November 22

Happy birthday, Graham! I gave him his birthday cards this morning before we set off. I didn't sleep well last night, probably over tired and everything ached. I've developed four blisters in three days. I think that's a sign of a successful trip but if we'd stayed any longer, I'd probably be crippled! Looking back at the lists I'd made of tentative things to do each day, I was really overly ambitious thinking I could have kept up that pace! We only had three days so we did see as much as we could in that time and it was fantastic. Had there not been a transport strike, we might have got around a bit more but we did pretty well as it was and "we'll always have Paris".

We didn't have breakfast because we were going to have it on the train. We didn't have any trouble getting the Metro to Gare du Nord though it was very crowded. We found our way to the Eurostar terminal and checked in. I had to fill out a landing card for the UK but we cleared passport control there rather than in London. The officer was a bit bemused that I was spending my holiday in Salford, not really a holiday destination, he offered.

We did change a few pounds so that we could get a drink and a bun while we waited and I got some gifts at duty free, too. I really didn't get a lot for myself in Paris, a few postcards and fridge magnets, a new umbrella, and that ceramic house. I bought more for other people than myself but that little house is my main rememberence.

While we were waiting, I glanced up and saw a large German Shepherd. I raised my eyebrows in surprise until I spotted the armed guard following the dog. Ah yes. Drug dog. He actually came over to me and the woman sitting next to me and sniffed around our feet and hand luggage. We boarded the train on time. We're in the Leisure Select which is not quite as posh as business first class but still very, very nice. Comfy seats, lots of leg room and we were served a fabulous brunch with champagne if we wanted it which we did! The journey went quickly. There isn't much of interest to see out the window between Paris and the chunnel which we entered rather suddenly, without any warning or fanfare. That was surprising. We slowed down but that was all the warning there was. Not even an announcement which apparently there usually is.

We arrived in London in St. Pancras which is the new Eurostar terminal. There was quite a walk from there to the tube which is actually over in King's Cross. We got travel cards and got a tube that took us directly to where the hotel was. We're staying in the Best Western Corona on Belgrave Road. I'd booked it using some of my Aeroplan points. The room was easily twice as large as the one in Paris, with a queen sized bed and a single bed as well. Just in case we had a row! *grin* It's bright and sunny out. I don't think I've ever seen London under such a blue sky. It's not always been grey and overcast when I've been here, but nor has it been so spectacularly blue and nearly cloudless either.

I took pictures out the bus window from the hotel all the way to Tottenham Court Road to prove the blue sky! We got off there to have a look in the mobile phone stores and ended up buying our phones. We are giving them to each other for Christmas. We went over to the British Museum. As expected, all the tickets for the Chinese Terra Cotta warriors were sold out for the day but after a quick cuppa in the cafe, we had a look around the Egyptian mummies display and had a gawp at the Rosetta Stone, Elgin Marbles and the Nereid Monument. There are a lot of interesting things there but it's another museum that's pretty large and should only be taken in smaller bites. The British Museum is free though there's a donation bin. Only the special exhibits are ticketed.

From here we're heading to a nearby pub, the Shakespeare's Head on Kingsway near the Holborn station to meet up with a dozen or so London friends. It was a little further to walk than I thought but we found it. There wasn't a large area to sit at first but I spied two older men sitting at a very large table all by themselves so I asked them if they'd mind if we took the table as we were expecting a large number. Cheeky, but it worked. They left and we moved in and by the time everyone was there, the table was full. Excellent to see everyone even though I didn't manage to get to chat to each one. The company, the food, the beer and the rest were very restorative.

We took the same bus line back though we missed the stop by the hotel. Harder to make out where we needed to ring the bell when it's dark outside. It didn't matter, the stop where we got off was near the underground which was a block and a half past the hotel. We started messing around with our phones in the hotel room. New toys!

