We spent far too long in Venice because we couldn’t decide where to go next. We’d thought of going to Egypt but it was a bit rowdy or Istanbul – but the flights didn’t work. So we went to London a week earlier than planned. Can I just say that trying to find a place to stay in London, for 4 people, for under a million dollars is very arsey. We have over time stayed in some very lame places – but this time we found somewhere not totally lame. Yay!

Also, just FYI, if you ever fly into London City airport, in a teeny plane, it’s best to take a hip flask or a valium first. It’s very steep, urban, scenic in a horrendously close way, but handy if you’re staying centrally. And great if you’re a big Shard enthusiastic and have wondered what the tip looks like up close.

And we spent our first evening lying in the sunshine beside the meadow grass in Hyde Park with a lovely picnic. We ate raspberries and strawberries and there were wasps. Brilliant. Jack and Molly have a very warped idea of life in London since its always sunny and pleasant when they’re there. Ha ha.

And then we spent a charming few days stumbling around shops and sights looking about
while poor Daddy had to work. We went to the British Museum, The Tate Modern, the National Gallery, Hampton Court, Regents Park Zoo, The Tower … and we went to see a performance of Matilda at Covent Garden which was remarkable.

London couldn’t quite keep up the pretense of Summer after the first couple of days and we had to buy emergency warm clothes – it was our first not-stupidly-hot place of the entire trip so we weren’t prepared with singlets or socks.

My foodie hightlights in London were dinner at St John – bloody grouse, hare, bone marrow, lovely :). And we had fancy-pantsy afternoon tea at Fortnum and Masons, with little sandwiches and camp savouries and pots of whimsically named teas.

Also, London does take-out, healthy, delicious food so well. Sandwiches, salads, sweets – all fabulous and fresh and expensive. But so much nicer than KFC or a sausage roll. Marks and Spencers, for example, has such a fascinating range of take out ready to heat meals and ready to eat food. Sigh. I guess it’s all about supply and demand. NZ just doesn’t have enough people – and they only want a sausage roll anyway.