Mews on Friday and Greenwich Saturday!

'Tis the party time with the bank holiday weekend in London!

Started Friday night in Paddington, where I caught up with Alli, the other girls and a few stragglers. The sausage rolls were devoured in quick time and we sat outside and partied late. Also managed to join our party to the other boys in the Mews, so by the time we left it was well late.

Fi and friend

Taxi back to Greenwich was usual, with Fi and Leann asleep before we had gone 2 minutes, so left to me to sit up with driver for the duration. We got home and turned in, with plans for the morning.

Dave was up early and went for a run around Greenwich park, and then he, Sarah and Leann headed off to London Borough markets. We got a text from them so Fi and I quickly moved and joined them in town to get the fixings. Ok so we met at the pub!

The Shard

Dave had ordered a pork leg, so he and I returned via Canary Wharf and Waitroses for more supplies, and started the cooking. I will be honest, he is master chef so he started preparing, and I entertained Scott who had arrived.

Girls and otheres returned home, and we feasted on glorious cheeses, truffles, and breads whilst we waited for the main meal.

Girls had bought a cover, so with 4 people we finally erected it to protect us a tad from the intermittent showers and got down to serious partying.

Dave's pork came out around 8.30 pm and was pulled beautifully and served with fresh rolls and some bbq sausages and lamb skewers..  Salads and rest rounded it off.. a complete feast for the 13 or so of us there.

By this time music was happening,, and in inimitable fashion the wigs and feather boas came out whilst the dancing got underway! I have been warned about posting unflattering photos, so this is some of the crew, from a distance and unable to recognise people!!

Party time in Greenwich

Not too late considering with the last people leaving around midnight, and a kitchen that looks like a bomb went off.

Up this morning and the kithchen fairies had cleaned up! Just gotta love them little folk!

Dave, Sarah and Leann are preparing for their trip tomorrow to France, and I am unsure of our plans at this stage for the next 2 days of the weekend off. Fairly sure it will not be quiet.

Sarah and Dave's arrival

Had a couple of days around home helping the girls get things done.Well I mean I was here so that means they can get people in during the day.

So the cleaner and the oven man came and that let me do some other chores, like mowing again, and also preparing the room for Sarah and Dave.

Weather cleared up and after I mowed, walked out to see a fox sitting on the freshly manicured grass! Not sure who was most surprised!

Remus

In any case Sarah and Dave arrived yesterday evening armed with more bottles of red, so we stayed up, chatted and sung for too long.

They are off to a wedding this arvo, and I have made chilli sausage rolls to take over to the Mews as I have not caught up with that crew as yet.

Tomorrow a BBQ is planned with a bunch of people, so will have to go to markets in morning to provision up.

The weather has improved dramatically so will wander a bit this morning and then head to Paddington later.

Chislehurst Caves

Dreary weather this week after glorious Saturday, and so-so Sunday, so looked for some different types of places to go.

Just down from Greenwich is Chislehurst caves, which is an amazing series of man made tunnels hidden basically in suburbia!

There is some mythology about it being usedby Druids, and the Romans, but appears that they were used from mid 18th century for chalk mining. Although that does not stop people still stating their age as earlier.

In any case there are 22 miles of tunnels, and during the First World War were used to store munitions, then used for mushroom farming. During the Second World War they provided shelter to 15,000 people from the blitz!

Chapel

A whole city was set up including a chapel, hospital and canteen. After the war it then was unused until during the 60s and 70s somebody had the idea to use it as a band venue. This was popular and artists such as David Bowie, Status Quo, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd played there!

Bandstand

As all things must pass, it was closed due to Health and Safety, and since that time has been used as a site for movies and TV shows.

Simulated digs during war

It was an interesting day out, and proved a tad scary for some of the tour when the guide left us in complete blackness and belted a tin drum to hear the echoes down the cave. Eerie reverberations, and combined with the ghost stories he had told left a few a tad shaken.

A bit of history I always good,and so I meandered home and had late dinner with the girls. 

Weather appears to have set in for a couple of days, so I will stay wrapped up, and have friends Dave and Sarah arriving tomorrow, so things should get busy.

London Weekend and some culture

Ok, had a full weekend, so time to catch up. Friday night I met up with Fi at Daveys and we stayed there for awhile until toddling back home, for a fairly early night, as Fi was tired after the night before and lack of sleep.