November 23

Sunny but cold. Up at 7, continental breakfast is included. Not bad for a free hotel room via Aeroplan miles! The tube was horribly crowded as expected and it's just exhausting trying to get around hauling a carry on type bag on one shoulder and a shopping bag in the other hand and we aren't even dragging luggage! We've got an hour to wait and there were almost no benches in Euston station so we sat outside for about 7 minutes on the

picnic tables but it was just too chilly. Did get seats inside. Right in front of the door and didn't realize there was a passenger lounge in the back of the station near where our train platform was until we went to the platform! We were told at one platform to go to another but that the train wouldn't be ready to board yet. We went to the gates and buddy opened the barrier so we went through. I suspect he must have closed them again because we were on the train for 10 or 15 minutes before the throng came aboard. The train was full but it was comfortable enough.

We picked up the hire car at Avis behind Manchester Piccadilly and went for groceries on the way home so we wouldn't have to go out again. We had a night in, watching television and playing with our new phones. I was having some trouble getting mine to do picture messaging but a few queries on the Virgin mobile website landed me a text message with the settings I needed and that seemed to have sorted it.

We watched a nice movie he had taped about driving instructors and their students which starred David Tennant. I really liked it. Had lovely sausage and mash with gravy and Graham had a bottle of champagne he'd got from work last Christmas which set it off nicely!!! Yes, I know. But champagne goes with anything, doesn't it?

November 24

The sun's gone away again. We had a nice lie in and a late breakfast. Sorted out meeting times and places with Rosie and Michelle for Ambleside on Monday as that looks to be the best chance of getting half decent weather. We're going to pick up a few things this afternoon and then head to John and Nikki's later this afternoon. We're all going out for a curry tonight! Yay!

We puttered around the shopping precinct and made our way to Whalley Range, albeit by a somewhat scenic route. John and Nikki's new house is really nice. There are still a few more rooms they want to redecorate but what's done so far is gorgeous, photos don't do it justice. It's an older house with high ceilings and the floors are wide and planked. Lovely! Annie arrived and we all got playing with the bluetooth wireless on our phones so I managed to get that working too. God knows what I'll have to do to get it all working under Rogers at home!

Off to Levenshulme to Nawaab which is an all-you-can-eat curry buffet on Stockport Road. It's large and noisy but they have quite a good selection for 10 pounds plus the cost of drinks though they don't do anything with alcohol. I was surprised that there was not a lot of vegetarian choices for the main dishes as there often is in curry restaurants. Graham's friend Mike joined us as well which is the first time I've met him. Alan met us there and John's daughter Blythe joined us to make a table of 8. It was a relaxing and enjoyable night. It always is when you're with your good mates!

We dropped in on Graham's dad when we got back and parked up and are now in the flat moaning about how full we are. It was really good and none of it was too hot or spicy. I'm cooking lasagna for Sunday evening's dinner at Graham's dad tomorrow and I think I'll make a start messing about with my Paris photos.

November 25

We got up late and lazed around for awhile after breakfast. Graham took his dad out this afternoon around to a couple of cemeteries to check up on family plots and I got busy in the kitchen sorting out the lasagna and making hot lemon and honey drink because I still have a cough left over from the cold I had before I came over. I made a start on the photos. Man there are a lot! Between us I think we probably took more than 400, though I did take ¾ of them. Graham is far more the sensible one when it comes to photos but I just can't help myself!

Graham and his dad both have healthy appetites so I suspected the lasagna and salad wouldn't be enough and sure enough, his dad put on some potatoes, rice *and* 4 vegetables to go with theirs though he did let me just have the lasagna and salad and crusty bread for which I was grateful. I nearly laughed out loud though, when he brought in their plates, piled with food. He also had gravy poured on all the veg and a bit of the lasagna! Even Graham gulped at that. Ah well, you can't always teach old dogs new tricks I guess. He did like the lasagna and it wasn't until I got home that I realized I had forgotten to put in the hamburger so they had a completely vegetarian meal!

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