Tuesday 20th September - London

 After such a big day yesterday, we stayed around the unit late this morning.  We caught the No. 15 Red Bus into Charing Cross Station 

and Trafalgar Square (check out the size of the pigeon!!!)

We walked around to the beginning of The Mall, which looks straight down to Buckingham Palace

We then caught a bus to the Victoria and Albert Museum.  By mistake, we ended up near Royal Albert Hall, and ended up walking to the V & A. 

After Afternoon Tea, we went to see the Beatrix Potter, Drawn to Nature Exhibition.

Beatrix Potter was a very talented woman.  The exhibition was very thorough, it showed many of her original drawings from the Peter Rabbit books,

 and also many of her botanical drawing of fungi, all of which were the most accurate drawings of fungi, that they were used in Botanical Studies.  She also studied them microscopically, 

We caught a bus from the V& A to Marble Arch, 

and then back to The Strand.  By this time we were ready for some refreshments in one of the many pubs. We ended up at "The Coal Hole" on the Strand, were we decided to stay and have an early dinner, before catching a Taxi to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

 This year at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, we saw "Much Ado About Nothing"

what a fabulous performance.  We always enjoy our night at the Globe, and this time was no exception 😀

After the show we decided to catch the River Bus, which stops just near the Globe Theatre, back to Tower Bridge

The view of St Paul's Cathedral at night from the Globe Theatre

And of course a night time photo of my favourite bridge 😀

A short walk up past The Tower of London, to catch the No 15 Bus back to the unit. 

What a tiring but fantastic day 😁 time for bed💤

Monday 19th September 2022 - London - The Queens Funeral

We were picked up by our Uber driver around 9.30am this morning and were taken as close as possible to Hyde Park Corner.  We would have liked to be on The Mall, but people had been camping there for days, and its quite a long way from any transport, so we decided the best place was Hyde Park, near Wellington Arch.  We walked for a while with thousands of others into Hyde Park, but realised when we stopped that we were not where we wanted to be, so started walking to the other end of the park - quite a distance !! The park had about 8 absolutely huge screens broadcasting the funeral.  We watched the procession to Westminster Cathedral and then the majority of the Ceremony, on one of the screens. The crowd was very sombre and the only real noise was the walkie talkie of the security guard, which wasn't appreciated by the crowd.   We then made our way further towards Wellington Arch, where the coffin was to be transferred from the Gun Carriage to the Hearse.  We weren't able to get right to the fence, again as people had been there since the early hours of the morning, hence, we were not able to see very much.  The crowd around us was large, but we were able to distance a little from others.  

We met a few lovely people, a mother and daughter who had driven the 3 1/2hrs from Iron Bridge, Shropshire, and a  couple from Los Angeles, who like us  had arrived in London yesterday. 

We could see some of the Guards and horses arriving to wait for the Gun Carriage,

 and also see the Security on the top of the surrounding buildings.

We were able to see the top of the Hearse as it slowly drove past, but that was all.

Once the crowd started to disperse, it was very calm, but everyone had to walk in the same direction for quite a long way, which meant, for us, that we had no idea where we were.  All the closest Tube Stations were closed and buses and taxis weren't allowed in to the area.  We seemed to walk for a very long time. !! Eventually, we were able to get something to eat at a Pret a Manger (coffee shop) in Berkley Square, where we stopped in the Park for a well earned rest. We then started to walk again, and were pointed in the direction of Green Park Tube Station, which had just opened. We had almost walked in a circle !!!We caught the tube to Leicester Square, and had drinks at a pub, The Bear & Staff in the Theatre District.

After such a big day, and so much walking we caught a Black Cab back to the unit, where we sat and ate and watched a replay of Queen Elizabeth II funeral.

We were a little disappointed that we didn't get to see more of the Pomp & Ceremony live, but we felt so privileged to be among the crowds to pay our respects to a truely amazing lady.

Sunday 18th September, 2022

 We left the Hotel with lots of time to spare, which it turns out was a good thing !!!

One wrong turn, as we were getting to Heathrow!!!! and we ended up going around and around in bumper to bumper traffic for 45 mins before finally getting the the Hertz Car Return.  On speaking to 2 other people, the exact same thing happened to them.  I had purchased Heathrow Express Train tickets to Paddington earlier which is only a 15 min train ride.  Getting to the platform proved to be a little bit of a challenge though.

