Epsom & London - July

Saturday night at Mike & Ellas BBQ and here we are with Corinne, Ian and Helen

Monday we had breakfast with Corinne, after a lovely Sunday evening, before sending her away so we could head to Epsom. Despite it being a Monday morning and the M25 being involved it was a good journey. We arrived to be met by Linda from over the road who showed us in, checked we were ok with the alarm and the watering and was generally lovely. Straight off to Lidl and we were set for a few days. We've stayed here before, when Helen and Richard had a cat, Frodo, on her last legs when we cared for her. I probably commented then how weird it is to be in a house where there are pictures of you, as a bridesmaid, from when Sarah married John.

Martina & Bill were there too along with a dog they were looking after

Tuesday we went to Kew Gardens. Brian had never been, so it was on his list. I remember the giant lily pads from going as a child, perhaps 50 years ago. I also went regularly with a university boyfriend when he/we worked on a farm in Swanley, Kent. My main memory from then is the Princess of Wales Conservatory, opened by Princess Diana in 1987 right in the middle of my University time. These two houses were still as I remember them, as was the Palm House. Glad we went when we did as that is about to close for refurbishment. The weather was kind to us, not too warm and only wet when we had popped in for lunch. The glass houses were the main attraction for me as much of the rest of the gardens were trees with rather than all being formal laid out gardens.

There's Mike in the yellow top (haven't got a photo of Ella) dancing to YMCA next to Corinne with the shield on (something to do with the theme of the evening: Neon. Mike and Ella have a perfect party house, they throw many parties. This is the dance hall, he has flashing disco lights and a wall projector displaying pop videos to the music

Wednesday, a train into Waterloo from where we walked past the London Eye, over the Golden Jubilee Bridge, in to Covent Garden, via Trafalgar Square. A brunch stop here before carrying on to Tottenham Court Road and Outernet, the British Museum and a few minutes sit down in Russel Square park. From here to the Shaftesbury Theatre where we had tickets for Just for One Day, a musical based on the events of Band Aid and Live Aid 40 years ago. Thoroughly enjoyable, a little 'worthy' but made you laugh, made you cry, made you sing along. What more do you want from a musical? Came out buzzing, which is always a good sign before heading back south towards China Town. So many places to choose from. I think we made a good choice. Many reviews for many places complain about length of wait, not us, we had barely nibbled a prawn cracker before the meal was with us. Tube back to Waterloo, we'll we'd bought that sort of ticket so rude not to, and the train back to Epsom. We'd expected to get an Uber back from here but walking just seemed to be easier, after a full day out.

Down in Epsom at Helen and Richards house (see their photo at the top of the last blog). They are away in Africa at the moment and offered us their house while they are away. With top London sights a train or car drive away, what's not to like. Helen and Richard are Sarah's mum and dad, Jackie's long time friend and wife of John in the village, who died of cancer just over four years ago. It's very nice of them to offer use of their house, they are the nicest of people 

Thursday we thought we'd have a relaxing day, the forecast wasn't very good and we had walked almost 40,000 steps over the previous 2 days. We did have a more relaxed start to the day, but decided to take a walk over the Epsom Downs from the viewpoint, across the racecourse, to the Regiment of Trees, a memorial garden to soldiers from the First World War and the inspection of troops by Lord Kitchener. Helen said she has planted two trees for two of her Great Uncles. We wonder if one of them was Uncle Nobby, not someone we know, but a relation of Helen's whose war grave we found for her in Kanchanaburi in Thailand 13 years ago after he died in the war in the Pacific. We came back, later than planned after a long chat with an old guy on his daily 5 mile walk, to the Rubbing House. This is a pub, right on the racecourse where we had a well deserved pint and a light lunch. Another 11,000 steps, not such a rest day then!

Day 1 (Tuesday) we drove to Kew Gardens. I'd never been but always wanted to, Jackie's been many times in the past. For me it was the link to the age of exploration and Sir Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society for 41 years. He, among other things accompanied Captain James Cook on his first great voyage visiting Brazil, Tahiti, New Zealand and Eastern Australia, returning with many plants, specimens and sketches, making Kew Gardens the worlds leading botanical garden. We followed their trip through NZ and Australia on our trip 12 years ago, visiting many of their landing sites

Friday had to be Hampton Court Palace, the last of Brian's list, on the hottest day. There were more school trips, on the last day of term, than I would have expected. We walked around the gardens, and the famous maze, before going into the Palace. We did manage to avoid most of the kids this way, and probably the worst of the heat. An amazing place, the Palace is beautiful, both inside with the paintings and tapestries and outside with the building and gardens. Another full day out before returning for fizz Friday.

Visiting the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew, a place familiar to Jackie

Saturday we could have stayed, but thought we'd come back although it has taken longer than the journey down we were prepared for that. Proper rain meant no watering before we left, though strangely although we know it's rained at home too, the poor little black elder under the hawthorn tree is still looking limp and dehydrated. I know how it feels, we've come home for a rest!

