Not in London anymore

Well, my adventure of my first trip to London from last weekend is well and truly over. I did and saw a lot of things many would have done and seen. I drank more than my share of Moët, chatted to press photographers who were sitting in a bar making selects of the Miss Potter opening night shots of miniscule Renée Zellweger and handsome Ewan McGregor. Heck, I even tried on wedding dresses! But it's about time I quickly shared the best bits.

Saturday 2 December
My lovely Aussie friend Fiona, who made London her home around the same time I made Eindhoven mine, greeted me at the bus stop. She then announced that we would visit Old Spitalfields market.

Um, it was closed.

But Fi still managed to prepare a really simple, lovely vegetarian dinner for herself, me and her hilarious friend Lani. We had some great conversations, as you may imagine ...

Sunday 3 December
Saw the changing of the guard in front of the Queen's digs. (Unfortunately she wasn't in, as per the flag's advice). Fi's housemate Andrew took us to the barracks where the ceremonial duties actually start - rather than wait at the gate with all the plebs who don't know any better. But getting down Buckingham Palace Road was a bit of a drag with all these funny-hatted tourists (probably Russians...) who insisted on coming along too, what with their instruments and perfectly uniform marching formation.And we made some friends along the way.

Monday 4 December

In the morning, a quick 2 hour stroll in Kensington Gardens,

and a look in at the Italian Gardens inspired some morning exercise.

Fiona did many several dainty push-ups.

I did hard-core one-handed ones ... (well, one).

Then we decided to do a dreaded touristy bus tour. But in fact, we saw heaps.

Like these so-called "rats with wings" pigeons in Trafalgar Square, and the regal wildlife in Hyde Park and along the Thames.

And these really cold people perched atop this ridiculous, open-topped double decker bus wending its way through the streets of London on a chilly almost-winter's day.

A brilliant mini-getaway all in all, although I missed Edwin terribly. Because I talked him up so much, he's got a warm invite along with me to come back to visit London, from a truly genial hostess.

Thank you Fi, I had a wonderful time away with you.