Allo, Allo, Allo from LONDON Town!

Well Allo to all my adventure followers down under.
Sorry I had to end so abruptly last evening, but I was literally having dizzy spells with fatigue (perhaps made worse by a really strong Scotch consumed in the hotel bar just before tying to message you all!
Today has certainly been a mixed bag. Wide Awake from 5am, up @7am for yummie breakie - my blood sugars have been excellent whilst away, so far. Then we spent good half of day walking, walking and walking whilst sightseeing thru places such as St. James Park (where I got to see my first ever squirrel),Hyde Park and Harrods. Absolutely loved walking thru Harrod's food halls; absolutely amazing, fresh and best possible quality dishes available for sale. The most incredible smoked meats, cheeses, breads, and of course cakes and hand made choccies.
I have taken some photos both here and in KL of the beautiful cake creations, especially For my friend Benjamin, but have to admit to being incredibly dissapointed in not being able to upload photos from the IPad. Wish now that I had bought my laptop instead.
I ended up going to bed this arvo for a 2 and a half hour cat nap, and this evening we travelled by train to Sth. Kensington to have dinner and various beautiful hugs with our nephew Mark who has been living andk working in the UK for the last 15 months. So wonderful to spend time with this gorgeous man - and he will have even more special hugs on Thursday when Mark's Mum arrives with a friend for her first ever o/s visit also.
well I am off to ni ni's again; for we plan an early start upon an entire days trip around all major sites of London.
Will try and fill you all in on the latest ASAP.

Love Jul's. Xxxxxxxxxxx

Sorry Sardines and Smoked Oysters.

Well after that incredibly tight squeeze of a 13hr trip from KL to Heathrow, I have a new found appreciation and empathy for the fate of sardines and smoked oysters; crammed into those little tins, with not an inch of space between each one.
Seriously though, I have surprised myself yet again, and have coped incredibly well.  We are now in London, staying at the Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair.
Exhausted, so going to bed now........but will write more for you all 2morrow. xxxxxx

Well hi there everybody; I am sure you will all be very proud of me, for I am no longer a virgin!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only did I survive the airflight - but I believe I can say, I astounded even myself with my sane behaviour for the entire trip. Of course the 1x Valium; a couple of Carlesburg beers(now that shows you how eager I was to calm the nerves), and my good ol' Worry Cross with Mary McKillop's face upon (which Tony bought for me back in Sydney when we travelled by place together for WYD - and he got sick of me grasping his leg throughout the trip)  helped a tad. I slept for about 1 and a half hours in total; read a few pages of my book; played Tetris(thanks Nicholas) - and even got up and walked the length of the plane 3 times - and OMG - I even used the loo. Mind you; they have a rather frightening and incredibly powerful flush!!!!

So exhausted by the time we arrived at our hotel - but needed something light to eat. Could not believe how expensive things were: $16 for a can of diet coke; $40 for a hamburger etc. Nearly had apoplexy over costs, so in the end we went halves in a pizza and a bloody ordinary one at that. The thing is that about an hour later Michael says: "Oh, Darl, I think I made a bit of a boo-boo. The prices will be in ringots of course - not dollars - so divide the cost by 3 to get your Aussie price equivalent";. First argument????.......but no.......I simply smiled and said: "thanks for that my love! Both of us were so tired that we slept in till 10am this morning - and just made it to breakie in time.

The rest of the day has been absolutely gorgeous - spent lounging poolside; going for swims and walking in water (very good for the circulation); a couple more beers (very thirsty weather here in KL); lunch poolside; being bought free icecream cups......oh sorry, do you realise you are all beginning to dribble????? This holiday is just wonderful thus far; loving it, loving it, loving it big time!!!!!! Negatives: 1. can't get my ipad to allow me to email the kids. 2. My circulation stockings which cost me over $100AUD - worked, but my legs (and this bit of info is particularly for Jude) were incredibly itchy in places throughout the flight, and when I finally got to take them off last night have discovered red itchy rash behind knees - but especially have a hot, red, itchy, bumpy, burning rash on tops of my legs from the rubber topping to stockings. I am of course allergic to most adhesive tapes/bandages/ etc. - and now can include the rubber "self stay" topping of stockings. Lucky I am not a "girl of the night"worker hey what???

Anyway, hotel here is divine (The Renaissance); everyone so polite (yes Miss Julie; no Miss Julie); and the view outside our window is of the twin towers which is incredible when lit of a night time of course. Amazing however, how life reminds us continually of the reality. Here I was thinking that this holiday would have me forget all about Tobins, and my daily work - and yet when I opened the curtains this morning, there to greet me is a Cemetery - a Moslem one at that!!!!!!

Anyway, it is time for us to head off to dinner now. So relieved that I was able to get onto this hotel's computer to let you all know that we are well, happy, safe, a tad sunburnt, skin radiant and glowing - and my souls feeling pretty shiny too! Love to you all - next entry will be from London town - please pray that tomorrow morning's 13 hour flight is as smooth as the one from Melb to KL. Hopefully in London, I will be able to upload some photos for you - cause I am having dinner with my gorgeous nephew Tuesday evening and he is a computer guru!!!! Love to all - and that includes Charlie, Billy and Monnie xxxx(Any more baby eggs, Monnie?.....in other words are you still "Ferral Beryl"????))