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UK 2023
  • Simon Cox
  • Danielle Cox

UK 2023

This is our first overseas trip all together.
1 month, 3 countries. Les mer
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  • UK 2023
    Typical Parisian street
    2The only thing Tom has wanted to buy in Paris is a beret. We finally found one.2121Tommy on his pony2Little Frenchie artist painting his air canvas2Chilling in the Luxembourg Gardens1The only square of grass in the park you can sit on!! Poor Parisians1Parisians staring longingly at the grass... which they are not allowed to walk on.

    On the lookout for a riot

    2. juli 2023, Frankrike ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Today we left behind the magic of Disneyland and headed to central Paris for the day, before catching an evening train back to London.

    Despite the fact that there have been riots in Paris every night for the past 5 nights, there was very little evidence that we could see... Maybe we were in a different part of the city. The only impact for us was the early closure of the Disneyland parks last night and a threat of interrupted public transport routes today, though in the end, fortunately, we did not notice any disruptions.

    We arrived in Paris around 11:30am and had about 7 hours before we needed to be at the Gare du Nord international train station.

    Our first stop was to grab some lunch and we sat near a canal that runs though the city to eat our food. Little did we know that we had sat ourselves down in the perfect position to watch a triathlon that was on today. About 5 mins after sitting down, while munching on baguettes, we watched as 20 or so athletes came running by out of nowhere, and started jumping into the canal to begin their swim leg. It was great entertainment.

    Next we wandered the Paris streets for a while and grabbed coffees and ice-cream. There are cafes and restaurants everywhere and around every corner another bakery or patisserie is revealed with delicious looking baked goods and cakes on display.

    While we were walking we came across a roadside stall selling all sorts of goods, but Tom spotted a beret. Since we arrived in Paris a few days ago it is the only thing that Tom has wanted to buy. While we were in Disneyland we were practically forcing him to consider buying a souvenir. But no, the only thing he wanted was a beret. We had searched Disneyland high and low without success, but here it finally was. And what a find! - it suits him so well. He spent the afternoon pretending to be a French artist. The only thing missing was a thin twirled moustache.

    We then headed to Luxembourg Parc to spend the afternoon. The park is the grounds of a former palace in the middle of the city. It is huge, with many activities to do and on such a beautiful day many Parisians had come to the park to enjoy the sunshine.

    Tom got to have a pony ride, and Belle sailed a model boat in the pond. It was all a lot of fun.

    After a lazy lie down on the only patch of grass in the park that you're allowed to step foot on, it was nearly time to head to the train station. But first we detoured to a creperie that served gluten-free buck wheat crepes so that Danielle could finally enjoy some famed French food.

    Tomorrow we will be back in the UK to continue our adventures, but we will have some great memories from our time here in Paris.    Les mer

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  • UK 2023
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    London

    3. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Today we left Sam and Steff, and have moved into our final accommodation for the trip. We have 6 nights at Nell Gwynn House in Chelsea.

    It turns out that Chelsea is quite an upmarket location, with lots of high end shops, and every second car parked on the street is a Mercedes, Porsche or similar.

    Following our time in Paris we wanted a slower day, so we opted for jumping on a Hop-on Hop-off bus tour of the key city highlights in an open aired double decker bus.

    The weather was quite mixed, it was windy and cool one minute, raining the next, and then 5 minutes later the sun was out and everyone was stripping back to t-shirt shirts.

    It was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. It allowed us to see the main parts of London and to get a better feel for how the city is laid out. A detour due to road works prevented us from seeing Buckingham Palace, but we will probably visit it later in the week so that was ok.

    Our accommodation has a kitchen so we were able to have some much needed home cooking for dinner. After so many meals eating out it was quite a relief.    Les mer

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  • UK 2023
    The building itself was spectacular.Up close and personal with a LionT-RexCheck out the size of this prehistoric bird.Whales are huge!!!A prehistoric mammal unquie to Australia

    Natural History Museum

    4. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    This morning, we visited the Natural History Museum where we saw dinosaur fossils and skeletons, and other fascinating animals and artefacts.

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  • UK 2023
    Danielle moved inside to safer groundPart of the indoor gardens

    Sky Garden

    4. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    How do you get a bird's eye view of London if you are unwilling to pay the extortionate prices for the London Eye?

    Book free tickets to the Sky Garden.

    The Sky Garden is a garden on the 35th-37th floor of a skyscraper in the cbd. It provides 360 degree views of the London skyline from a similar height to the Eye.

    Dani only lasted a minute or two on the open air roof terrace before retreating inside to admire the views a little further away from the edge.

    The views were great, but no doubt would be even better on a clear day. However we were able to watch a band of rain approaching, slowly reducing the visibility of our vantage point.

