We arrived in Heathrow London around 6:00am without breakfast as we had decided to sleep rather than being woken up 90 minutes earlier for breakfast.
I had previously thought we might get the new Elisabeth line (train) into the city but unfortunately it was closed due to industrial action, so, since the airport would probably be busy, I had booked a chauffer to pick us up.
Had a slow trip (being a Tuesday) into the Lansdowne Club, luckily they had a room ready for us and more to the point the dining room was still open for breakfast.
I had previously thought we might get the new Elisabeth line (train) into the city but unfortunately it was closed due to industrial action, so, since the airport would probably be busy, I had booked a chauffer to pick us up.
Had a slow trip (being a Tuesday) into the Lansdowne Club, luckily they had a room ready for us and more to the point the dining room was still open for breakfast.
Jet lag hit us so we went to bed and slept through to about 3pm!.
We had three lovely and reasonably warm days in London seeing old friends
Day 1 Lunch at the Royal Academy with Wendy who I first met when I was working in Stafford (Midlands) in the '60s
Day 2 Lunch with Margaret who is a friend of Leith's whom she met in London in the '70s. She lives in Wallington a 45 minute ride on the train.
Day 3 Lunch with Pat and Neil, a couple, whom we met on a SJR to Taiwan only some years ago. We like to catch up with them every time we come to the UK.
They had organised a tour of the Courtauld Gallery (Somerset House) which I had never been to. I was pleased to know that it had been a home of the Royal Academy from 1780 to 1837. The Gallery had a number of rooms specifically designed to be galleries (ie on the top floor and with large skylights)
They then took us to oldest restaurant in London Rules which wasn't too far away.
Neil and I both decided have the Steak & Kidney Pie and Steak & Kidney Pudding respectively. In my case I wanted to see what a 'Pudding' was, it turned out that the pastry was replaced with suet mixture which wasn't to my liking, however the steak & kidney was superb.
We had three lovely and reasonably warm days in London seeing old friends
Day 1 Lunch at the Royal Academy with Wendy who I first met when I was working in Stafford (Midlands) in the '60s
Day 2 Lunch with Margaret who is a friend of Leith's whom she met in London in the '70s. She lives in Wallington a 45 minute ride on the train.
Day 3 Lunch with Pat and Neil, a couple, whom we met on a SJR to Taiwan only some years ago. We like to catch up with them every time we come to the UK.
They had organised a tour of the Courtauld Gallery (Somerset House) which I had never been to. I was pleased to know that it had been a home of the Royal Academy from 1780 to 1837. The Gallery had a number of rooms specifically designed to be galleries (ie on the top floor and with large skylights)
They then took us to oldest restaurant in London Rules which wasn't too far away.
Neil and I both decided have the Steak & Kidney Pie and Steak & Kidney Pudding respectively. In my case I wanted to see what a 'Pudding' was, it turned out that the pastry was replaced with suet mixture which wasn't to my liking, however the steak & kidney was superb.
We travelled to Rotterdam via Eurostar from St Pancras station, I was a bit worried about the entry requirements into the Netherlands but passport control at St Pancras was very casual, no mention of COVID just a stamp in the passport.
A fast trip about 3 hrs. We were met by Willem and his son Noah. He had parked his car at a nearby suburb so we caught a city train for one stop.
They have built a lovely 2-storey house not far from Gouda . Willems parents make Gouda cheese from about 70 cows.
A fast trip about 3 hrs. We were met by Willem and his son Noah. He had parked his car at a nearby suburb so we caught a city train for one stop.
They have built a lovely 2-storey house not far from Gouda . Willems parents make Gouda cheese from about 70 cows.
Their house is very modern with underfloor heating throughout (tubes of water embedded in the concrete rather than electrical coils). Moreover his work has given him a Hyundai Iconic 5 electric car. which we drove in a number of times.
Very extensive display even telling you how far the nearest charging point is.
