Hmmm ninja packing was kinda needed

Today was our last day and we packed everything said goodbye to the apartment  It went very smoothly but sad that the holiday is at an end. We decided to use our last day intelligently and get most out of membership and head to Hampton Court Palace. There had been a Christmas food and wine festival over the weekend so we went in a different entrance and could not go in the front court - no chimney pictures🙁. Oh well nevermind. The Tudor area was beautifully decorated in all the hallways the rest of the Palace areas were a bit underwhelming but as the Tudor section is our favourite we didn't mind. The gardens were looking quite nice considering it is December so we had a quick wander round and even saw some deer in the neighbouring paddock. A quick trip to the Royal School of Needlework to pick up a few things was needed and then headed off for a final Tate viewing. It was quite busy for a Monday afternoon but we got to see all of our favourites. We both looked around some of the rooms and felt a bit sad. It was the last time we got to see them. We then headed to pick up the bags and make our way down the one set of underground steps. A nice man took Maree's bag down and Cheryl after struggling a wee way down finally accepted help and a lovely man took hers the rest of the way. On arriving at Heathrow we had to do some repacking to get the both cases under weight but all was good and we have kilos to spare!!! Just waiting to board now. No pictures the free WiFi isn't up too it.

No ninja packing needed

Today was nearly our last day - we fly out tomorrow night at 10pm so technically we have tomorrow as well. Tate was the obvious first stop for the day and we had a lengthy viewing of the Burne Jones exhibition - 2nd to last one it is still stunning and really noted some cool details in the pictures today. We then made a slightly poor decision to go to the British Museum - Sunday at lunch time really what were we thinking. Things have certainly changed and security is intense with very comprehensive bag searches. This means long queues but it moved fairly quickly. We went in and looked at the Waddesdon Bequest always a favourite had some really nice lunch and did a spot of shopping. We then headed to Trafalgar Square to see the Christmas Tree - better than last time and to check out the art on the plinth - The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist by New York artist Rakowitz. It was great from every angle. Went and checked out the National Gallery new gift shop much shinier than the old but left without purchasing anything. As it was getting darker headed into Oxford / Regent Street to see the lights. Randomly found the statue of Florence Nightingale which was great and an

awesome tree. The lights this year are angels and they are truly awesome. The streets were really busy and once again we showed poor judgement by fighting our way into Fortnum and Mason boy was it busy and folks were shopping up a storm. We then continued in this vein and went to Hamleys it was heaving with people, by this stage we realised we needed to head home and sort the packing so after a quick KFC - classy we know - it was time to pack. This went very smoothly and we are under weight and we are taking all our clothes home minus the boots that still have half a paddock of 'crap' on them. Tomorrow we are headed to Hampton Court and a final Tate trip before the long trip home. This will likely be the final blog post unless we find WiFi at the airport so to all those who have followed our adventure thank you and we hope you have enjoyed it. We have had a wonderful holiday.

The one with the Hurdy Gurdy

Today we visited Windsor it was a stunning morning so took sunglasses and light scarves. Big mistake.... We arrived just before 10 with what looked like 1/2 the population but as we had tickets and were not part of a tour group got through security pretty quick. We decided to take the 10.15 guided tour with Ed he was great awesome knowledge and quick humour. The tour took us around the outside of the buildings and ended at the State Apartments - we learnt loads and it took 45 mins which meant when we entered the Apartments it was fairly quiet and most rooms we were virtually on our own. While walking with Ed we stopped at the rise before St George's Chapel and boy was a cold wind blowing it was howling up the road and it was easy the see why so many ladies lost hats at Eugenie's wedding. It was in the Apartments we saw the wedding outfits from Harry and Meghan's wedding. A couple of points to note she is tiny, the sleeves really were buggy and slightly odd, the top of the zip at the back was just ugly, fabric was very bulky and we couldn't find the NZ flower on the train. Harry's suit had incredible details which didn't show up as they were black on black. The flower girl dresses had overlocked hems eckkk. We then visited St George's Chapel which is stunning especially the vaulted ceiling. As it was the weekend the Queen was in residence but no we did not see her. Her sitting room chimney had smoke coming out it and any wise person would have been by the fire. As we had missed Victorian afternoon tea yesterday we decided to go to Patisserie Valerie for a treat but were so cold we ordered some hot food there and got treats to take away. We then headed back to London. For the evening activity we went to Red House for medieval music and Christmas carols. Boy did it rain getting there - it is a wee walk and thankfully we had worn jeans and not dresses or we would have been extremely wet. The 3 piece played traditional instruments including a Hurdy Gurdy what an awesome thing that is. We were easily the youngest there by about 20 years.....

