Call It What You Want...

My visit to London began at David and Amanda's flat in north London, where the nearest Tube station is Turnpike Lane (on the Picadilly Line).

They recently purchased this flat, which includes the first floor (upstairs in our country), a piece of back garden, and the overhead balcony you can see over David's head.

This is the scene at the Victoria & Albert's "Village Fete Goes Pop!" on Friday night. There were people everywhere, and booths with goofy games. I had limited success with the games, but did win at one, and had fun with many.

On Friday I took a walking tour of St Paul's cathedral with the people who do the London Walks. It was nice to get to see the whole place and have things explained... I even went up the 200-something steps to the whispering gallery above the cathedral (inside) with a great view down. It was a good way to spend the afternoon and kept me up and moving when I might have been dragging some.

This medieval bridge is from Eltham Palace, where David and I went on Wednesday. Built by Henry (VIII?) and leading to a magnificent Great Hall, which is the old part of the palace. The Courtauld family bought the place and built a lavish home in the art deco style, but retained and restored the Great Hall and planted gardens... etc. Nice place you've got there, folks. (It's now an English Heritage site.)

The front of Buckingham Palace.

This is my memorable photo from Sutton House, one of the oldest houses in London. Don't I look great?

David and I, ready with our tickets to enter Hampton Court Palace. Tudor Kitchens, here we come!

One of SIX fireplaces for cooking in the Tudor Kitchens at Hampton Court Palace. This huge kitchen only had one serious fire going, so it wasn't crazy-hot.

My umbrella got stuck in the maze, but I got less wet...

Amanda, in the natural light through a window at Hampton Court.

The gardens, Hampton Court.

(Can you tell that the boys are getting antsy for me to finish writing?

All the chimneys and the flag flying at Hampton Court.

Time to go back to London and pack to go home.

What a great trip! (And I'm glad to be home)