Post from Christine!

I have spent the last few hours re-reading every single post and comment on our blog of our wonderful trip. I am so grateful to Trudy having done such a wonderful job with this as it is such a fantastic interactive record of our trip.

I am so glad you have all felt that you have been with us throughout our adventures and thank you all so much for taking the time to not only read it but also post your very welcome comments and also for the text messages sent.

It was a very special holiday to be able to go with Trudy and the fun times together will always be treasured. So many highlights but the day spent at Monet's Garden on my birthday was really up there, as was Venice, the Cinque Terre, the day at Zermat and the Matterhorn WOW! Lauterbrunnen - what a stunning special place and the Schilthorn on Mother's Day, Colmar the beautiful rest stop, Paris and the Theatre in London, the list could go on and on. This trip has been a wonderful experience shared with an equally wonderful daughter. Thank you so much sweetie. Look forward to the next one.

Mum (Christine!)

Last day - and reflections!!

Forgot to mention in yesterday's post - we went to a BRILLIANT restaurant before seeing the Lion King called Pierre Victoire in Soho.  It was around when I lived there before - and it was exactly the same as we remembered!  Fantastic bread and reasonably priced French food that was absolutely delicious.  I make special mention of this because not only was the food fantastic - the manager knew that we needed to get to the theatre and made sure that our food came out quickly.  Then as we were leaving - I went out to get a cab while Mum paid, and all of a sudden a waitress was running after me saying that the manager was trying to arrange something for us.... the manager then ran out and said that we might find it really hard to get a cab due to roadworks around the restaurant - I could see one coming - and as soon as he spotted it, he TOOK OFF running to grab it for us!!!  We couldn't believe it!  So THANK YOU to the manager and staff from Pierre Victoire - it made our last night in London even more special.

Now for our last day! It started off with repacking our cases!!  Not a quick process!  :-)  We then had one last lunch at Micky's Fish & Chips - actually not quite as good as the day before (I don't think Micky cooked them for us this time :-)) but still yummy anyway. 
Then we went our separate ways for the day.  Mum caught a bus from Paddington to Trafalgar Square and then had a walk around in the beautiful St James' Park.

I caught a bus to Monument station (the Tube wasn't running on some of the lines due to maintenance as it was a Saturday).  I walked to Minster Court (the group of buildings) in Mincing Lane :-) and took photos of Moody's Investors Service - the place that I worked in London - and LOVED. Actually the building was use as Cruella DeVille's 'house' in 101 Dalmations!! 

I walked around to where my office window was - where I looked out one day and saw that it was snowing!  The first time I'd ever seen snow!  Danielle and I rang each other at exactly the same time, and so got each other's voice mails - and left messages for each other to say it was snowing!!!  Nice memories!  

Then I got on the tube at Monument station and caught the District Line - I automatically turned the right way down the stairs and around the corner to the platform - amazing how it was so familiar.  Got off at Westminster and changed to the Jubliee line to go to Kilburn to see the last place I lived in London!  Westminster Jublilee line platform had completely changed though so no familiarity there!  It is now like some of the Paris metro platforms that I saw - all glassed in - I guess so no-one can jump on to the tracks. 

Got off at Kilburn station and walked to where I thought we lived - and I have to admit, I couldn't remember EXACTLY what door was ours.  So Danielle and Kerry - you might have to help me with that!!!  Anyway - was a blast walking up and down Kilburn High Road again - noticing how many cafes were now there - right opposite our building.  Good coffee too - I know because I stopped for one :-).

Caught bus back up Kilburn High Road to Edgware Road and walked back through Paddington to get to the hotel.  What a day full of memories.  Brilliant! 

It was a really warm day for London - 27 degrees!  Beautiful and sunny.  The day before, when it was 24 degrees, we heard a warning when we were waiting for the tube - to make sure 'to carry water with you on this hot day ' and to watch out for passengers that might be in distress because of the heat' :-).  Cute!

We met back at the hotel, had a brilliant steak dinner at Aberden Steakhouse (the 'best steak in London' according to their window advertising! And you know what, it probably was!). 

We then walked across the road to Paddington Station to catch the very quick Heathrow Express.  After checking in we had a look at dut free then made the long walk to the gate to catch our plane - the A380 (the new huge double decker plane) to Singapore.  

No impending volcanic ash to delay our departure unfortunately!!!!

Enjoyed being on the A380 and realised it was roomier than usual when we got onto the next plane in Singapore!

So that's it!  Now we are home in Adelaide - although our hearts are currently still in Europe!!!   We both had an amazing time - and it was really enriched by the comments everyone left in this blog.  We really appreciated it and loved sharing the trip with everyone!  What a journey - didn't start well - but it ended up being a 'trip of a lifetime' with Mum.  Thanks Mum - it was such a priviledge to be able to spend that much time with you in so many amazing places.  Can't wait until the next one :-). 

Ciao, aufwiedersehen, au revoir and goodbye!!

xxx