Day 3

Hmmmm I'm awake early.... 4am and ended up getting out of bed at 6am.  

Nikki was up around 7am, but our London girl didn't wake until after 8am. 

We had breakfast, were supposed to leave the flat by 9, but my sister can't get ready in a normal amount of time 🙄, we left the house at almost 10...... 

We walked to Aneliezas so she could get what she needed, then we walked to Fulham Broadway tube and headed to Sloane Square to see the food markets.

We stopped at a couple of shops on the way. Anelieza is a little worried that we are only going to see West London shops! 

We wandered around the markets for a while sampling a taste of all sorts of yummy morsels. We were quite satisfied in the end, so after a coffee and some dumplings to fill us we walked down Kings Road (I think) in search of more shops and a loo break.

We went to Mc Donald's to use the facilities and there were a couple of people yelling and arguing at the counter, we ran downstairs to the toilet and a siren went off.  I could also hear a voice asking if assistance is needed.  Anyway we hot footed it out of there without using the toilets and went down the road to Paul, which is a patisserie cafe chain from France and used their toilets.

Followed on by more shopping and wandering and we decided to walk to Harrods and check it out.

Walked through some exclusive residential streets in Knightsbridge to Harrods.

Another pit stop was needed, so we had a cuppa and a small bite to eat in another Paul, we knew they would have a toilet 😉

Over the road to Harrods and we let ourselves loose in the fragrance, handbag, makeup and specialty food departments.  Made a couple of small purchases and took the obligatory selfie with our shopping bags out the front much to Aneliezas horror.

Back on the tube and grabbed some groceries from Aneliezas local area, met some more of her flatmates (who are all so lovely and fun), and I shouted us an Uber back to our flat because I can't walk another step today.

Ordered pizza and salad for dinner, a glass of wine and we are all ready for bed. 

Bit sad we couldn't watch Eurovision because we don't have a tv 😟.

Another full day planned for tomorrow. 

Day 2

We had a little sleep in, had breakfast and followed directions to our nearest tube station Parsons Green.

We are using an app called City Mapper..... We think this app takes you the most inconvenient route, it took us nearly 15 minutes to walk to the tube through the lovely streets of Fulham, but on the way home we went our own way and it got us home is less than 10 minutes which is a bonus when your feet hurt and you are carrying too many shopping bags 😉

On the way to Notting Hill we had to change trains at Earls Court which is a hub station, and has a couple of different lines going through it.  Nicci decided that we needed to go down 83 stairs to catch the train to Notting Hill Gate..... Wrong. Back up the escalators we went to the same platform but just on the other side to get the train we needed.  We 'discussed' which train we needed to take, we got there in the end, but it could have been quicker.

Nikki made a comment that she was surprised that Earls Court tube station didnt have lifts for people with suitcases given it is a hub...... I told her to 'turn around'...... She was standing next to the lift.

Side note: I have little interest in anything to do with a show called 'Made in Chelsea' but my sister insists on telling me that so and so lives here, and they film the show there, and this is what they would do on the show..... I've put a penalty on her that each time she mentions the show or anything about the show to me then she gets slapped with a £10 fine.  She has found a loophole though, apparently the fine is 'null and void' if she speaks to Anelieza about it.

Our plan was to go to Nottng Hill, then go to High St Kensington and Sloane Square...... That was a little ambitious. When Anelieza put together our itinerary I don't think she realised what shopping fiends we are.

We got to Notting Hill and walked the picturesque streets down to the Portobello Markets and shops. We worked our way through them and found ourselves spending a bit more time in one shop than some of the others, we came away with a few shopping bags with some great stuff you wouldn't get at home.

Time for a coffee break, and we carried on down the road, in and out of shops and looking at the markets stalls.

On the way back to the tube we found this cupboard sized shop that was filled to the brim with vintage designer shoes, bags, dresses, coats and accessories. We would have loved to spend more time going through everything but we had to get back home to change for our dinner plans.

Found our way home quicker by almost 10 minutes.  Got ourselves spruced up, grabbed an Uber to Aneliezas house and walked to the tube to go in to Mayfair to have dinner with Aneliezas surrogate family who have taken such good care of her since she arrived in London.

