Well the final leg of the European jaunt, dedicated to visiting family and friends, and family friends and friend's family.
Not to mention THE Wedding. OMG how beautiful did Kate look (sorry I mean Katherine) and did Pippa (her bottom in particular) really break the bridesmaid's code by outshining the bride. Anyway I digress, back to the story.
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| Where the story all began - Forest Road, Loughton, Essex. Steve's first home |
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| and just up the road, how Forest Road got it's name. (because it runs into the forest - get it) |
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| Di, overwhelmed by the 25 degree celsius heatwave in England and possibly the several pints of lager Proof readers note: obviously Di doesn't drink beer so it was either jet lag or the heat. |
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| Brighton Pier |
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| and the classic British pebble beach and deckchairs |
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| In the Sixties and then again in the Seventies groups of Mods and Rockers descended upon Brighton for an annual punch up The legend lives on with scooters like these we are the Mods, we are the Mods, we are we are we are the Mods |
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| Celebration for the Wedding at Brighton Pier Kate & Wills; Elton & David; Becks & Posh Russell & Katy Di and Elke? What The? |
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| View from our hotel in Eastbourne Aaah English seaside towns |
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| ooh look kids, another pier. Apparently there is a nightclub at the end but Elke wouldn't let me go there because she plans to visit Eastbourne again As if I would embarrass her ! |
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| Say what you like about the English, but we do know how to do a good bandstand |
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| Beachy Head, a famous stepping off point for the English, literally Proof readers note: That was in extremely bad taste. We apologise |
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| The White Cliffs of Eastbourne But for the problems with rhyming, Dame Vera Lynne could have sung about these instead of the ones at Dover during the War. They're whiter for a start |
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| And now we are at nearly the other end of the country (if you don't count Scotland) Nottingham - |
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| The Nelson and Railway, Aunty Eileen's local |
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| The day we were all waiting for, well mainly Elke to be honest Loyalists to the end - tiara's for the girls, Union Jack top hat for Steve with champagne and smoked salmon - of course |
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| Apart from Liverpool University Girl's Hockey team the other group that Liverpool is famous for |
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| How the Cavern Club looked in the early sixties |
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| How the Cavern Club looked on Sunday afternoon |
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| Aah Penny Lane Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes There beneath the blue suburban skies |
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| This is what a Liverpool pub looks like when Liverpool is playing Actually this is what a Liverpool pub looks like when Liverpool is playing the next day. Elke had a bit of a problem with the fixture - aah well we had a pint anyway |
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| The girl herself - happy in Liverpool and happy to finally get us to take her to a Jamie Oliver restaurant |
So that's the European leg of the gap year over and we head back to Oz aboard a brand new Airbus A380. Very nice it is too, even down the back where we are.
Observations of England:
- It's not as expensive as we were expecting
- supermarkets, pubs and even eating out were quite reasonable
- would even be good if the exchange rate wasn't as good as it is
- Petrol is dear at about $2.35 a litre, but the cars are smaller and more fuel efficient
- Despite all that we still managed to go over budget
- The traffic is not too bad - well sometimes
- Despite not doing any sightseeing in London:
- Steve managed to get a pie and mash (at a traditional shop in the Tower Bridge Rd)
- Di and Elke managed to visit Harrods
- Steve managed to visit one of his old locals - The Paxton Head in Knightsbridge
- they didn't remember me
- Liverpool is (surprisingly) a lovely city
- We have been blessed by the weather gods - blue skies and warm for all but a couple of days
- Living in houses (and hotels) is very pleasant & comfortable
- but we still love Mighty Merc
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