3rd times a charm

Gosh it rained this morning not a good start to the day but thankfully the walk to the tube is short. Today we visit St Paul's for the 3rd time and finally saw it all. Due to poor planning on the previous visits we had never managed to see it all but we organised ourselves well today. Getting on the 1.5 hour super tour meant we got to see the mathematical staircase - as seen in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and got to sit in the quire stalls and really see the moasic ceiling. Chris was our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us an excellent history of the building. After the tour and a cup of tea we had a full walk around and of course exited through the gift shop. We were meant to attend afternoon tea at the V and A in the Morris room but Cheryl was still feeling not the best so we flagged that but still had a quick visit to see a few things we had missed on the previous visit. Then it was off to late night at the Tate which was a really enjoyable trip through the Burne Jones exhibition. Tomorrow is Windsor and viewing Megan's wedding dress.

The NOT perfect day

After yesterday's stellar day it was always going to be tough for today love up to expectations but it didn't have to try so hard to totally fail. Things got off to a poor start when Cheryl got a bout of food poisoning that struck at 3am that ended her night. Maree woke up with a head ache and shattered so the first to do of the day was cancelled - a trip to Tate. Still wanting to make Hever Cheryl had a rest and we set out to catch 12.15 train. We arrived at Hever Station to find it really is rural and set off following the map to get to the Castle. It wasn't lying when it said you walk over farm land - one paddock was full of sheep and it was very mucky - such fun! Once we had made it past the paddocks it was then a walk up a country road quite narrow no footpath and cars that went way too quick at this point we were pleased we had not opted for the evening time slot. The Castle is privately owned and very different from a National Trust property. Although it is the childhood home of Anne Boleyn very little of the Tudor period remains and the house is full of various purchased pieces from around the time period but not necessarily English. It was beautifully decorated with may trees and arrangements. Due to poor health we didn't get there as early as we had planned and after seeing the walking track we decided to cut the visit short and make sure we were at the station by 3.45 as it is starting to get dark by then this was unfortunate as it meant missing the garden and the miniature house exhibition. You would think having walked the trail not many hours previously we would remember it but alas no when we got to the sheep paddock we had a moment and missed exactly where the marker was and so walked through the clay mud track made by the farmer - pic of boots will follow - only to get to the top of the hill and see where we should have gone.. . Sums up the day really sick and exhausted people shouldn't be let out really but we made it home Hever was interesting and we may be being hard on it. Oh well let's hope tomorrow is better.

Perfect Day

Today was Maree's perfect day Cheryl enjoyed most of it too. It started with a quick visit to the Harrods windows not their best work with the exception of Dior, the tree outside was food inspired there were some bold choices. We had a quick trip through the store Christmas World was disappointing. A Tate visit was next on the list we hadn't been for a few days while there we visited the Pre Raphs on display also. Some lunch and then we decided to risk the slightly dodgy looking weather and check out Brompton Cemetery. What a stunner it is some great angels plenty of squirrels and crows everything you could want in a cemetery. The plan was to visit Alexa Wilding's grave we kind of knew where to go and after a few struggles found it. Were slightly concerned as we scrambled over to it when we found a 1/2 caved in grave but we managed not to put our feet anywhere bad and we're able to get close enough to read her name. Then we headed home for some quiet time as Maree had A Perfect Circle concert. It was awesome just as good as when she saw them 14 years ago. Cheryl spent the night sorting the purchases looks like we have been very well behaved on the buying front. Tomorrow is Hever Castle. 

Straight outta Compton

Today was much gentler on the feet only just made 10000 steps. We headed to Guildford by train and then caught a bus to Compton and made the short walk to the Watts Artist Village. Although it was sunny it was a touch bracing and the coolest day we have had for a while. The village was the brainchild of G. F. And Mary Watts a painter/sculptor and sculptor. They built a house, developed a pottery business that Mary ran after her husbands death a Chapel and lived by the arts and crafts ideals. Now there is a gallery displaying a collection of Watts paintings that also houses some of the now homeless De Morgan Foundation pieces. The De Morgan pieces were our main reason for going as Maree wanted to see Angel of Death - it was awesome but we both loved many of Watts paintings as well. Also at the Gallery was an exhibition on Christina Rossetti and her poetry this was also very interesting and well put together. We then headed to a guided tour of the house - 2 other people joined the tour a small group it must be said - Susan who lead us was very knowledgeable and passionate and we thought the tour lasted an hour it was closer to 1.5 and by this stage it was bloody cold and we were starving. But it was worth doing as it was the only way to see inside the house. Thankfully the cafe had a good menu and we had some Welsh rarebit which was hot and yummy. A quick trip to the gift shop - it is rude not too--and we headed to the Chapel. A round red brick building made by Mary which is decorated inside stunningly. Most surprising was to learn that most was made off site. The relief panels are felt stuck on with rabbit skin glue and a gesso placed over and then painted. It retains a very hand made feel but is an amazing space. On the whole it is well worth a visit and we very much enjoyed our time there. As we were both quite tired today once we got back to London it was home for a quiet night in.