Thursday 29th September London still

A magnificient day at least 30 degrees today and as this was not expected we dp not necessarily have the correct clothes for this weather and it nearly being winter the shops do not have much to buy either.

Last night was great fun at a restaurant called Babylon in Kensington with Adam (30 year old nephew). Babylon is owned by Richard Branston and is this beautiful restaurant with a terrace that looks over London and then these unbelievable gardens that goe on forever that we walked around after dinner - there were even pink Flamingos it was something very unexpected in London.

Today we were not early starters again but managed to fit in aheap of stuff. We started at Abbey Road recording studios and naturally took our photos walking across the famous pedestrian crossing. Then back on the big red bus and to Leicester Square to buy our half proce tickets to Legally Blonde the musical tonight (it was great). From their we went to to Nelsons Column in Trafalgar Square and saw the countdown clock to the London Olympics and a little sit by the fountains.

Off to Westminster Abbey and I cannot believe that in all the times I have been to London I have never been inside - it has to be one of the most beautiful chirches I have ever seen. Tombs of people like, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, All the Kings and Queens naturally, Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton and that is just a few.

On the Tibe then and back to the hotel for a quick change and off in a cab to Covent Garden for dinner (we have to go back there in the next couple of days and then the Theatre. Just back now at the hotel after catching another big red bus.

A fun day and I hope I can load the pics otherwise they will be on Facebook

Wednesday 28th Sept - London

About to hit the streets of London - Hotel is virtually on Oxford Street. Doing some sights today and then out to dinner with my nephew Adam - excitied to see him

Last Day in Gotehnburg - Tuesday 27th Sept

Beautiful Day around 24 degrees and we just walked around the city all day. Shopped a bit getting stuff for Sophies time here and shop assistants telling us just HOW COLD it is in December and Jan at least minus 20 degrees.

December is usually icey and in late December and in January LOTS of snow. So we got a few items to keep my little girl warm.

Left this lovely city at around 4pm to catch flight to London. Arrived in London wit no dramas caught to train t Paddington then a London cab over to Thistle Marble Arch Hotel about 10pm by the time we got here. Tired we had soemthing to eat and then watchd some TV and off to bed.

Day One in Gothenburg

Gotenburg (Goteborg) is a really lovely city  I could be very appy if Sophie was near here on exchange.

A little bit of a sleep in obn our first morning still recovering from that 30 hours travelling and then we headed off for a walk to the Old Town - Haga - beautiful cobblestone streets and antique shops and of course a little bit of fashion!! We had lunch there before launching ourselves on the public transport system and heading bnack into Centrum (Town Centre). A little stop at the hotel to drop off some packages and then back out to do The Padin - a boat tour tof the Canal/River which in fact was the old moat around the city infront of what was a 7 metre high wall. Check out the photo's of some of th bridges we went under before heading out int the Harbour to see Gothenburg from the sea. At one stage you have to get out of your seat and sit on the floor of the boat so as to literally not lose your head going under the bridges - I have never done a tour liekr this before.

Then some more shopping in Nordstans - Swedens largest shopping complex where the different sections actually have street names - it was extremly large - here we got Sophie's SIM card etc for when she comes back and so she i all organised for communication - very important to me!

Dinner was a recommendation from this groovy hotel we are staying in - that is in a perfect location - and it was to Fiskekrogen - it was very flash and very lovely - at one stage we did wonder while we were tucking into lobster/prawns/mussels/oysters/an equivalent of yabbie/salmon and caviar how Robert and Ken were enjoying their bowls of rice - but that thought only stayed with us for a minute or 30 seconds.

Today we leave for London but not until we help the European economy just a little more

Our Hotel in Gothenburg - video

Day One photos in Stockholm and Train Trip to Uppsala plus a walk around Gamla Stan - Old Town Stockholm

Sunday 25th sept

Great sleep in nice bed up early today off to breakfast then to Stockholm for a walk around before catching the train to Uppsala - we are excited

Stockholm

We are here around 30 hours since we left Melbourne and we are weary. Swedish lesson tomorrow in Uppsala

London Heathrow Sat 24th

Just landed and transferring to flight to Stockholm. Nice greeting in the Uk taken off for a private search cause the wire in bra and hip went off. Security is pretty good here oh and by the way just a external pat down. Looking forward to shower and bed in Stockholm.

Saturday 7.15 Malaysia

First leg of journey over now we have a 3 hour lay over before we are off to our next stopover in London. Got about 6 hours sleep and Malaysian airlines service was excellent.Foot massage may be the go here

So far Sophie is great company ha ha

On way to airport

We are excited

Countdown to Trip

Actually getting quite excited about Sophie and my trip. Really looking forward to spending this time with Soph overseas. Only two sleeps to go.

Only one week until Mother Daughter Trip - Looking forward to it

Robert is in Kathmandu - house is being completly cleaned up and rubbish got rid of. Looking forward to our trip to Sweden (Stockholm and Goteborg with a quick morning in Uppsala for a swedish lesson for Soph) and then London for 4 days where we catch up with Adam, over Paris by Eurostar for 4 days and there we  see Sandra and Clem, Biddy and Kids and Erika is coming down from Switzerland.

Exciting!