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My parents came to visit this weekend for my pre-birthday weekend - usually I go to Cardiff but they decided to come here this weekend. They arrived in pretty good timing, considering that the main road to our place was closed off due to a major crime incident - just typical timing, does nothing to allay mum's fears about London!
We headed into London for the first weekend of the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. As the weather was good and it still fairly early, decided to first go up Wellington Arch. Somewhere I walk under nearly every day but have never been into!
the Winter wonderland was surprisingly busy for the first weekend. As mum and dad couldn't afford to go to Germany for their annual Christmas Market fix, mum was delighted by our London equivalent! We pretty much went from one booze stall to the next, between us working our way through blueberry wine, mulled wine, eggnog, grog and a rather gorgeous German Mead - not a company I've heard of before but they make it themselves and it was probably the nicest, most honey-tasting mead I've ever sampled! I will be back to purchase bottles of this! :-)
Slightly tipsy, mum talked me into going on the ghost train. Me being a big wuss, I don't usually go on these, however it wasn't actually scary at all - in fact was rather entertaining, hearing mum scream into Rob's ear for the entirity of the ride!
Found a table in the main bar area and grabbed some food (and more mulled wine) and rested until it was time to walk to the Albert Hall.
My parents' first visit to the Albert Hall, so this was quite an occasion for them, even if we were seated right up in the gods. the Classical Spectacular was good fun, Classical "greatest hits", accompanied by lasers, balloons, soldiers, can-can girls, fireworks and cannons.
Ah yes, the cannons. I guessed we would be sat near one, little did I realise that I'd be sitting directly under it! cue lots of screaming during the 1812 Overture (both me and mum!) and me getting covered from head to foot in grey ash! More amusing to me than anything else, however you would think they'd warn people purchasing those seats!
Sunday, we were hoping for a repeat of the unseasonal glorious weather, so planned to go to Richmond for the day. It was sunny in West Hampstead, where we changed for the Overground but by the time we reached Richmond, there was a thick fog!
We had a stroll through the shopping area and then headed to the waterfront, where I showed my parents where the Thames should be ;-) The fog was so thick that you couldn't even see the bridge.
Planned to go for lunch at our usual stop, the White Cross, on the waterfront. However, as nobody was sitting outside, it was very crowded indoors and my parents didn't like it, ending up instead at the Watermans Arms round the corner. I'd always avoided this pub before as it looked a bit dingy, however it was a rather pleasant no-nonsense pub. Run by a couple of Thai ladies, it had an interesting thai menu in addition to traditional fare and at a fraction of the price of that of the White Cross!
somehow the time vanished and soon we needed to head back. Stopping firstly, of course, at our usual icecream stall (despite the cold weather!) and a little food market tucked away between the waterfront and high street.
The parents decided to head back around 5ish, in case of more fog on the roads, and we had a quiet evening at home. Me watching Grease, whilst trimming beetle wings and Rob (who can't stand musicals!) decided to tidy his wardrobe and plan his Danse Macabre outfit - only two weeks to go, so it was about time!
We headed into London for the first weekend of the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. As the weather was good and it still fairly early, decided to first go up Wellington Arch. Somewhere I walk under nearly every day but have never been into!
the Winter wonderland was surprisingly busy for the first weekend. As mum and dad couldn't afford to go to Germany for their annual Christmas Market fix, mum was delighted by our London equivalent! We pretty much went from one booze stall to the next, between us working our way through blueberry wine, mulled wine, eggnog, grog and a rather gorgeous German Mead - not a company I've heard of before but they make it themselves and it was probably the nicest, most honey-tasting mead I've ever sampled! I will be back to purchase bottles of this! :-)
Slightly tipsy, mum talked me into going on the ghost train. Me being a big wuss, I don't usually go on these, however it wasn't actually scary at all - in fact was rather entertaining, hearing mum scream into Rob's ear for the entirity of the ride!
Found a table in the main bar area and grabbed some food (and more mulled wine) and rested until it was time to walk to the Albert Hall.
My parents' first visit to the Albert Hall, so this was quite an occasion for them, even if we were seated right up in the gods. the Classical Spectacular was good fun, Classical "greatest hits", accompanied by lasers, balloons, soldiers, can-can girls, fireworks and cannons.
Ah yes, the cannons. I guessed we would be sat near one, little did I realise that I'd be sitting directly under it! cue lots of screaming during the 1812 Overture (both me and mum!) and me getting covered from head to foot in grey ash! More amusing to me than anything else, however you would think they'd warn people purchasing those seats!
Sunday, we were hoping for a repeat of the unseasonal glorious weather, so planned to go to Richmond for the day. It was sunny in West Hampstead, where we changed for the Overground but by the time we reached Richmond, there was a thick fog!
We had a stroll through the shopping area and then headed to the waterfront, where I showed my parents where the Thames should be ;-) The fog was so thick that you couldn't even see the bridge.
Planned to go for lunch at our usual stop, the White Cross, on the waterfront. However, as nobody was sitting outside, it was very crowded indoors and my parents didn't like it, ending up instead at the Watermans Arms round the corner. I'd always avoided this pub before as it looked a bit dingy, however it was a rather pleasant no-nonsense pub. Run by a couple of Thai ladies, it had an interesting thai menu in addition to traditional fare and at a fraction of the price of that of the White Cross!
somehow the time vanished and soon we needed to head back. Stopping firstly, of course, at our usual icecream stall (despite the cold weather!) and a little food market tucked away between the waterfront and high street.
The parents decided to head back around 5ish, in case of more fog on the roads, and we had a quiet evening at home. Me watching Grease, whilst trimming beetle wings and Rob (who can't stand musicals!) decided to tidy his wardrobe and plan his Danse Macabre outfit - only two weeks to go, so it was about time!