The next chapter
We made it! Tomorrow is the last day here in temp housing. This is the 3rd time we’ve done the ‘ corporate housing’ thing and it never gets any easier. We find it’s the same each time- exciting and fun at first, like being on vacation, then we fall into a rhythm and it is fine but not exciting and then in the final week or two we’ve all had enough and find ourselves longing for our own digs and our own stuff.
Today we’re packing up in preparation for Monday when we’ll take whatever isn’t going with us to Wales over to the new house and let the kids finally see it. We’re hoping to be heading off to Wales around noon on the 22nd. We need to make everything that is going to the house fit in one trip and then somehow make everything that’s going to Wales fit in our new car with us along with all of us which is no easy task. Yes, you read that right…we did get a car! Dave found an awesome Toyota Previa on Ebay and went and picked it up last weekend. It cost just over what we would have spent for a rental for our week in Wales and now we’ve got wheels to get us to France and to do some shopping for large items that we need to replace like a TV.
The new car! Not a good shot because I tried to get it at night in the pouring rain when the kids were getting in to go to the movies, but there it is.
Terran out for the first ride in the new van.
Jess out for a ride ( also this seems to be the last pre-haircut shot of him!)
We took the new van for a spin last Saturday down to Streatham to the cinema. We all went to see Inkheart and drove the kids by the new house and around our new neighbourhood since they hadn’t see in. Seeing the house made them even more eager to be able to go inside and check it out!
We’ve had a a lot of fun down here in the heart of the city and seen some fabulous sites. We managed to take in a few attractions and museums and see a few cool things.
Some highlights
- The V&A Museum
- The Science Museum
- The Natural History Museum
- A walk along the Mall and up to Buckingham Palace
- Winterwonderland in Hyde Park as well as feeding birds and squirrels there.
- St. James Park
- Trafalgar Square
- We got to see the London Eye, Madam Toussaud’s and a bunch of other stuff but haven’t fully experienced those yet. They are still on the to-do list!
Here’s a massive photo recap of our time in Westminster.
Fun in Trafalgar Square
A rare shot of Mr Aidan looking happy about this whole adventure. A pic from one of the late night parties he and Terran have been having lately.
Sir Havelock in Trafalgar Square...not having a good day 
Kids hanging out on one of the Lions in Trafalgar Square. There are so many people waiting to have their pics taken here that you have to queue up.
The Nativity Scene in the Square...who knew Uncle Jay was a shepherd?
The statue of Admiral Nelson as seen from below
The full view of Admiral Nelson
Our first glimpse of the Palace Guards on our walk along the Mall on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.
Palace Gates
The Canada gate at Buckingham Palace
Some of the kids walking around in front of Buckingham Palace
This shot pretty much sums up Aidan's feelings about " another day walking around looking at old buildings" Note all our shadows, that's us all standing around waiting for Aidan to cheer up and come get hot cocoa with us.
Terran was having a much better time than Aidan
Playing in St. James Park
Taija riding a snail in St. James Park...not the fastest way to travel
Aidan captured this action shot of the zillions of pigeons in the "bird feeding area" in St. James Park
Taija got this beautiful shot of Big Ben as we walked up the street
Dave got this great shot of the London Eye from the bridge in St. James park while the kids were checking out the waterfowl
Another great shot by Aidan
Another look at the London Eye from across the Thames. More of Taija's good camera work
Jesse walking the busy streets of London, totally in his element
The kids checking out the War Memorial at Victoria Embankment just before we headed home for the day. Dave and Aidan made Sunday Roast
Taija goofing around at the War Memorial...such a great shot!
We had an awesome Sunday afternoon strolling around the city. We started at Trafalgar Square and made our way up the Mall which is closed to traffic on Sundays and then to Buckingham Palace. Aidan had had enough of ‘boring stuff’ so we walked to St. James Park where we found a nice little playground and a place to get some hot cocoa and Americanos for Dave and I. We strolled with our bevvies up through the park and eventually made our way to Big Ben at the Palace of Westminster and then on to Victoria Embankment for a quick look the Thames before heading home on the Tube for our Sunday Roast dinner made by Dave and his eager sous chef Aidan and to curl up and watch Star Wars together. It was a great day and I think even Aidan managed to have at least a little fun. ( though he’d deny it if you asked him)
In an attempt to fill our days here at the flats Jesse and I keep dragging the kids out to “boring museums full of old stuff” We visited the Science Museum, The Natural History Museum and the V&A ( Victoria and Albert). I discovered that the littles enjoy it slightly more if they can take pictures so we have lots of photos from our museum visits. Unfortunately our old camera died with photos from the first two museums on it so we’ve only got pics from the V&A to share.
A carving of the initials V and A in the railing
Taija's favourite dress from the exhibit
Taija actually enjoyed this museum as it houses an exhibit of the history of fashion and she is all about fashion these days! She had a great time running around snapping photos of all the different dresses and shoes. I’ve promised to take her back without her brothers so she can sit and sketch all the pieces while I sip an Americano and read a magazine. That sounds like a perfect day!
A view of the V&A from the back garden
A HUGE piece of Chihuly glass hanging in the main foyer which was so cool to see here after just leaving the Tacoma area.
a beautiful and ornately carved archway that was in a big room that looked like it was full of a bunch of stuff getting ready for a new exhibit.
A very old chair made of entirely of antlers except for the seat. The kids were fascinated byt this one!
Aidan took this cool pic of the gorgeous tiled floor
We are all so excited for Monday to come so that we can see the house and get to Wales. Just this morning Dave and I were lying in bed and we both said that it just doesn’t feel like Christmas at all. It feels like we’re moving and it feels like we’re going on holiday but even all the wrapped gifts I just packed up aren’t helping me feel Christmasy at all. The warm temps and lack of snow aren’t doing much to help. It will be lovely to get to the cottage and get a tree and go holiday food shopping and then just hunker down in our cozy Welsh cottage by the fire for some christmas cheer! Life is just so damned good! peace all
Tags: Buckingham Palace, Museums, sightseeng, Thames, trafalgar square, V&A, Wales
