We are off to Normandy this morning!!!

The time has flown since we have been in London and it has been wonderful. Our lovely hostess, Alana B, has made us so welcome in her home in Hither Green and we have enjoyed catching up with her and she has so willingly and happily shared with us great sights and areas around London and beyond. We met Lanie on Thursday and had a bit more of a look around London. John explored bookshops and Lanie and I had a walk down Oxford Street as you do. That night Alana B drove us over to Greenwich and we had a look around that area and then had dinner with the Hennesses. Those of you from Lowood will remember Nat Henness. Nat and Rob and their two beautiful children came up from Kent and we had a wonderful night with them.

The next day Lanie, John and I went into London. Lanie and I went and finished off Oxford St and then out to the V&A Museum where they were having a Quilt Show (just like the Ipswich one girls!!!) which was magnificent. The buildings there are stunning and we had a very relaxing few hours while John found the Knights Templar Church and did some more exploring. Lanie and I met Ben and we all went back to "their" apartment at Notting Hill - on the way we strolled down Portabello Street. They stay with Ben's cousin and the apartment is absolutely amazing. After meeting Alana B and having pizza we all went to the theatre. Lanie, Ben and John went to see Les Mis and Alana B and me went to Jersey Boys. Both were wonderful.

On Saturday, Alana B, John and I headed off to Canterbury. What a cathedral!!!!! We had a marvellous day wandering around the Cathedral and the town. You know you can't capture these places on camera. The splendour, the quiet, the stained glass, the toil - it is so magnificent. We dropped into Greenwich again on the way home and went to the Maritime Museum. John and I then went into London and met Lanie and Ben at a very atmospheric London Pub called The Anchor and went to the Globe Theatre to see Macbeth. Because it was raining and we were running a bit late we overstayed our dinner at the Anchor and got to the Globe as most of the groundlings were filing in. Consequently we got bad standing room especially for Lanie and me. It is an incredible theatre and the production of Macbeth was so interesting - there were haunting instruments in the audience, music, singing, blood and guts - but as the rain got heavier - and colder - and we were standing in it, I started thinking - I can't see, I can't hear, it's pouring rain and my feet are sore. So unfortunately we left at half time - after the death of Banquo. Still what we saw was extremely interesting.

Paddy and Abbey arrived that night as well so we arranged to meet them in Trafalgar Square. At 10.30 am yesterday, John, Debbie, Paddy and Alana Mill were all together in London. What a time!!! With Ben, Abbey and Alana B we all had the best day. Paddy and Abbey had already been walking for a couple of hours when we met them. The seven of us headed down Whitehall to Westminster Abbey and then along the river. It was pouring rain and freezing cold and a great London pub call the Porterhouse was calling to us loud and long. We popped in there for lunch during which time at least the rain stopped. Headed off to Covent Gardens, the Knights Templar Temple, St Pauls, across the river to the Borough Markets, over the Tower Bridge, and then into the Whitechapel Area where Alana B gave us a very interesting and well informed tour of the Jack the Ripper scenes. Everyone was very appreciative and we all chipped in and gave her the 6 p left over from our drinks later in the night.

From there we dragged our weary body to the Prospect of Whitby - John's favourite English pub - where we settled in for the night and had a pretty good time. This is a pub right on the banks of the Thames and we eventually had the best table in the house - on which were lots of glasses.

It was a wonderful day. What a pity our big girl, Caitie, could not have been there too. Today we are off to Normandy. We are very excited and have had a wonderful time here in London.

Take care everyone.