We also had a weekend planned so got up reasonably early on Saturday. We had booked a hotel in town for the night so after a few chores we headed to the Manderville Hotel in Marylebone. Pretty flash and after we checked in went for a wander.

Manderville Room

Walked up Oxford Street and the day was hot and beautiful. Throngs of people about and we made our way to Soho, where we arranged to catch up with a friend, Richard, who was in town having dropped off his mother and niece to a matinee of Matilda.

The bustle in the streets

We found a place to sit and hve some lunch as well as a drink, and watched the goings on of the people in Soho. Is a feast for the eyes with all sorts of people about.

A couple of hours went by and we went up to the West End to see Richard's mother and niece for a quick hello before parting company and making our way back to the Hotel for a quick scrub.

Fi relaxing

Out we stepped having spotted a few restaurants in our travels, and we had a pasta fix. Fi had the lobster and crab spaghetti, whilst I had the venison tortellini in sage sauce!

Venison wraps

Food was absolutely superb and after polishing off a respectable wine and full as we walked up to a small bar near our hotel to finish of the evening. Was supposed to have a piano playing but we were disappointed there. 

That being said, we met a couple of ladies from Bahrain, which turned out very enlightening, hearing their view on their life. Was great and we swapped emails, as you do, in the hope of catching up some time.

Finally got home and woke to the English breakfast which went down a treat, and after checking out of our lovely room, walked 100 metres to a fantastic art collection/museum, which I will detail, and highly recommend.

Hertford House is beautifal huge building gifted to the nation by the widow of Sir Richard Wallace, who was the illegitimate son of the 4th Marquess of Hertford! Within the building is one of the finest collections of art, furniture, porcelein, and armour ever put together. It was collected by the 4 Marquesses and then Sir Richard.

How any family could do this is staggering and the house has 25 galleries you can see! Last year I saw my first Rembrandt and was impressed. This collection has 5, as well as numerous Van Dycks, Reubens, a Titian etc... completely aweing.

Rembrandt self portrait

It also contains one of my favourites of the Laughing Cavalier! by Frans Hals.

Laughing Cavalier

Suitably impressed with our hit of culture and if you want to check it out follow this link, but if in London you should see it. I was astounded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Collection

We had stayed away from home as Leann had been studying all week, and had her exam Sunday, so we received the message that we needed to get home for a Veuve afternoon! This meant she had passed as a fail would have been drowned in Presecho!

So we got home and the weather improved so we sat outside and enjoyed the end of the weekend.

Girls have gone to work, and lousy weather, so I will do a few things here and see what happens.

Beaconsfield

Headed off around lunchtime to Beaconsfield (pronounced Beckonsfield? apparently as I was told), where Howie and Nessie live. Nice train trip into country from Marylebone station.

Station is in the new town, so I walked down to old town, which did not look any different and had a poke around. St Mary's church is there and it has featured in Midsommer Murders, in fact the town has a few times.

St Mary's Church

Had a pint at the Royal Saracens Head, which like a lot of the town is pretty ostentatious. The houses I had walked past were amazing and I can believe it is the most expensive residential area in UK!

I then caught a cab up closer to Howie and Nessies place, and parked myself at the The Royal Standard, which was much more like a real pub, and whilst waiting for Ness to get back met up with the locals, who are a good lot and like their Rugby.

Outside the Royal Standard

Ness picked me up from their and it is only a skip from their place on Berghers Hill. With the 3 kids in tow we hung at their place with a most beautiful back yard.

 Backyard at Hilltop

Fiona and Howie arrived around 8.00 and we had a great meal, before sitting around far too late listening to a bunch of old Australian music, with some singing thrown in! It is a good thing they do not have neighbours too close!

Fiona left for work at 7.30! Do not know how, and I rose around 10.00! Had some coffee and then got the train back to Greenwich, where a quiet time is planned. Will see how that goes......

Greenwich park walk

Warm day in the morning saw me trundle up the hill to Blackheath past pretty church up Crooms Hill Road.

Church on Crooms Hill

From there instead of going straight yhrough Greenwich Park past the Rose Garden and Rangers House to the observatory, I struck out to the East, through some lovely flower gardens to the Deer enclosure.

Yes there were deer, but they were sitting around under trees some distance away, and no photos were any good. I will return in September when the bucks are rutting and may be able to see more.