    We grabbed some afternoon tea, continuing to enjoy the views and the garden and then headed back down to ground level to continue our adventures.    Les mer

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  • UK 2023
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    Puttshack

    4. juli 2023, England ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Another day, another putt-putt golf adventure.

    I think we are doing a great job at keeping the UK mini golf industry alive and well.

    This time we visited Puttshack, located in the London CBD just a few minutes walk from the Sky Garden.

    As usual, fun was had by all.    Les mer

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  • UK 2023
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    Wildlife in St James ParkSheltering under a tree during a rain showerThe view up the Mall to Buckingham Palace

    King's Guard

    5. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Today we ventured towards Buckingham Palace for a view of the King's Guard.

    We didn't see the changing of the guard at the entrance to the palace as crowds were huge. However we had been pre warned of the crowds, so instead we went to Wellington Barracks just next door and watched the new Guards forming up and being inspected prior to their short march to the palace to conduct the changing of the guard ceremony.

    We arrived at the exact right time and had a front row view of the whole process.
    We saw the guards, the cavalry and the band. It was a great sight. By the time the inspection was complete and the guards were marching off to Buckingham Palace the crowds behind us were four deep.

    Afterwards we wandered through St James park, getting caught in a rain shower, and got up close to Buckingham Palace.    Les mer

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  • UK 2023

    West End Musical

    5. juli 2023, England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    It wouldn't be a true London experience without catching a show in London's famous West End.
    So after lunch, we headed to the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. A beautiful theatre which has been in use since 1812. I can just imagine Georgette Hyers characters patronising the theatre in Regency time.
    The show we saw was Frozen, the musical. It was magical. The sets, the musical score, the costumes, the special effects, the choreography, the whole thing awed and delighted.
    Tom got the fidgets about 40mins in, but the rest of us thoroughly enjoyed it.
    Sorry we weren't allowed to take photos so there aren't really many pictures ... but you can imagine. 😊
    Here's a link to the trailer which will give you an idea https://frozenthemusical.co.uk/faqs/    Les mer

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  • UK 2023

    British Museum

    6. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    This morning we took a trip to the British Museum.

    It would probably be a great place, if it wasn't for all those other pesky tourists who were visiting at the same time. So many people.

    Also not the best place to take little kids who have already been to too many museums on this trip.

    Lots of artefacts to see, but we rushed through fairly quickly.

    We can tick it off the list, but it will not be in our top ten favorite destinations on this trip.    Les mer

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  • UK 2023

    Hyde Park

    6. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    This afternoon, we strolled through Hyde Park, which was glorious. We hired a paddle boat and spent an hour paddling around the Serpentine with the ducks and swans. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. We all enjoyed it very much. Walking home, we came past the famous department store Harrods. We didn't go in... but even so, it was like stepping into another world. Doormen in three piece suits was opening the doors for customers, and the street was lined with luxurious cars (and I mean luxury where BMWs are the "cheap"cars). There were also numerous drivers patiently waiting for their patroness to finish her shopping. 🤪Les mer

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  • UK 2023

    Going Native

    7. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We've become very adept at catching public transport since arriving in London as we've been mostly getting around on the tube or by bus. I must admit as I watch the Londoners crowded onto the train going and about their daily business, I note how different our life in Canberra is. The smells, the squeal of the train as it screams along the tracks, the over whelming stuffiness, and at peak times the crushing crowds... well let's just say it's been an experience I won't forget. Not to mention the three bottles of hand sanitiser I've gone through. It always astounds me how the train roars into each station. I feel sure every time that is just going to keep passing through but then like magic it screeches to a stop just in time. My heart pounds and palms sweat every time...one slip, one shove and splat. You're a goner. Don't worry I always keep the kids well clear of the yellow line.Les mer

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  • UK 2023

    Portobello Market

    7. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Today, we walked in the footsteps 👣 of Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts as we meandered through the Portobello Rd Market in Notting Hill, where we each found a treasure (or two) to bring home with us. The children were also very excited to stumble upon Mr Grubbers shop, which is featured in the Paddington movies, which they've been watching a lot since we came to England.Les mer

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  • UK 2023
    1Tom's gateEntering in to see the Crown Jewels. No photos were allowed inside1The White Tower

    Tower of London

    7. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    This afternoon we visited what will likely be our last "old thing"on this trip, the Tower of London. The area has been the fortified heart of London since Roman times, but things really stepped up here in 1066 when William the Conqueror decided to show the Anglo Saxon Londoners that he was not to be messed with and so he built the White Tower which still stands in the centre of this site.