On arrival into Paddington Station, it was very busy people everywhere.  We sat and had lunch, before trying to order an Uber.  Not as easy as it sounds !! At first UberX - cars were unavailable, so we tried the Uber XL - Yay !! a car was on its way, only 8 mins away, but then the driver cancelled, as he couldn't work out how to get into the station to collect us - NOT HAPPY !!! Finally, ordered another and it arrived, the driver was lovely and helpful - said the other one must have been a new person, who didn’t know what they were doing ! In conversation, the driver offered to pick us up tomorrow morning and take us to as close to Hyde Park Corner as he could get. Anyway, we arrived at our accomodation - Marlin Apartments, Tower Bridge. 

We have stayed here before, and they are great apartments.  Thankfully, we had booked well in advance, and the price had tripled since the Queen's death.

First thinks first, washing in the machine 😁then downstairs to the convenience store, to buy some steak and salad for dinner.

Saturday 17th September, 2022 Tamworth - High Wycombe

 This morning we listened,  to the Sydney Swans game, before we left the Hotel, at least I did - John got too nervous and went for a walk.  Wow !!! I was hardly breathing at the end of the game.  🔴⚪A 1 point win over Collingwood to make it to the AFL Grand Final 🔴⚪.

Once I had calmed down😃 we went to Chris & Jo's and then to the Red Lion Pub for lunch, where with lots of hugs and tears we said our goodbyes.  

We made our way down the highway to High Wycombe, which is only about 1/2 hr from Heathrow Airport, where we have to return the hire car tomorrow morning.

The Holiday Inn at High Wycombe, was very busy, and there seemed to be lots of members of a band, John thinks perhaps a Military Band. 

Friday 16th September, 2022

We left our accomodation in the Peak District this morning, and started to make our way to Tamworth.  

We realised that our mobile plans were not working, so decided to try to find a Lycamobile Store.  I had already recharged, them 2 days ago !! We drove into Derby and found a shopping centre, where we were told that there were no shopfronts for them, and that when I topped up and I should have selected a bundle for the phone !!

The young man a phone store was very helpful, and we ended up changing to vodafone, which he sorted out for us.

We continued on to Tamworth and checked into the hotel, before heading over to Jo and Chris's for dinner from the local Indian Restaurant.

Thursday 15th September, 2022 - Peak District

 We started out a little earlier today, and again on Lisa's suggestion, we went to Hardwick Hall, which is a significant Country House from the Elizabethan Era.  It was built between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick, who was the Duchess of Shewsbury.  She was also responsible for the building of Chatsworth House.  She was the richest woman in England, after Elizabeth I.  

Bess of Hardwick was married 4 times, and delivered eight children to her husband, but 2 died in infancy.

Unfortunately, the exterior of part of the house in being restored, so a good photo was difficult.

The interior of the house is enormous, and great majority of the walls are covered in tapestries.  Close to the entry are some amazing applique and embroidered enormous wallhangings

Even the side of the staircase had a tapestry on it.

A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I

A few little blue and white pieces, that would look great in our house !!!

The Long gallery is the largest surviving Elizabethan Long Gallery, and the only one the retain its original tapestries and original paintings.

The High Great Chamber is really impressive ! With a very large fire place

That is John standing in front of the fire place

The Servants stairs

The Kitchens were incredible

The original stables are now the gift shop

This is where the farm carts were kept, and the Blacksmiths shop is at the end 

After leaving Hardwick Hall we decided to go to the Mill that we had noticed on the drive into Hardwick Hall, we noticed a sign for a Stainsby Mill, and decided to visit it.  It's a l9th Century Flour water mill, built in 1846-1850, and is a Grade II listed building. It was a working mill until 1952.

We went to the White Hart Inn for dinner, where Lisa already had our table set and ready for us.  Again, lots of lovely conversation with her, during which we found out that she had previously been the General Manager for the hotel, but now has her own business, and is now the Operations Manager  and works whatever hours suit her.  She actually wasn't supposed to be working, but came in especially to see us. She left before we did, and when we went to pay the bill, she had given us a round of complimentary drinks and also instructed the staff to give us her 15% staff discount - all unbeknown to us !!!