a day out

On Sunday the weather was the best it has been so far so we headed into London for a look around.  First stop was the Egyptian room at the British Museum.  We couldn't believe how many mummy's were on show including mummified cats, food, birds and a crocodile - who knew!

Next stop Covent Garden which the kids loved for the hustle & bustle, street theatre, lots of shops, ice cream and generally buzzy London feel.

All in all a fun but rather exhausting day!  We caught up with Dino Stephanos later in the afternoon who had flown to London from San Francisco to watch a football match with a side trip to Paris for the French Open  ... as you do!

a school visit for Charlotte

Today Charlotte & I visited Ursuline Prep where Charli will start school on 3 June.  She will do 5 weeks in Grade 5 before the school year ends and she will start Grade 6 (gulp) in September this year.

We took a bus to the next Village to get the uniform, needless to say that was very exciting and Charlotte put her uniform on as soon as we walked in the door.  The school seems really lovely and is quite small in terms of student numbers so there will be plenty of one on one teacher time if necessary. There is a very sweet little fenced off natural habitat in the school yard complete with tadpoles & frogs and just to complete the scene, a little squirrel foraging for food. (We still think they are cute ... this may wear off!).

Settling in

We have been in London one week now which I can hardly belive.  There have been a few frustrating moments - the usual teething problems such as sporadic hot water, zero water pressure, no washing machine, faulty dryer, faulty dishwasher, eating off plastic plates, boiling the water for a cup of tea in a saucepan etc etc. But all first world problems really and they are being sorted out day by day.

After telling the kids that squirrels are everywhere in London, we have failed to see one despite looking in all the right places.  Above is Cannizaro Gardens in Wimbeldon, stunning but not a squirrel in site and yesterday we walked through Green Park near Buckingham Palace and nothing!

The kids were keen to hit the tourist spots yesterday which included M&M world, Picadilly Circus, Hamleys and Oxford St.  Back into the West End on Friday night to see the musical Matilda which is apparently fantastic.

Tomorrow we will visit Charlotte's school, Wimbledon Ursuline Preparatory School and find out about the uniform etc.  Charli will (most likely) start school on Monday 3rd June.  

to the Tower

Today we headed to the Tower of London for a bit of sight seeing and a tour of the crown jewels. I made the mistake of turning it into too much of an English history lesson at which point the kids eyes glazed over and they were resenting our little day trip. A quick side step into the torture chamber seemed to re-ignite some interest and the rest of the day there were threats of being beheaded, stretched, hung, drawn & quartered!!

London bound ...

Three very excited people going overseas for the first time!

Enjoying our time at the pointy end of the plane.  Ed slept for only 3 hours of the 24 hour flight.

We got through immigration & customs in record time - it all felt a little too easy actually.

On the last minute tourist trail

This morning as I left the Hotel it was snowing and it didn't let up all day.  Unfortunately it melted as it hit the ground so you cant really tell in these pics.  

Regent Street, London

I am a complete tourist when it comes to the red phone box, let alone 5 in a row! Funny thing is you never see anyone using them.  I'm sure British Telecom is subsidised by the tourism dollar (or rather, the pound!) to keep them on the streets.

Covent Garden

The Balthazar Boulangerie, Covent Garden

Covent Garden is full of over sized easter eggs at the moment, decorated by British artists for a children's charity auction.  Humpty was my fave.

Tomorrow night we get on a plane back to Melbourne but not before a quick trip back to Wimbledon to measure up some of the rooms.  There is not a proper wardrobe in the house.  We might be building up to a big Ikea moment!

No. 4 Berkeley Place Wimbledon ... our new home

Today we did the whirlwind rental property tour of SW19.  We saw 8 or so houses and this was our favourite.  It ticks all the boxes; quick walk to the village, the schools are in the next street (more or less), it has 5 bedrooms over 3 levels (the kids will be loving that!!) and a sweet little garden which I will enjoy tinkering in.  Landlord has verbally accepted our "offer" and all should be signed off tomorrow.

Now for the hysterical part.  See the little blue sign near the front door?  It is an English Heritage plaque saying that actress Margaret Rutherford lived in the house from 1895 - 1910.  Magaret Rutherford was none other than Miss Marple in the Agatha Christie movies of the 1960's.   Anyone who has known me since the 1980's will remember that I worked at Miss Marples Teahouse in Sassafrass, in the Dandenong Mountains for several years in the Uni days!!  You wouldn't read about.  I have come full circle, this house was destined for us!!

Miss Marples Tea Rooms, Sassafrass, Mt Dandenong, VIC, Australia

Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple

Here are a few other views of the street ... the houses are so pretty.  It feels more like the country than a suburb of London.

And this sealed the deal for me.  In the lane behind us there are stables, complete with ponies and horse riding lessons!

Ponies in the streets of Wimbledon - who knew!

I have a feeling that Bella & Charlotte are going to love this!!! Stay tuned for more.