Day 26 - 28

Day 26 – 28 ( Thursday – Saturday)

After a lovely lie in until 9am and breakfast we got ready to head out on another unplanned wander around London. We decided to go to the Physic Gardens in Chelsea. It has been going for 330 years and only opened to the public since the 1980's.

It was established for the study and the preservation of plants from around the world. For the uses that they could be used for health and medicinal purposes. Very pretty and a lovely spot they now use for Weddings and functions.

We decided afterwards that instead of catching the train back to Jason's work that we would walk. 2 ½ hours later we arrived at the pub near Jason's work. We walked along the Thames. It was very quiet being away from the main touristy part of London. Weather was great so that made it even better. We eventually got back into the city and walked passed Westminster abbey and Parliament. Being peak time and everyone coming out of work plus hordes of tourist's and children it was sometimes hard to get anywhere.

We arrived at Jason's work a bit early so got a drink and sat upstairs and waited....Not as good as the other day ...no fire going!! An hour later Jason arrived and not long after Natalie (cousin) joined us . We had another drink and then started on our way to the Theatre to see The Lion King. Jason went in and got the tickets and we went over the road for a quick snack thinking we may have dinner after the show.

Got in and found our seats. Great seats and a great view. It was a fantastic show and I can see why its at the top of everyone's list. Its just visually spectacular and different to anything I have seen. Mind you the company was exceptional which I think helps.

After we decided that we weren’t hungry and headed off to the train station. And said goodbye to all and we all went our own way for the night.

Friday

Slept in and made our way to breakfast and then back to the room to get ready to walk through a bit more of Hyde Park. Plus I had taken some Hazelnuts from the dining room to tempt the Squirrels so we could get some better pictures!!

Its a wonderful place to walk through. Dogs everywhere with their owners. Mums, grandparents and Nanny;s pushing young children around in prams, People running, cycling and others just sitting reading or enjoying the day. We walked for about 1.45 min and then needed to head back to the hotel so I could change and get ready to meet My Scrabble friends for the first time. We spent about 5 hours laughing talking and being very loud. Totally had a blast. If you had of seen us you wouldnt have thought we had only just met for the 1^st time. I met these lovely ladies playing scrabble online on facebook about 2-3 years ago and they have all become my friends. It was sad that two of them couldnt make it but I know that they were there in spirit!! And there is always next year when we go and have our white xmas with Jason.

Duncan, Jason and I left the hotel just after 6pm, to make our way to Little Venice to have dinner. A lovely restaurant called Waterway. Food was wonderful. Evan and Nat joined us there. Evan had met Natalie and her friend Jen at the Captain Kid Pub in Wapping.

I arrived 1.45pm after changing from the Central line to the DLR line to Shagwell ( Shegwell ) what a different world this one was lots of strange looking people definitely not in central London anymore. Changed lines to the London overground and disembarked at Wapping Station. Waited outside the station and started to get the feeling I didn't belong here. There was a group of lads coming out of the station with different punk style hair dos lots of metal on their bodies and full facial tattoos. They started heading in the direction of the Captain Kidd pub and I had visions of it being full of punks. When Nat and her friend arrived and neither of them had been here before I was getting a bit concerned. Google maps said it was only 300 yards SW of the station so off we went. Directions was spot on to this very faded Captain Kidd sign hanging from the wall still had no confidence in the venue I had asked Nat to come and have a few beers with me while Sharon met her scrabble friends. So the 3 of us turned into the ally and it was truly a magnificent entrance into the old Captain Kidd Pub. It was a arched flowered entrance leading into the old pub where Captain Kidd had been hung in 1701 for piracy apparently it was a very popular hanging and lots of entertainment for adults and children. We sat down near a window that overlooked the Thames and spent a great afternoon relaxing having lunch and 4 pints each. A meal and 3 pints cost me about the same as a pub meal in Perth. Nats friend Jen has spent 6 years in London Nat spent about 3 ½ years and both thought it was one of the best pubs either had been to and your not short of choices in England.

Natalie had to leave by 8pm to get her train to Norwich. So we sat and had dessert and then wandered back to the hotel. Duncan was staying the night in our hotel. We made plans with Jason to meet at 10am the next morning for our last morning together.

Saturday

We met Duncan for breakfast and then finished packing to then check out and stow our bags with concierge. We walked through Hyde park to Harrods so I could get my tea towels. We took Jason and Duncan to Whole foods for lunch. Jason now knows why I like it!! After we walked back to Hyde park and sat and talked in the sun.....

Time to get back to the hotel and collect our bags to be ready for our pick up. Jason and Duncan went to the train station to meet us at Terminal 3.

After being dropped of we self checked in and dropped the bags off. Waited for Jason and Duncan to arrive and then went upstairs for a drink. We said good-bye about 4.30 as we still needed to go through Security. We asked them to wait just in case Evan's mono pod wasn't allowed. All went good. My handbag was checked again but otherwise no problems.

We have to admit this was a harder goodbye than in May when Jason left. We were both teary on our take off knowing it would be another 14months until we saw him again. Thank goodness for skype, email and facebook.

We were both stuffed by the time arrived in Singapore. Not only losing 7 hours but having no sleep or very little in 15 hours. Thank goodness we were being picked up and taken to our hotel.

Arrived at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia. Checked in and made our way to our room on the 15^th floor.

This is the biggest room I have ever stayed in. We got a very good upgrade from our lovely lady at flight centre. The view from not only our bedroom but bathroom is amazing. The bed is sooooo comfortable. I unpacked and Evan went for a walk to get some drinks. Decided to try our the bath and get comfortable. Not really hungry but very tired so we called it a night around 8.30pm.