England, week 1

Monday, 1st July
We do some last minute packing, as most of it was done yesterday, and some cleaning before we leave our accommodation in Dieppe. Bob rings for  a taxi, and like lots of taxis, we wait longer than they say it will take. Our bags packed we, we are ready for our next adventure. It starts with a boat trip across the English channel. Going through customs in Dieppe, every bag, suitcase is physically examined. Every compartment is checked, we are then loaded onto a bus that takes us to the ferry.
We make our way upstairs and find a table to sit at. Almost immediately everyone starts to go to the Resturant. We are sitting not far from the Resturant, so after some time, we too, go and avail ourselves to the lunch food. The ferry has a feel of a cruise ship, and there is a large variety of food available. There is also a gift and duty free shop. The trip takes 3 hrs, and the waters are calm. As we get closer to Newhaven, we see wind turbines in the ocean. After some research, there are 116 of them. It is an interesting sight.
We dock, and Bob and I miss the call for foot traffic to exit, we are waiting with the people who have got cars and buses. We head of with them, and find ourselves with all the traffic. Heading back to where we came from, we come across a lady in the lift, as ask her, where we need to go. She calls on her walkie talkie, and we are escorted to the correct area. Only, we now are with all the cyclists. Once off the ship, we once again are loaded into a bus, and get our passports checked. Passports don't get stamped anymore, so that is a bit disappointing. We are now  free to set out in England. Leaving the ferry terminal, we find the train station which is right next door, very convenient, as we have our luggage to haul around with us on the trains. We each have a large and a small suitcase. Once on the train platform, there are cyclist, and parents with prams, and us with our luggage. We have to catch 2 trains, which we manage without to much hassle. We arrive in Croydon, and immediately search for a taxi. We are directed to the side street, where the taxi rank is. Get into a taxi, and head for our next accommodation.
We are on the third floor of the complex, with no lift. So, as you can imagine our horror of having to lug our baggage up 3 flights of stairs, which are not light.  But we do so, and poor Bob brings up the two heavy suitcases.
Looking around the room, it is small, we thought we had a small shower in Dieppe, well this is smaller. We have a bed and a kitchenette, what else do we need. So end our first day of the next adventure.

Tuesday, 2nd July
Today, we decide to go into London, and get on the hop on hop off bus tours. We have to be back by 5, as Bob has a chiropractor appointment, just to keep his back in check. We get on a bus to the train station, then catch the train into Victoria station. Wow, these train stations are nothing like the ones at home. There is two floors of shops and eating places. Plus the platform where all the trains leave from, plus assorted shops there aswell. We have a hearty breakfast, as we didn't eat last night. Then we go outside to find the stop for the hop on hop off bus. Once on the bus, we settle in for the trip. The poor lass ( Ruby ) doing the live commentary is up and down the steps so many times, as the Mic is not working, and she has to speak loudly to tell the history of the places we pass. The trip was supposed to be a couple of hours, but ended up 3, as the traffic was very heavy. The driver even bypassed one stop as it was to  congested. There are so many buses, and taxis, it is crazy. And car drivers are not afraid to challenge a bus to move on. When we finish the loop, we catch a bite to eat, and drink, and then get the train back to Croydon, get a taxi  and to go to the chiropractor. The chiropractor is very thorough, and alignes Bob's back. Now, to get back to our unit. We get a tram back to the train station, call in at the local grocery store to get some essentials for breakfasts,  then catch a bus back to where our place is. Mission accomplished. Reading in the booklet in the unit, the local pub here sounds like the place to go for dinner. It's just round the corner, should be a 10 min walk. 30 mins later we get there, but it was worth the extra walk. We took a couple of wrong turns, doesn't everyone?? The ambiance of the place is great, and the bar staff are  very friendly. The guy who served us was the manager and a very likable fellow. Bob orders a beer, and I decide to have a Guinness shandy. This seems to be somewhat tricky for my mate Carlton, because, as he explained to us, that the lemonade, is lighter the  the Guinness and it causes it to froth really bad. He did say, that he has never had anyone ask him for one, so I loved the fact, that it took an Australian for him to have to do this. He shows us through to the dining area, and that he will bring my drink over to me. After a bit of time, he brings my drink, and we joke about it, and order our meals. They arrive soon, and the pub starts to fill up. It's quiz night. And the English womens  soccer team are playing the USA. We order another couple of Guinness shandys and enjoy our meal and the atmosphere of the pub. We walk home in less time than it took us to get there. A really enjoyable evening.

Wednesday, 3rd July
A bit of a quieter day today, we find the walk in clinic to see a doctor who speaks English, so we can get our scripts that we need.  We wait for a fee mins Ann's are seen to by a doctor, who asks us why we need the scripts, and after explaining that we are away for some time, she is happy. My script is easy enough done. Bob's are a bit more difficult.  There seems to be 3 levels of doctors here in England.  The one we saw can only do stuff for the interim,  until poeple can see their regular GP. So with Bob's medications, she had to check with her superior doctor, and says she can't do  his scripts, but there is a private GP here that starts soon. So we wait for this to happen, .  She could help with one of the medications, but he needs to see,  what they call a specialist, which will cost a bit. There was no charge to see the doctors we saw today as we find out when  we leave the clinic. Bob makes a call to a private GP and makes an appointment at £150
We head for the shopping centers, there are two shopping centers, very close to each other's. The first one is very quiet, with lots of empty shops and stores with closing down sales. Bit similar to Maryorough. So we head out of this one after asking after a electronics store. Step out onto the street, a d there is the other centre. This one is more vibrant, and has more up market stores. We find the shop we require, get what we need and catch the bus back to our accommodation.

