Day 2 of my Tours

I left the biggest tour for the last day, this is a bus tour out to Hawes Pier to the Firth of Forth, to go out on a boat called the Forth Belle for a cruise. Although it wasn't the clearest of days apparently today was better than yesterday, hate to see how bad it was yesterday then, because I could hardly see a thing out there, even the boat was using its fog horn. The Hawes Pier is inbetween two rather large bridges, Forth Road Bridge a suspension bridge for cars, very similar to the one in San Fran and then the Forth Railway Bridge for trains. But for us there wasn't much of either of them we could see
Road Bridge


Railway Bridge



Out in the Firth is an island called Ichcolm, on the island is the beautiful old abbey which dates back to 1235. To go on the island you need a permit and because of the conditions it wasn't worth it today but I will go again I think on a good day and have a look around

Edinburgh Tours

Well being a Monday I figured it would be a bit quieter in town and I would take in a tour or two of Edinburgh. So there is one company here that does 5 different tours and for a set price you get a ticket for all the tours over 2 days, so I figured that was me. The weather wasn't the best today and there was a lot of mist which I believe is pretty much the norm here, and the temperature dropped a bit and I wasn't as prepared as I should have been, but it didn't stop me from making the best of it, I have done 4 of the tours today, so now I have a better idea of how the city is laid out and distances in travelling etc. Along with all the main sites. I think the Old Town is my favourite I think I will spend some time walking around there next weekend.
Below are a couple of photos I took from Waverley Bridge of the Old Town



This one is also from Waverley Bridge of the Castle, for those of you who are not aware, Waverley Bridge is one of the main tourist places in Edinburgh as it is the bridge over the main train station in Edinburgh and is also where the buses leave for the airports and the tours I went on

My First day in Edinburgh

Well I have arrived. My first full day here was rather daunting, I thought London was busy but Sunday here is no different and it was so hot that I didn't spend much time out int he end, didn't even go out for by Birthday lunch or dinner. But I did manage to get my internet access sorted, so I am back online for £20 a month...thanks Vodafone.

Hard at work

Only 5 days to go until we have tenants in our house.

Although the movers came over a week ago and took all the furniture and large items, I have had a big job working through what's left in the house, sorting items into boxes, throwing away unwanted items, etc.

This weekend has largely been about cleaning the house. Trevor and Roanne helped yesterday by cleaning the fridge, and taking away some of my prized MDF collection, and also removing a whole car load of old cartons.

Today I've been cleaning, scrubbing, vacumming, the entire house. The house is now completely clean.

There is still a lot of stuff in the garage to be removed but at least now it's only in one place. I don't know where to put it now as the storage unit is rather full. I will be able fit some more in if I do some reogranising. Maybe tomorow night.

The weather here has been terrible all week. It is getting tiresome moving stuff and always getting set in the process. Also as a result I haven't been able to get outside and weed the garden and generally tidy the property (not that it's that bad anyway).

I look forward to getting this job complete!

A day at Windsor

For my last day in London I decided that I quick train ride out of London to Windsor would be the deal, get away from the crowds of London and take a trip. So off to Windsor Castle it was, something I hadn't done before. As some of you will be aware that since the restoration from the fire at Windsor castle the Queen has decide to opening the Castle up to the public. I headed off pretty early and arrived at the castle not long after it had opened. And what a beautiful day it was, the weather was perfect at around 28 degrees. Below are a few photos of the castle as you arrive.





The moat that once was around the tower has now been turned into this beautiful garden, I think it is the first castle I have been to that has the moat in the inside of the castle walls. Below is just one of the many photos I took of the garden.

St George Chapel was next on the list, the chapel built by Edward IV in 1475 the architecture was amazing inside and out, the detailon the outside was amazing, As the castle has been a royal residence for over 600 years the Chapel along with everything else is in amazing condition. Henry VIII is buried here


From the back of the chapel is a great view over Windsor


I was also luck enough to catch the changing of the guard.

Below are a couple of other photos I took of the grounds within the castle



On my way back to the train station I found the pub and Mum I thought you might like to aspire to these hanging baskets and window pots :o)

WOW What a night

I have just been to see "We Will Rock You" for the 3rd time, and by far the best. I was lucky enough to see it in Melbourne in 2006, then in Auckland last year, which I thought couldn't get any better, but then tonight, they have added to it, and the cast was amazing, the band, and people were dancing in the aisle, it was a 3 hour rock concert. It has to be the best show in town by far, so if any of you are coming over to London then book in, it is totally worth the £34.00 (found at the discount kiosk)

And a link to some of the shots from the show.

A warm relaxing day in London

Not much happening for me today in London, I have decided to take a day of doing not much. Headed out around 10am had to get myself a UK cellphone. On the way to doing that I stopped off in a couple of stores to have a look around, spent a whole £4.00 on a DVD.
The park opposite my B&B, Argyle Square has be filled with people sitting in the sun and playing basket ball, it has been really nice to hear the happy noises this afternoon from across the road

My first full day in London

London baby! What a great day, I managed to catch up with some friends on holiday, Tanya, Richard and Hannah had one day in London before heading home to New Zealand via the US. So we decided to meet up at Waterloo station and take a walk along the Thames, so the first stop was the London Eye


For Hannah it meant a bit of time out of the stroller running around after the birds
and for Tanya was time for a bit of a break

And as for Richard a photo op with his new 40D

We managed to get some really great classic shots of London with the Houses of Parliament


The walk along the Thames was great, not something I have done in a long time



After lunch we took a walk back towards Regent Street, on the way we spotted Pall Mall and decided we would walk down and take a look at New Zealand House. At the end of Pall Mall we found St James Palace with the Grenadier Guards doing there thing

Moving Day

Well the morning started real early, 6am Mike and I were up and packing, we still had a few things to pack, the movers were arriving at 8.30 so that gave us a few hours to get things ready.
Well on the dot of 8.30 they guys arrived, and there were amazing, the truck was huge!!!!



By 10.30 the truck was full and we were on our way to the storage unit, hope it all fits!!!