Trafalgar Square

Our first trip in Central London. We visited Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. This was the first time into London for Nic And Jes. The weather was very cold (5C) but still the streets were busy with tourists. Later on this day we stopped near Oxford St for dinner in a local pub.



The pic was taken outside Horse Guards Parade.



This picture (Nic, me, Jes) was taken at the base of Nelsons Column. There is a similar picture to this of me and my brother at a similar age, must have been 1974.



This picture was taken at our local South Wimbledon tube station, while waiting for the train to arrive. South Wimbledon is very close and convenient to our house but is on the Northern Line which is has a very bad reputation for breaking down and signal failures. The various lines on the tube system are operated by independent companies which I find ridiculous, sounds like a bean-counter's decision.



This picture was taken from Trafalgar Square looking down past Horses Guard, and towards Big Ben.




Need I explain this one ? Interestingly though, I learnt this from someone at my hostel, Big Ben is the name of the bell, not the clock or tower.

Xmas lunch 2004

We had lunch at a local French restaurant in Wimbledon - Le Piaf Restaurant. We all enjoyed it, although we had to walk there. Wimbledon was like a ghost-town, very quiet.



The meal was wonderful, 3 courses and the kids were well behaved (as always ;-)).



And the night before (Xmas eve), a snack was required for Santa.

Phillipa, Nic and Jes arrive in the UK

Finally after a lot of stress and tribulation, Phillipa, Nic and Jes arrive in the UK. An emotional time at the airport (As you could imagine). My drive to the airport was hair-raising - first time to drive from Wimbledon to Heathrow, at 4am and pissing with rain. Not pleasant. But at the same time very exciting !!!



The kids were excited to see me and see our new home. Then the jetlag started to set in.



I could only get approval on the rental of our place in Wimbledon by 18th Dec, and Phillipa arrived on 22nd Dec - on this day I had to also purchase bunk beds from Ikea in Croydon. Everyone dreads shopping at Ikea over here, mostly because the shops are designed in such a weird way. I totally agree.



Anyway by 4pm, Nic was asleep on the floor of the car and Jes was asleep on Phillipa's lap and there I was trying to drive from Croydon to Wimbledon with 2 mattresses and bunkbeds in the back. Oh the lengths we go for comfort!!



--Ian