Thursday, 4th July
Today we are going into London to see Buckingham Palace and The Royal Mews.
After we catch the bus, which is just over the road, and then take the train to Victoria station, we walk to Buckingham Palace, stopping on the way at the Royal Mews. What a great place, all of the Royal carriages are here, and stables, and the tack room. Amazing stuff. We move onto Buckingham Palace and take it all in. Lots of people like us taking pics and enjoying the moment. Never in my life did I ever........
I take pics of the Palace and the queen Victoria memorial. We then make our way to Westminster Abbey stopping at the Guards museum, looking at all the Royal guards uniforms, and learning a bit about them.  We then get to the Abbey  join in the queues to go in. After waiting for some time, we gain entrance, and it was worth the wait. It is an amazing building, but I thought it was smaller that I expected. So much history and it is still a working church. They have 26 services a week. And the Coronation throne is there aswell.  You are not permitted to take pictures. After that, we head back to the rail station, via a cabbie. I asked the cabbie how long he had been driving cabs. He reply, " Funny you should ask that today, 28 days," Bob said 28 days or years, cabbie says "28 years today." I wished him a Happy Anniversary as I was leaving the cab.
Inside the train station I point out to Bob that there is a Private GP clinic here, so we go up there to check it out. An appointment is made for Friday at £75 for a 15 min consult.

Friday, 5th July
Today, we do the usual thing, and catch the bus and train, then get a cab to where the river cruises leave. On the way, I ask this man, how long he has been driving cabs for, and he has been driving for 14 years. We get to the pier, but it is the wrong one for what we want, but a stroll back to the Westminster pier gets us right. We are planning to get to Greenwich and the GMT. Once again there is a huge line up, and we wait. Onboard the ferry, we enjoy the views of the Thames, and the live commentary, learning about lots of the pubs and ages of some of them, and who owns them, and even where Dame Helen Mirren lives. Apparently, Cher used to live there, but she moved on because of the river cruises telling where she lived. We get to Greenwich, and calculate how long we can spend here, and about 15 mins, because if we wait for the next boat to leave we will be late for the appointment. It is a bit unfortunate, but at least we can say we have been there, and saw the Cutty Sark, which was the fastest ship in its time. Once onboard, we cruise the river, and get back to the pier, decide to take the tube, back to Victoria station. We ask a railway attendant, if we were on the right platform, she said yes. Well she was wrong. We hop off the train, and get the train going in the opposite direction to where we were going, and get to Victoria station with 20 mins to spare. Bob's 15min consult turned out to be about a 45 min consult, as he said the doc was very chatty, and she was able to help with his medications. Head back to East Croydon, and have tea at a place called Box Park. This is a eatery constructed out of storage containers. There are many different cuisines, and a large seating area in the middle with a DJ playing music, and a big television showing the tennis.

Saturday, 6th July
We make our way to London as per the usual route, and walk up to Buckingham Palace to get a place to watch the Changing of the Guards. We have arrived early, about 9.45, and there are crowds already, at prime positions. We get a front side area against the fence, and hope we have a good vantage point. The procession starts at 10.45 with the arrival of the band. We have been able to see some of the Guards walk past, and the marching band enters through the gate closest to us. The whole event finishes at 11.30. There are lots of people everywhere, and there are phones pushed past us so they can get a pic.  It was well worth the wait and effort to see this.
When it's finished, we make our way to somewhere, were we can get a cab. Finding on our way, a tiny alleyway, and a quaint and old pub. We have a beer there, and then walk on. There are a few road closures, some due to the changing of the Guards, but also there is a Gay parade on, that has added to street closures. We find a cabbie, and head to the Sherlock Holmes residence of 221B Baker street. Yet again, there is a long queue waiting to get in. Eventually we go inside, and everything in the place is original. It is such a small area, in the lounge area and bedroom which is upstairs. Up another flight of stairs is Mrs Hudson's abode, and it to is small. We catch the bus back to the train station, grab something to eat, then make our usual way back to the lodgings. We have to pack our bags, as we leave London tomorrow.

Sunday, 7th July
Our cab arrives early, which is a nice change. He helps loads our luggage into the car, and we say goodbye to Croydon. We pick up our hire car in London and negotiate our way out of the city. This car does not have a navigation system, so we rely on the phone maps. Getting out of London was not as bad as it could have been, due to the time we left, there was not to much traffic. It is good to be driving on the correct side of the road, just like we do back home. I take up driving a little way out of London. Our first stop is Stratford-upon-avon, the birthplace of the William Shakespeare, from here we go Nottingham, and find Nottingham Castle, which is closed due to refurbishment. We get a picture with a statue of Robin Hood, then we make our way to Sherwood Forrest. There are families out and about, and there is a local cricket game on. After here, we head for Liverpool. Driving through the English countryside is most enjoyable, and there are some pretty areas to see. We get to Liverpool and only after one wrong turn, which took us underneath the river and though a road toll, we find our accommodation with relative ease. After we take our luggage upstairs, Bob, goes and finds the car park,
We have to reorganize our luggage, as we didn't want to lump two large suitcases around needlessly. So we go to the car, unpack and repack, and then haul a large suitcase back to the room. By this time, it is 8.15pm, so now we decide what to do for dinner. After deciding on subway, we get there only to find it is closed. Next we saw a kebab place, so we head to that, get there, they only take cash. So we head back to the room, and there is another kebab/pizza place. We decide to get something from there. All this time dragging a large suitcase, up and down the street. Day ends.