Brussels!

Brussels!

Sadly, something has changed.

Can you spot the soldiers with weapons in the above photo?…

As this is one of my favorite cities. I’ll reflect on my blog post from our last visit 6 years ago..

September 20th 2011 – “We have been to Brussels before and we love it, as it is a beautiful place and  lot more laid back than other European cities.

They also have a great sense of humour – after all this is the birthplace of the cartoons Tin Tin, Asterix and the national emblem is a little boy having a wee wee.”

The Belgians national hero is Manneken pis, who they dress in costume depending on the occasion! (And there will be further on master pis in a future post)

I have two artworks of these buildings in the Grand Place in our living room, so I see these buildings everyday(which were once the guild halls).

More lovely lights in Brussels

Now Dear Readers, a warning  to have your tissues ready as you made need them to prevent damage to your keyboards (or other devices) as your mouths will water over the following scrumptiously, delicious photos…

Mussels and seafood for dinner.

 

London Lights up for Christmas

Its Sunday, so we went out to see Uncle George and Molly the cat for lunch.

It was dark by 4pm, and they certainly get good value out of their Christmas lights as it is dark so early. Unlike in Australia where it has to be past 8pm to get the full effect.

So after leaving George we headed into the city, with thousands of other sightseers to look at the lights in Leicester Square, Regent and Oxford streets.

The Angels in Regent street were just beautiful, their wings lit up in sequence e.g a plume at a time, so it looked like there were a flock of fifty angels flying up the street.

We went into Hamblys the big toy store and saw Will, Kate and Harry made of Lego. Dear Readers its true, its true!

And they had great Christmas windows, here's one below….

And Oxford street had a light up advent calendar.

Guess who else must be here to see the lights! Or maybe she’s gone to do her Christmas shopping or to halt some invading alien race.

Ummm, call me suspicious but I’m a bit worried about those Angels now. Imagine all those Angels coming alive and creating havoc for the Regent street Christmas crowd. I’ve missed my calling as a scriptwriter, although I have an inkling that similar scenarios have been done before on Doctor Who.(My apologies Dear Readers, you need to be a bit of a Whovian to get those connections).

Eurostar and Brussels tomorrow.

 

Two Famous Londoners

A Quiz Dear Readers, what fun!

Question 1- I lived in London in Kensington Palace. When I died 20 years ago there was an outpouring of grief and a sea of flowers left by the public at the below gates. I am known as the peoples Princess. Who am I?

Question 2- I am a fictional character from literature who's home is set in London.  A famous quote of mine is,  “ When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?” This is my statue, who am I?

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Anyway, Dear Readers, before I get into the tale of the two Londoners, I’ll let you know how we got on last night with the air B&B from hell!

This has got to be the most noisy place we have ever stayed, (our window is the one directly above the café ).

The place is clean, the bathroom is modern and the bed is comfy BUT…

What with the neighbours having a party, the doof doof music from the other side and the noise from the road, it was a  difficult night. 

It wasn't so bad for me as I had drugs before bed, (legal drugs, Dear Readers I know what you were thinking….cheeky things.).. I think I’ll drug Graham up as well tonight so he’ll sleep too…

Don't worry I’ll tell him, I’m not going to slip a sleeping tablet in his cup of tea or something. really…

Well we went out to pay a visit the young Royals but they didn’t seem to be home. They must always rush to close the blinds when they see us coming up the drive!

We went on a visit to Kensington Palace, which is the home of Wills & Kate and their family.

It was all pretty and Christmassy.

We toured the Royal apartments, not the current ones, but those of William and Mary and Queen Anne.

 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement here only a few days ago.

And of course Kensington Palace was the home of Princess Diana.

And it is Diana who is the answer

to Question 1.

Goody!

An exhibition of Diana's most famous gowns !

Dear Readers, my husband is a very patient man, or maybe it was a weak moment due to sleep deprivation, I wonder what he has planned as a payback? Probably a car museum….

I wonder if she had of lived if she would have still been as special? I miss her!

Below is the picture of Diana wearing the dress and the dress itself…

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Then we had a little wander around Kensington Gardens to see the Albert memorial,

then back on the tube to the Baker street station.

And of course if you haven't yet guessed our next destination, the answer to quiz Question 2,  is 221b Baker street and the home of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.

Having just recently re-read the Arthur Conan Doyle  novels, and watching both of the Robert Downey Jnr movies on the plane yesterday (was it really only yesterday?) I felt it was topical that we should visit this landmark.

By the way, I didn't like the Robert Downey Jnr versions,  Benedict Cumberbatch is a much better Holmes.

Anyway, lets hope there’s less doof doof and more Zzzzzzz tonight!

Arrival

Okay, we survived another long haul flight. This time it was 24 hours long,  thank the goddess  for premium economy I think I’m to old now to manage cattle class.

We arrived in London at about 6:20am, it was one degree and there was the possibility of snow, which had all the Londoners excited. The weather had been rather mild until yesterday.  It hasn’t snowed yet but it is rather chilly, although we seemed to have got our level of warm clothing right as it was comfortable enough wandering around.

Because we couldn't get into our room until 2pm we dropped our cases off. Got our Oyster Cards topped up and took the tube into Oxford Circus. We did some shopping, bought new beanies and sorted out a new phone number to use here. Everything is very pretty and Christmassy.

Dear Readers, check out these models made of Lego in the Lego store in Leicester square.

 

Haven't slept yet as I write this and am feeling pretty tired. We are staying in a guest room in Willesden Green on the high street.

I’m not optimistic that it will be a quiet room, as while  I've been writing this post there have been sirens screaming up the street and we feel like we are in an episode of The Bill. The romance of travel!

Tale of Big Bertha, who is Going on another Adventure

Thursday 30th November 2017

Its that time again, holiday time!

Graham and I are going to leave all the sad stuff behind and head to the U.K. and Europe.

Here is my case packed and ready to go. Big Bertha is the name of my suitcase!

 (Graham doesn’t name his suitcase or his cars but that is  a tale for another occasion).

My lovely suitcase has had so many experiences. Its been all the way across Europe, from Ireland’s west to the Ukraine. Its even floated up the Grand Canal on a barge. Its been to South Africa, New Zealand, Fiji, Melbourne and elsewhere,  she’s  done planes, boats, ferries, London cabs and trains. Eurostar once before (the occasion when we missed the train). I love my suitcase, its like an old friend…

“I’m not sure what's going on here, but I don't think I like it” Says Miss Lizzy

Okay, Dear Readers, as I did in my last trip to Europe in 2011, I will try to blog everyday if possible. However I may not publish my posts everyday, it sometimes depends on internet access. I have live writer so I save my posts as drafts and will upload a number at the same time, on the last trip we used Starbucks occasionally (free internet), but this time there may a lot more hotels with internet access. There maybe no new post for a week, then several will appear at once. So keep checking back.

I’ve also been told I must Facebook more and although I’m not very good at Facebook (because I tend to embarrass myself with stupid comments) I will make an attempt, and try to become a more trendy modern girl.

Before we go I want to share photos of the Christmas presents I made for my work colleagues and friends this year.

Everyone has a personalised bookmark and I’m sure to have insulted someone with my choice of fabric.. he he he….

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The world is once again, not a safe place to travel, but we are experienced adventurers and will do our best to avoid trouble.

Currently, drinking Chardonnay in the Qantas club at Sydney Airport. Leave at 1655.

Next stop… Dubai for a refuel, then London. Woo Hoo!