and learn how to load some photos in. We have quite a few already!!!

One of the good things about being here for a while is that we don't have a sense of urgency about seeing everything. So even though we walked heaps today we stopped for cups of teas, our picnic lunch of mandarins and muesli bars, and a sleep in the sun, and knew that we would be back another time to see all the other things we have missed.

Today, we woke up early 5.30 - most unlike me but I blame the jetlag and hope to return to normal soon. After breakfast (we supplemented the cornflakes with banana and yoghurt today) we went for a walk around Kensington Gardens, through the palace and through Hyde Park. Kensington palace was interesting - there were no hallways - one room, led to another to another and the bedrooms were like a big thoroughfare. Some of it was quite austere - and some massively ornate. Saw some great photos of Princess Diana. I have decided I need to look at the royal family tree as there seem to be so many kings and queens I haven't really ever heard of before. The apartment that Princess Margaret lived in didn't seem to have a kitchen or a bathroom - only big rooms. Lord Snowdon was quite a good photographer which I didn't realise.

We wandered through Hyde Park, dabbled our feet in the freezing cold water of Princess Diana's memorial fountain. I got told off by a guard for walking on the fountain when you weren't meant too. It is quite a cleverly designed fountain - and one I think that the Princess would approve of.
We couldn't go into the Princess Diana children's playground, as only adults accompanied by children are allowed to. There is a 30 minute timeslot before 9.30 where unaccompanied adults are allowed in. I can see why, but it is a bit sad.

A bit sad about the cutty sark on fire - they are pretty sure it is arson.

We saw squirrels - so tame that they were sitting on laps eating whatever they were given. There is a bird similar to a pukeko here - it doesn't have webbed feet but has a white crest on its head, rather than red. It is making its nest now in the water which is a bit surprising considering the time of the year - there are ducklings already swimming along happily.

The best part of the day was when we saw Michelle. She had changed her phone number, and we were having trouble getting in contact. We met at Paddington Station and it was lovely to catch up. She is working for a recruitment agency. She was saying how she got off the tube one night and bumped into Simon who was visiting a pub nearby - it was obviously meant to be.

Well, that is Harry and my news for the day. We are feeling quite tired after all that walking - I got a bit burnt - the good weather continues - similar to what we left in NZ.