The doormen opened the doors to the very sophisticated 34 restaurant, we took our seats and a minute or so later we were joined by David, Katrina and Jack.

They wanted to give us the London dining experience, and it was amazing.  The food and service was outstanding. For my main I had an Indonesian inspired skewer of beef and prawns - I could gave cut those beef medallions with my fork they were so tender. For dessert I had a passionfruit and chocolate tart......wow!

We had a lovely night with great warm and welcoming company.

Too late and too tired to walk to the tube so we Uber'd it back home.

Day 1

A little behind on the blog!!!!!!

My feet are killing me...... We've done some walking since arriving.

London is a walking city.....except when you take the tube or call an Uber.

After our decent flight from Sydney, well I think it was decent but my sister thought it was too squashy in Premium Economy, you see she is used to Business Class or First.  This was never going to be the 5* experience, but it's comfortable and decent.

My sister didn't mind the experience of speaking with the other PE class passengers 😏 she sat next to a couple of gay guys who were on their way to a friends 50th in Spain, with a stopover in Stockholm to watch the Eurovison song contest.

I sat next to Trish who as it turns out will be on our flight home too.

It was a beautiful sunny day when we arrived in London, our driver took us to our little garden flat in Fulham. We have everything we need...... Even central hearing which my sister keeps turning on of an evening, you see she feels the cold while the rest of us have to try and keep cool!

So after showers and unpacking we followed some walking instructions to get to Aneliezas work so we could finally see her since January when she moved over on her big adventure, and to have lunch. The instructions would take us to her office in 31 minutes.  That was totally doable given that we had been sitting on a plane for 24 hours.

Well......it didn't go to plan, something didn't click...... Maybe it was my sisters brain interfering with mine, but we walked for well over an hour and after asking for directions twice we finally got there.  She keeps blaming me, but I can read maps, and I have an awesome sense of direction.  I'm going to call it the 'NF', the Nikki Factor.

In the end we did get to Aneliezas work near Hammersmith, and we had time to spare, so no dramas. We took a selfie standing outside of her office and sent it to her.  Within a minute she was downstairs and looking for us.  Big hugs and kisses all round.

Because we were a bit early, and Anelieza had to finish off something before lunch we were able to have a coffee in her office cafeteria.  This office and cafeteria has to be seen to be believed. There were guys dressed as Mexicans in a pop up food stall handing out burritos, and tacos with all the trimmings.  And if you didn't want Mexican, there is all sorts of food, cakes, and drinks and coffee on offer at the main counter.

What an awesome place to work, smart and casual with a great vibe.

Then we headed back down the road to Hammersmith for lunch with Anelieza, we bought SIM cards for our phones so we can keep in touch and Anelieza shouted us lunch as we sat outside in the warm sun people watching.

After lunch when Anelieza went back to work, Nikki and I headed to look around the shops - H&M, M&S, Boots, and grabbed some groceries on the way back.

We walked all the way back to our flat which was another 30 minutes.

At the flat we had a cupola and waited for our London girl to finish work. We ordered Thai food for dinner and chatted. Anelieza went back to her flat for the night and we collapsed in our beds.

Panic is setting in!!!!!

16 days to go! It's always about this time that I start to panic!!!!

 

The mad list making happens...... the short temper strikes...... look out!!!!!

It's not just me that's stressing...... my sister has her worries too!  Where and when can she have her nails done?  Apparently she has to have them done every 2 weeks, and we are away for just over 3!

No Porters on this trip.... perhaps it's time to free the nails........

 

Setting the Scene

It's been a very long time since my sister and I have been on holidays together......this could be interesting.

In 56 days we take off in Premium Economy (because Economy simply won't do....) to London to see my beautiful niece.

My sister.........                     Me!
    

We'll have a week together in our London flat before I head off to Madrid.

A few days later they will follow, and we'll meet up and explore Madrid and Barcelona together which will no doubt include all of the following :)

 

 

and of course some sightseeing and the odd selfie!


I've been told by lots of people that Madrid and Barcelona are amazing.  I'm excited to get there and see it for myself.

After a week of the Spanish sun we head back to London, and squeeze in a day in beautiful Paris before heading home a few days later!



Hang on tight...... it's going to be a full filled and exciting ride!!!!!