Being designed from scratch the front windscreen wipers were totally recessed eg were not visible when not being used, not to mention the external door handles which consisted of a flush bar, pushing in one end opened the door.
For some reason there was no rear windscreen wiper which Willem found inconvenient. Willem did say that the designer thought that angling the rear window in certain way would stop the slush from the road from sticking. It doesn't work.
Very extensive display even telling you how far the nearest charging point is.
Being designed from scratch the front windscreen wipers were totally recessed eg were not visible when not being used, not to mention the external door handles which consisted of a flush bar, pushing in one end opened the door.
For some reason there was no rear windscreen wiper which Willem found inconvenient. Willem did say that the designer thought that angling the rear window in certain way would stop the slush from the road from sticking. It doesn't work.
The day we arrived (Saturday) we were taken to a nearby restaurant for a lovely meal, I had plaice which is a fish I don't think I have eaten before. It was delicious.
The next day we drove to see the 2022 Floriade Expo at Almere. This is held every ten years somewhere in Holland and much like Brisbane after it is over - 5 months in this case - the land is repurposed. It was a lovely day and we spent several hours wandering about. The Expo theme is 'Growing Green Cities' so there were a lots of sustainable type ideas. The children were able to be looked after by neighbours, 2, 12 year old, girls.
The next day we drove to see the 2022 Floriade Expo at Almere. This is held every ten years somewhere in Holland and much like Brisbane after it is over - 5 months in this case - the land is repurposed. It was a lovely day and we spent several hours wandering about. The Expo theme is 'Growing Green Cities' so there were a lots of sustainable type ideas. The children were able to be looked after by neighbours, 2, 12 year old, girls.
Monday was a quiet day however it happened to be Alex's birthday so she baked a cake in the morning and there was a celebratory afternoon attended by the Willem's parents.
Our last full day Alex could take the morning off so Bep (Willems mother) drove us in. She was taking in a trailer of cheese (gouda of course) to be put into storage where it is matured in a controlled temperature for several months before being sold.
She dropped us at the Town Square.
We then went to their main church St John's Church or Sint Janskerk. This was built in the 15-16C and is the longest church in the Netherlands. It has some magnificent stained glass windows dating from that time.
She dropped us at the Town Square.
We then went to their main church St John's Church or Sint Janskerk. This was built in the 15-16C and is the longest church in the Netherlands. It has some magnificent stained glass windows dating from that time.
Finally we had to leave (Wednesday) Willem was kind enough to drive us to Schipol (Amsterdam airport) however we had to leave by 7am, it was about an hours drive each way. The traffic wasn't too bad and we got there with plenty of time to spare for a 11:00am departure.
Schipol was very busy with no one wearing masks. We flew Singapore Airlines via Singapore then to Sydney.
Singapore leg is about 13hrs flying time so we had time for a bit of a sleep, whereas the Sydney leg is only about 7hrs so not much sleep. Luckily we came in about 4pm so by 6pm we were in bed! Ah the joy of coming home late afternoon.
Schipol was very busy with no one wearing masks. We flew Singapore Airlines via Singapore then to Sydney.
Singapore leg is about 13hrs flying time so we had time for a bit of a sleep, whereas the Sydney leg is only about 7hrs so not much sleep. Luckily we came in about 4pm so by 6pm we were in bed! Ah the joy of coming home late afternoon.
Many thanks Owen for a great trip exploring the east side of Canada
Trish Lane
2022-09-22
What a fabulous trip, David and Leith!!
Jenny Judd
2022-09-22
Wonderful to read as always and to see the photos of where you’ve been. Thank you !!
Oliver RAYMOND
2022-09-22
Great to have your experiences without the stress of International Travel. I'm afraid we have passed that, by mutual consent. We look back on our times spent in such activities as climbing Mt Kinabalu and going up the coast of Norway by local ferry with nostalgia, but recognise our age-based limits! Keep roaming for us!