Little Green Street and Christmas lights

I had read about 500 places to see before they vanish and headed we jumped on a bus out to find Little Green St Kentish Town the houses were built in the 1780's. http://www.littlegreenstreet.com/

they are trying to save if from being demolished, it was a cute little street after that we headed off to Spitafields taking the bus to Liverpool St Station to see Spitafields Church built 1715 to 1729.

We ran across a man having a "Street sale" he had items on a blanket on the side walk and everything was one pound I found hat thermal gloves and a scarf so I was ready for New Years Eve and Day. London was getting very cold, I later heard the coldest start to winter in 30 years.

 
 

Emigrant Statue

We then headed out to Golders Green so Laurie could show me the B & B she stays at there and also walk through a bit of Hampstead Heath and then caught the bus back to St John's Wood and then we headed over to Abbey Rd Studios which was nicely decorated for Christmas and took the obligatory photos because it was my nephew birthday I gave him a call

Abbey Rd at Christmas

and a stop by a very famous house

 We then took the bus back to Oxford Street to see the lights and then Regent Street and Hamleys toy store and looked around there a bit it was quite enjoyable and finally Carnaby Street the Giant Snowmen

Visiting James

Traditional pose on the Bridge St James Park

Laurie finally arrived early on Friday morning, she was exhausted but when she saw the blue skies and sunshine she decided she had to go out a bit. We first went to Trafalgar Square  as she was dying to see the Christmas tree. Seeing as how I hadn’t been there in about 12 hours I went along. It was still awesome to see.

After that we headed off to St James Park my fave Park in the whole world and one of Laurie’s too. We headed off but not before I shot this photo.


It was a beautiful day for the park there were ducks one of the things I love best about the St James Park is seeing the different ducks and the Pelicans I can never get enough of them this one was in of obviously this one was in a Christmas mood too.

They seemed tame enough to pet for the most part though one person got a scare as the one squawked when he touched it. I was careful not to pet that one but no way was I going to miss my chance to pet one.

Big Ben from Trafalgar Square

Even the Pelicans wear Christmas hats

Notice we are wearing the same hat

 After that Laurie headed back to the Hovel and I continued on to the Palace ran *literally *across the Guards marching away in their winter finest. I then decided to walk over to Buckingham Palace I was excited to see they had a Christmas tree and had another tree to add to my collection.

Palace Christmas Tree

After visiting the palace I started heading towards Westminster through the other end of the park my Pelicans from earlier had moved. Then I crossed Westminster Bridge and along passing the Eye and came across the area I had discovered I on my last visit where there were people posing as statues I liked taking photos of them and also happily made a donation to their little buckets it was fun just to watch others and then get in a pose or two myself.

Ran into Elvis

what the heck

I crossed the Waterloo Bridge

   

I saw the sign for Somerset House and I wanted see the ice-skating rink there I was really surprised when I saw the tree covered with Ice-skates that was totally awesome to look at. After that I had Fish and Chips a pub and walked by Covent Garden and a man was playing guitar and singing he had a great voice I sat and listened to him for 45 mins and gladly dropped some money into his case then headed back to the Hovel.

ice skates Christmas tree

gazed at St Paul, *my fave church

My day with Charles



Christmas Tree Trafalgar Square

I forgot my alarm clock and no way to tell when to get up so when I came too at quarter to 8 threw on my clothes and ran down for Breakfast. Then decided to shower barely any water pressure and cold as could be. The shower room (shared) was small and you had to hang everything thing on one little hook whatever you were wearing and also a towel wasn't easy not getting things wet. I had planed on heading out at 10 as I was going to the Charles Dickens Christmas Day walk at 2 pm but realized I was too tired. So I went laid on the bed fully dressed and went to sleep until 11.30.

Then I got up to make my way to Trafalgar Square (no tubes or buses run on Christmas Day) it was just over 2 miles away but I decided to explore on the way. I came across Lincoln's Inn Fields a cute little park. There was a family walking their children. The little boy was so cute he was dressed in a top coat and hat that was very Oliver like. I wanted to take his photo but 
resisted. He was pulling an acorn off a little tree so  I told him he really should not be doing that.   I asked him how his Christmas was he said it was wonderful I got everything I wanted and my mum had chocolates. I said so what did you get he said "I forget".