Apparently they used to be throughout the park, but over the years they have been secluded to one corner.

Rather than return back through the centre I followed the path down the east side of Greenwich park until I came to One Tree Hill. This was the best view of London I have had and there was enough sun to see across to town, with the Shard and the Eye. The view from observatory is not as good as there are trees all around.

View from One Tree Hill

So kept walking down to the town centre next to the Old Maritime college and Cutty Sark, and then headed back towards home with the weather strting to cloud over. 

Bought some fixings for dinner and sausage rolls to make in next few days. Relaxed at home and made beef wellingtons for the girls, but Fi did not get home until nearly 11.00! So late dinner and she has headed off to work again.

We are off to Beaconsfield tonight to see Howie and Ness, so will advise of that episode tomorrow.

St Paul's Cathedral

Was a tad gloomy day, so I caught the trains into town to have a wander around. Got off at Bank then walked up to St Paul's through Paternoster Square.

Paternoster Square column

Walked around  bit with all the other tourists and saw the cathedral. Amazing that during the blitz it was unscathed.

St Paul's Dome

From the front

Caught the train then on to Paddington where I had lunch with Fi, a rarity for her to step out of office. After which I toddled back to Greenwich and kicked back until they girls got home.

Much nicer looking day today so after I tidy up here, I will have another look around Greenwich. Have read there is a deer herd in the park! I was blissfully unaware, so will try to find them in my travels today.

Day to myself

Well had a wander down to Deptford to get some bulbs for the girls, and then did a few chores around the house, including mowing of the lawn.

Not quite Pete's standard!

Later went down and caught up with the crew at the Mordern Arms and bought some meat from Drings and salad mixings to make dinner for the girls.

Relaxed until about 6.30 when I met Fiona at Daveys and we had a couple of glasses there before returning home to do dinner.

We must have been tired from weekend as we all turned in early and so today I am up and will see what is on the cards. Time to get out and see a bit of London.

Goodbye Rye and back to London

After a great breakfast at the Hope and Anchor, we checked out and had one last look around the town.

 View across flats

Back up throught the maze of streets, and if you ever come wear sensible walking shoes as the cobbles are not suitable for heels! Stopped at the 'Old Bell' which was rebuilt as were most of the buildings after 1395 when the French razed the town! 

The Old Bell

After that the fortification were increased and later on the town became infamous as a heart of smuggling throughout the 15th to 19th centuries. The Old Bell was joined to The Mermaid Inn by tunnels to assist the smugglers.

Just had to try an Ale

So back on the train from Rye to Hastings then on to London Bridge, and back to Greenwich. A great weekend to start my holiday and we said hello to Leann  who is busily studying, so slipped out again to Daveys wine bar only to leave Leann in peace! Well thats my story. 

Up today with a few things to do for the girls around the place, so will see what the day brings.

Explore Rye and party on

After breakfast we walked the streets. So pretty and we meandered through the cobblestone streets. The history is wonderful and Mermaid street is georgous. All the houses have cute names like this one 'the house with 2 front doors!'

We visited the castle and saw the old prison the in afternoon down to the Wipers pub for bands. Well it kicked off and we managed to make new friends. The bands were great and much merriment occurred.

MTVessells

With new friends Anne,Tom, John, and Jacquie we partied and the girls danced a storm!

After the music ended we wandered, and I mean wandered home with bottles of red in my pockets...up this morning to another beautiful day.

Rye by day and night

After a cruise train trip via Hastings we arrived in Rye. Really cute village and after checking in at the Hope and Anchor, we ambled around town and managed some beers at 2 pubs!
Walked past the castle and church and then back to hotel for a scrub before going out for dinner.

Ypres Castle at The

Back out to dinner at Ypres Castle Innn where we were supposed to see a band! The band was cancelled but we had a fine feed and were promised for tomorrow night another band!

Food was great

Anyway we stayed until late and have now risen to a great breakfast with plans for the day to be worked out.

Arrival in London

Well made it here after a slight delay in Dubai. Added an hour or so to trip, so after leaving home it was 36 hours until I made it to the girls place in Greenwich. Shower never felt so good!

What is it with some people travelling? Why is it that after spending all the money on going people decide to travel looking like hobos? Guess it takes all!

Anyway up this morning and reasonable day. Off to Rye  today after coffee.

Quick post to say I am here.

First look at garden.