day twelve - leicester and london and.......matthew!!!

We slept well, had a leisurely wake up and then went off to Leicester to take a look around. About three years ago they found the bones of Richard III buried in a car park in the city. The bones were examined (there was a hunchback spine), DNA tests done and at the beginning of the year he was re-buried in the cathedral. We went to take a look and walked around the old part of the city. So nice when roads are walkways and there are no cars to worry about. Janet knows about shopping and we found the much looked for Ponds Cold Cream in a Superdrugs store. I also spied a Primark but we only had 5 minutes as the parking was going to expire. Well I managed to find myself a grey melange t-shirt and a top on sale for Amy, some mints, a chocolate and some gum - £7 well spent!! Oh how I would have loved to look around and to pop into the sale at H & M next door. Next lifetime!

We headed back for lunch and off to catch our train to London. Janet travelled with us as she was visiting a friend.

Cathedral and Guildhall

Oh these wonderful flower boxes - I could have a whole post on them

A few shots of Janet's home before we leave

Like mother like daughter - books! Organized books!

So once in London we dropped off our cases in Putney. Matthew's flight was delayed so we headed back to town to meet him at Piccadilly Circus. In my excitement and anxiousness to get to see him, I made my first mistake on the tube - nothing major but was very irritated with myself as things were going so well.

But we did get there before him - hugs and sniffs and a tear or two.

Two favourites - Sean joined us for a drink (or two) and then we went off for supper

So great to catch up, hear stories and tell stories. 

Then it was time to say goodbye :( . It was 11.30 and London was buzzing. Michael and I decided to take the 22 bus home for the last time. The scenic route - Hyde Park, Searle Street, Knightsbridge, Chelsea. Crossing the Thames at Putney. Got to love this city.

Never nice to say goodbye

We got into bed at 12.45 and I think I slept for an hour. Too early to get up but our cases are all mixed up and in a mess, I am not sure what to wear today, I am working out what time to leave (we have to be at Heathrow at 9) and needing to speak to my brother to find out if I can leave one backpack behind for him to bring back to Cape Town. Hopefully we are not going to need our rain jackets, why oh why do I think that on holiday I may need a facial scrub and a mask (when I hardly use them at home) and I have only read a couple of chapters of one book (why did I think I would need three?) and the portable keyboard? When will you learn Jennifer?

Quite sad to be leaving the UK - Thanks to Aimee in London, the Rutherfords in Scotland, Jennifer and Andrea in Yorkshire and Janet in Leicester for making this all work for us.

So hard to believe that we will be in New York this afternoon. Let me try and close my tired eyes for an hour.

Sending love and hugs to you all

PS - Is Alfie missing me Gareth? I have not seen one Boston Terrier in the UK.  I thought they came from here?