1-3 March 2011
Not much happening this week, we have decided to actually spend a few nights in and relax. Besides as usual the weather is pretty ordinary and we have a few busy weeks coming up. We did manage to go out for a few walks as the trees are certainly starting to change in the area with a lot more greenery appearing, making it actually really lovely.
4 March 2011
I have taken the day off, so we head to The Bulls Head for a late lunch and a walk around the area and just some general sightseeing and nosey parker looking in people’s windows of their houses. Luckily there are two ways to the pub, as the way we usually walk along the river is now flooded over with the spring tides.
This makes a real change as only earlier in the day we were able to actually walk along the Thames riverbank. The tides here are phenomenal and fast changing. Of course it may be spring time ish, we are still rugged up wherever we go.
5 March 2011: Richmond
The weather is relatively nice, so we walk to Richmond, which is the next town on the river. It was a lovely walk past Kew Gardens and we then walked along the river in Richmond and having a good look around and enjoying the busy streets, cafes, pubs etc. This is definately a lovely area and we will be back when it is sunny, so we can take advantage of the lovely weather overlooking The Thames. Of course it starts to get a bit grey and cloudy so we take a bus back home. We had taken advantage of a free TasteCard a while ago and decided to use it tonight and go out somewhere nice. However, after 4 restaurants, we had almost given up of getting a table anywhere, when we call a local pub which did have a table. The gastropub “El Bullo” is in Chiswick and was a lovely pub, the food was good, there was a great mix of clientele and we got talking to a few people and ended up having a thoroughly enjoyable meal. However, the cold walk home was a tad sobering.
6 March 2011
Cold, wet and miserable – groan. Not really conducive to going for a walk or doing much, so we had a lazy day and headed to the Coach & Horses for our usual Sunday lunch.
Today we were not alone, half of London was there, so we could not get our usual table. Still the food was good and Scott is really enjoying the variety of bitters.
7-10 March 2011: Bulgaria
I am yet again in Bulgaria and Scott is keeping the home fires burning in London. Again Sofia is cold and snowy, however, it starts to warm up and I even get out of the office and head out to some of the restaurants etc. The weather is definately bringing people out and Sofia seems to be a totally different places to previous visits.
11 March 2011
Scott is meeting me at Heathrow as we are picking up a hire car to get out of London. Of course, best laid plans and all – both Scott and my mobiles ran out of credit at the same time and Heathrow Terminal 5 is not the place to realise you don’t have a back-up plan. However, as I was wandering around aimlessly wondering what on earth I would do, when in front of me appeared a madman in a red hat – whew, I had been found amongst all the chaos. We picked up our hire car – Ford Feista Zetec and once we got over the shock of actually driving again – it has been a couple of months, we head back to our apartment via the supermarket for some food. The car is fairly basic, what you would expect from a Ford, but it has a bit of get up and go so driving into the country tomorrow should be great. I am absolutely shattered after my week away, so Scott has done a home cooked meal and glass of wine, so I put my feet up and got pampered, maybe I should go away more often.
12 March 2011: Bath and Hampshire
We are catching up with some very old friends (Sally and Pete) this afternoon, but in the meantime decide to head off to Bath to see some of the sights. We we plug in the GPS (how would we be without them these days) and head to this beautiful historic roman town. Sadly we weren’t the only ones, but managed to find a parking space, locate the tourist office for a map and put our walking shoes on.
We head into the main square which houses the Roman Baths, Pump Room and Bath Abbey. There are queues and queus of tourists everywhere. We are presuming that the slightest glimmer of sunshine brings everyone outdoors. So walk through the crowds into the backstreets to get some photos of the roman architecture. We walk up the pedestrian malls towards the Royal Crescent and the Royal Victoria Park which is quieter. The Georgian architecture is still very much a huge presence here, can only imagine it is impossible to do anything to the facades, but having a sticky beak through the windows you can see a lot have been completely modified inside.
It is certainly a beautiful city and we walked through all the back streets admiring the architecture. You can only imagine what it would have been like during Victorian times before automobiles and tourists such as ourselves and of course the ever present open tour buses that like to stop just in front of where you want to take a photo.
There is a great exhibition through the streets called “Britain from the Air” which gives you a different perspective of Britain and how fantastic and varied it is for such a small island.
We find a tiny little pub that is downstairs and although tiny managed to do lunches, drinks and even space for what seems like a constantly moving clientele. We then continue walking back towards the main part. We will definately be coming back to partake of the spa baths during the summer months. We follow the River Avon along to see the Pulteney Bridge which is beautiful.
We get back in the car and head to Yateley in Hampshire, which is not far from the Duke of Wellington’s home. Sally and Pete are playing our hosts and quickly get Scott in front of the huge TV to watch the rugby. Francesca, their fantastic chef – waitress (and their daughter) makes a fantastic three course meal and I spend the night laughing and being entertained as Francesca can also play the piano as well as sing and dance. We hate people who are so talented. Nevertheless we have a great night and I haven’t laughed so much for ages.
13 March 2011: Hampshire and Windsor
Yet more food, with a lovely prepared breakfast while Scott gives James (their eldest son) who is off to Australia for a debating competition some camera assistance. Scott isn’t feeling very well today, so at lunchtime we head off via the royal town of Windsor. We found a parking bay for 30 minutes, so do a whirlwind tour of the outside of the castle and a couple of streets.
After the beautiful day in Bath yesterday, today is absolutely freezing, so we give up and head home. Just in time for Scott to watch England v Scotland in the rugby – I am sure he is planning everything to fit in with the 6 Nations. Having a car has been great, but in London it is so impractical where everything is within walking/public transport or can be delivered to you.
14-16 March 2011
A quite week is planned as we are off to Paris on Thursday. So we stay in and relax, with the exception of Wednesday night when we head out to The Bulls Head for a drink and some dinner. We met some fantastic local people, who have given us some great tips for the Oxford/Cambridge boat race happening next week.