Jackie wanted to visit the giant waterlily house, a place she remembered visiting many times as a child. I think I'm right in saying there are three types of rare lily's there, one of which was found some years ago through sheer perseverance from a rumour and long jungle treks to track it down

The Victorian palm house. It was open and we were able to visit the mature, huge tropical palms inside, but its shortly to be closed for four years for refurbishment. They want to make it 'carbon positive' as well as preserving the beautiful Victorian architecture

The treetop walk, a nice circular walk giving splendid views over the gardens and a good view from above

Kew Palace, retreat for George III and other monarchs. He was the one who went mad, as well as being instrumental in losing the America colonies, and he used this as a retreat during his worst periods

Wednesday and a train trip to Waterloo station in central London

Iconic view from Jubilee bridge over the Thames. London Eye on the left, Westminster bridge behind Jackie and the houses of parliament and Big Ben clock tower on the right

Trafalgar Square with Nelson on top of his column and four lions to guard him, with Big Ben clock tower in the distance

Inside the British Museum

And a selfie of the museum from outside, a beautiful building as well as an interesting museum

Inside the Shaftesbury Theatre waiting for our musical to start

What a great show it was, fabulous musicians, great acting and, of course, we knew all the music!

Chinatown for dinner. Crystal, we needed you to help us order, although I think we did pretty well, it was de
licious!

On the long down escalator to catch the tube at Tottenham Court Road station

And finally the train back to Epson from the impressive old Waterloo station

Thursday was our walk to the Regiment of Trees, starting at the Epsom Downs viewpoint. You can't really see it in this photo, but there were amazing views over London, including the arch over Wembley Stadium

Our six mile walk took us down and through Epsom racecourse, crossing the racetrack

And then out towards the Regiment of Trees first World War memorial

On the way posters told us about the areas importance as a training ground for troops in the first world war, before going to the front in Flanders in France. This view is of a camp for 8000 new recruits that was spread across this land during the 1914 to 18 war which occupied all these fields and Epsom racecourse

Lots of interesting information, including this one where a lookout post was made of a replica of a dead tree on the battlefield to allow troops to spy on enemy positions. The mock up was made, the dead tree sawm down overnight and replaced with the model with look out inside

The Regiment of Trees a memorial of many stone carved troops, commemorating the inspection of the troops by Lord Kitchener in January 1915. The men were raised at 04:30am and stood in this field to attention waiting for his arrival in freezing conditions. Lord Kitchener eventually arrived at 10:30 after one man had died from hypothermia with a number of others fainting and spending many hours in hospital 

The tree monument is a place for reflection to remember those who gave their lives. The branches are inscribed with poignant messages

Back across Epsom racecourse to the Rubbing House pub, the only pub in the country located inside a racecourse

Excellent beer and lunch while we enjoyed the afternoon sun. Googling when the next racing is on at Epsom we found that it was today, gates open at 4:30pm, followed by a concert by an Abba tribute band in the evening. It was 3:15pm then, better get a move on to avoid being locked in the pub inside the racecourse! That's why we could hear Abba music nearby (they were rehearsing) and the reason outside broadcast vans were parked nearby

Next day (Friday) was our visit to Hampton Court Palace, home to King Henry VIII and William III (William of Orange). It's a place I've wanted to go to since I was in Junior school and did a project on London and the Palace. The world famous maze, the oldest in the world, constructed in 1700 captured my imagination as a child. I've always wanted to do it, so of course we had to, along with thirty or so schoolchildren running through it screaming. It's only taken me about 60 years to fulfill this ambition!

This is in the centre of the maze, just to show we got there. And we found our way out again without using the emergency escape door!

The tiltyard where Henry VIII would joust on horseback

The fabulous palace reflected in the lake with the Diana fountain. The palace is huge with sections devoted to the Indian army stationed there in the first world war, the Tudors and the Georgians. It was Queen Victoria who opened the palace to the public after she made Buckingham Palace in central London the seat of monarchy

Its easy to get lost in here. We walked miles, many of it twice to try to see everything

The royal chapel. It didn't say, but I assume this must have been catholic originally but converted to protestant after Henry VIII's conversion to protestantism

Beautifully decorated rooms

One of William III's ante room with over 2000 pieces of arms on display, intended to demonstrate to any visiting dignitaries the power of the crown

The Privy Garden as laid out by William III and viewed from the best position here from one of his rooms. Only distinguished guests would have got this view

Another fabulous side garden with the banqueting hall beyond

This is part of the Great Vine (it's impossible to get it all in). It is the largest grape vine in the world, planted in 1768 for King George III by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, who was Chief Gardener at the palace at the time

The West Gate is the normal entrance, but it was undergoing some renovation work so we had to use another entrance/exit

We've had a lovely week staying in Epsom for the week, our thanks to Helen and Richard for the use of their house, we look forward to catching up with them when they are back