London at Christmas

The day after Boxing Day we took to the motorways and headed towards London. The radio man told us that there were delays on the M4, bigger delays on the M3 and even bigger ones on the M25 so we turned a motorway drive into a more relaxing and slow 4 hour trip through the Surrey hills and villages (eg Dorking) to Gatwick Airport. We will never know if staying on the motorways would have been quicker – but at least it was less frustrating and prettier. We left our bags in the hotel room and wearing our winter woollies caught the train into London where we ate at an American restaurant called Garfunkels (nice Mexican enchiladas), wandered the streets looking at Christmas decorations and snowmen, and then went to the Sound of Music. We enjoyed the show, the stage props were probably the best we have seen so far and the acting and singing seemed to be up there with the others. We knew all the songs (except for two sung by Elsa, Max and the Captain – about the choices one had to make during World War II which aren't in the film). Harry had plenty of songs to whistle on the way back to the hotel which was rather a long train trip. By the time we got to the hotel we thought ‘We are so over London transport’ – it is efficient and reasonably on time – but the sitting in undergrounds and buses with crowds of others isn't quite our definition of fun (especially when the train is carrying Arsenal supporters home from a game – there were pubs with notices that say ‘only home supporters are welcome’). We explored Rebecca’s new home ground (lots more bakeries and delis than we have in the whole of Bristol) and then wandered through Hampstead Heath in the cool of the late afternoon – a mixture of wildnerness, ponds, bowling greens, tennis courts and manicured lawns. We watched a group of green parakeets (we were told later that they had made a colony in the grounds after escaping some time ago) as they stripped new blossom and ‘conkers’ and proceeded to throw them at us (we moved to a safer distance as they did seem quite determined to get us). We wandered past the ‘men’s bathing pond which probably was a popular place in the Victorian summers but hasn’t yet been extended for woman to enjoy but didn't seem that busy on that Sunday afternoon. It is just for men - who perhaps would be the only ones game, or silly enough, to use the facilities with these warnings.

“Swimming costumes must be warn at all times except in designated nude sunbathing areas. Beware of breeding swans".

"A safety audit has identified medical issues surrounding the physiological and psychological implications with all year round recreational swimmers that enter water below 12 degrees Celsius".

"Dangers: numb and freezing cold injury, hypothermia, sudden immersion syndrome, mild gastro enteritis, eye, ear and respiratory infections".

"Recommendations: complete a medical check for cold water swimming, avoid swallowing pond water and shower before and after".

"Level of micro organisms fluctuate in this untreated water – high levels pose a risk to your health and often occur after heavy rain and when there are a lot of swimmers in the pool".

"Recommended to swim 3 to 4 times a week for 2 to 3 minutes”

Men can have it!!

We thought we might catch another show in the evening but they aren’t on on Sunday evenings (I guess actors and singers need a rest too) and so like all other tourists we wandered the streets some more, had another dinner in yet another American bar (other choices seemed to be Italian or pub meals) and then wandered through Ripley’s Believe it or Not (the train ticket gave us a 2 for 1 deal otherwise we probably wouldn’t have bothered). When we got back to the hotel we couldn’t remember much of what we had seen at the museum and so that probably says quite a lot for it or not for it!! But we did remember:

• The model of the Beatles made out of chewing gum
• The large picture of someone made from Tangy Fruit lollies
• Pumpkin seeds painted with churches and religious scenes
• The last supper painted on a grain of rice
• A picture of Princess Diana and another of some sushi made from lint that came from a clothes drier (they must have dried similar coloured clothes cos there was none of that dull grey you usually find).

Last day in winter woollies for a week.