    It was an interesting visit, we got to see many suits of armor, ran into a beefeater or two, and saw the Crown Jewels.
    A good way to finish off our tour of historical monuments.    Les mer

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  • UK 2023
    The employees put on a show of the front of the shop

    Hamleys Toy Store

    8. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Today we paid a visit to Hamleys Toy Store, the most iconic toy shop in England with 5 (or maybe it was 7) storeys full of toys.

    Of course, we couldn't get out of there empty handed, so Tom now has a magic spinning disc that defies gravity, Annabelle has a pair of stunt planes and Dani even came away with something, with purple steaks in her hair.Les mer

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  • UK 2023
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    The Vaults

    8. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    In the middle of London, just around the corner from Waterloo station is an abandoned roadway underneath a bridge. It has been opened up for the city's graffiti artists to have free range over the walls and ceilings to paint whatever they like. It is a constantly changing kaleidoscope of colour.Les mer

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  • UK 2023
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    The pink unicorn

    8. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    After heading to Westfield to purchase an extra suitcase to fit all the extra bits and pieces we've collected on our journey, we decided we should complete the full London experience by taking a black cab back to the apartment.

    However, instead of a black cab, we got the pink unicorn. The driver was very friendly, and even let Tom and Annabelle into the driver's seat to have a go at navigating the London streets.    Les mer

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  • UK 2023

    Its all the little things

    9. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    It's our last day in UK and as I look back on the trip there are so many little details about the culture and country that we don't want to forget... here's a few things we've observed on our travels.
    1. The English don't like early starts. Nothing gets going before 10am really
    2. When you order tea in England they usually have a milk station so you can add your own milk after the tea is stepped to your liking...ah only the English really understand a good tea
    3. In France when you order black tea is always earl grey. .. no English Breakfast in sight
    4. Everyone wears sensible waking shoes to get around town no matter their outfit (sundress, corporate apparel)
    5. Ladies carry their bags in the crook of their arm
    6. You won't find pies in bakeries, just French pastries and baguettes
    7. Flatwhites are always tiny
    8. All the soft drinks have artificial sweetener in them (much to Simon's horror)
    9. The foot paths are all tiled (paved or. cobblestone) and cobblestone is hard to walk on
    10. Everything is matching and tiny
    11. There are no flyscreens on windows or doors
    12. It's rare for cafes or restaurants to label GF items on their menus. You always have to ask about dietary requirements
    I'm sure there is more, but that will do for now...    Les mer

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  • UK 2023
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    River Thames

    9. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    What do you do on your last day in the country when the forecast is rain all day....

    Buy tickets for an open-top cruise on the River Thames of course.

    We got lucky, the forecast rain never showed and we had a great time on our 1 hour cruise to Greenwich.

    We boarded the boat, to Tom's delight it named the Thomas Dogget, and we had a running commentary for the whole cruise, pointing out all the sights on the trips we went past. The highlight was probably sailing under the Tower Bridge.    Les mer

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  • UK 2023
    Model of the Cutty Sark
    Bail of wool from Sydney loaded on the Cutty SarkBelle straddling the Meridian LineTom with his head in the east and body in the westSimon standing on the Meridian line

    Greenwich

    9. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    After disembarking from the Thomas Dugget (refer previous post), we spent the day exploring England's nautical history. First, we boarded the Cutty Sark, a former merchant ship that transported tea from China and wool from Australia to England. Next we headed up the hill to the Royal Observatory, where we learned about how the British learned to chart the stars and measure world time from a single reference point (the Meridian Line), both important navigational aids for sailors crossing the seas. We straddled the Meridian Line, standing with a foot in both the East and Western Hemisphere. All very interesting. For those who are Bridgeton fans, you may recall the Bridgeton clan and one Duke taking a very similar trip, where Daphne states that she's ".... not even certain what this meridian here at Greenwich is.” To which the Duke explains “It’s the point from which all longitude is measured. It used to be that sailors and navigators measured longitudinal distance from their point of departure, but in the last century, the astronomer royal decided to make Greenwich the starting point.” Daphne raised her brows. “That seems rather self-important of us, don’t you think, positioning ourselves at the center of the world?” “Actually, it’s quite convenient to have a universal reference point when one is attempting to navigate the high seas.”Les mer

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  • UK 2023
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    Homeward bound

    9. juli 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    After a month in the UK, we are headed home. After finally clearing security... (we nearly got wisked off by boarder patrol due to some contraband orange and apple juice 🤪) we went hunting for some dinner. I didn't hold high hopes, but we got lucky and found a restaurant that catered to all our dietary needs/preferences. So we've all had a good feed (probably our last until we reach home) - hooray! And now we are parked in the airport departure lounge, awaiting our first flight.Les mer

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  • Reisens slutt
    12. juli 2023
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