I discovered there was a toilet in the park that I so needed (note very few public toilets in London I think there should be a walking tours called Toilets of London) to use but it was padlocked I guess you don't pee on Christmas day. There was also an interesting Fountain, maybe that's where you pee.

I arrived at Trafalgar Square early so went into St Martins in the Field always a fave of mine and then came out and paid for my walk. I was in the first group I think there were 4 groups in the end we set out earlier. The guide I had was fantastic I was glad I was early and got the best one, I did a total of 4 walks while I was in London they are great

http://www.walks.com/

Seven Dials

We saw places Dickens lived and the guide had so many stories, interesting to know that he was a great walker and his idea of a brisk walk before dinner was 5-6 miles, and see the door knocker that Scrooge saw in a Christmas Carol. London is full of so many interesting little alleyways and you never know what you will see and another great thing about taking the various walks is seeing things like this off the beaten track.

  

After the walk I decided to look some place for dinner as hadn't had a bite to eat since breakfast *love that about London too busy looking around to think of food. I finally settles on a little Italian Restaurant and had some cannolis. My sister in law Sue called me after that to wish me a Merry Christmas and I talked to my niece and nephew and while I was talking to Kelsey I said oh an angel looking down a street as I was talking. I am sure Kelsey was thinking sure Aunt Pat sure but I did and there were two of them up in the sky. I took this photo as proof. As I headed back to the hovel which was over 2 miles away lucky some of my mind was still working and I was able to find my way back it was a nice walk. Note the little cone shape thing near the top they used this to extinguish the flame that lite the night.

Lovely door knob

extinguish the flame

London Christmas 2008 Dream Come True

Finally I decided to do one of my dream trips and that was London for Christmas. I have made numerous trips to London over the years. Dec 23rd the trip, the weather was rainy icy first our plane had to go over to see if it needed to be de-iced I felt like this little toy way traveling over watched the de-icer work and we were told nope we dint need de-icing. We drove back to the run way we were told we were #2 for take off after sitting a bit we were told now it was icy rain it was mandatory to be de-iced. We "drove" back and then they told us it was it was rainy/icy too heavy so we would not be able to take off unless it warmed up a bit The de-icing was done and then we were told light icy rain so we could take off. PHEW finally after 90 min delay. Arrived London on 1 hour late always wonder do they cut out part of the skies.

After checking into the Hovel as we soon named it (pathetic b and b) I set off in search of father Christmas at Selfridges just missed him there and a woman working there told me that the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland was near Notting Hill Gate. I took the tube there started walking saw the Ferris Wheel in the distance ran into a woman and she told me it was about 20 mins away after walking for about 25 mins and it was getting no closer I asked someone else and they said about 20 more mins, by then the police were clearing the Park as it was almost dark and I am wondering why they were doing that with the Winter Festival going on? After about an hour I finally reached the Festival and it was near Hyde Park tube stop, I realized if I had been more with it I would have realized the other place was wrong (but with working all day the day before and flying all night with little sleep) I like to call that going to London on my lunch hour.

I started searching for Father Christmas and his Grotto, I finally found it but guess what he was gone. Despite the web page saying he'd be there till 6 pm he was only there until 4.30 as the man pointed out to me see the sign 4.30 on Christmas Eve well if your not in the Park how would you know. One woman had called that very day and was told 6 pm and felt bad for the children who thought they were seeing Santa on Christmas Eve. I looked around decided to make the best of it; I later found out Santa was there till 5 and at that time I was wandering the grounds looking for him. So I posed with his stand in.

I looked around the Wonderland and it was full of people enjoying Christmas Eve and it was nice to be around people having a good time. I had a German sausage with garlic on a roll YUMMY.

After a bit headed for Trafalger Square as I was dying to see the Christmas tree it was wonderful. I found a good spot and leant on a fountain and listened to Christmas is All Around (from Love Actually the movie that made me want to have Christmas in London more than ever) on my MP3 player singing along. Then Wonderful Christmas Time (go PAUL) twice and I even danced around a bit. It was wonderful and I felt so good.

I then took the tube back to the Hovel but not before listening to some Buskers one of them made my day as he was singing Fairytale of New York I had just discovered and fell  in love with this song a few months ago.

Trafalgar Square Tree

Santa Grotto Hyde Park

Hyde Park Entrance

Not the Wheel yes sir
even the house of Hanover had the wheel

My little Koala Hugh

Oxford Street Lights