We caught the Eurostar from Brussels on 20 July 2018 and we were both astounded at the efficiency of it all.  We left Brussels at 12.52, arrived London 14.05, short walk to catch the Tube to the Barbican and we were home.  Thanks Sarah and Phil, your Barbican pad really felt like home.  After 3 months in Europe time to do some washing, cook our own food, pilates and rest.

It was boiling hot in London, we have always rolled out eyes when we hear the English complain of the heat, but inner city London and commuting on the Tube is a very torrid affair.

Via Rob we had booked an Architectural walking tour of North Greenwich, looking at old and new developments.

And another at BedZED – a Bioregional charity and social enterprise founded in 1994 by Sue Riddlestone and Pooran Desai, two environmental entrepreneurs based in South London, who wanted to develop more sustainable ways of living.

They created  One Planet Living framework in 2003 from  experiences of planning and working with others to develop the multi-award-winning BedZED eco-village in South London, where their headquarters is still based.

Both these tours were really interesting and also took us to different parts of London

Also a chance to catch up with Alex’s brother Jim who invited us to lunch at Fortnum and Mason, or Flotsam and Jetsam as Rob insisted on calling it.

 

Lovely to catch up with Jim and his daughter Isobel and her friend Loci.  Isobel and Loci both have fantastic jobs in London and have also taken the opportunity to do lots of travel in Europe.  The airfares are so cheap they often head somewhere really interesting just for a weekend.  It was great to see them so happy.

Cotswolds

Speaking of family, we were also lucky to be invited by Rob’s cousin Hugo Thorman and his gorgeous partner Letitia to stay at their charming “cottage” in Marshfield in the Cotswolds.

Hugo and Letitia are the most wonderful generous hosts, took us to dinner at the pub, hosted dinner for us drove us around the region.

Probably our favourite part of the visit was going for a long walk with Hugo and Chewie. Down old roads, across fields, it was a classic English experience that we wouldn’t have had without our wonderful guides.

 

Thanks Hugo, Letitia and Chewie

Cornwall

We hired a car in Bath and began our road trip of Cornwall.

Glastonbury – no festival this year. So quick stop and a pastie.

Port Isaac – these days famous as Port Wen from Doc Martin

 

Eden Project Cornwall

“The Eden Project is an educational charity, which connects us with each other and the living world, exploring how we can work towards a better future.

The visitor destination in Cornwall, UK, is nestled in a huge crater, which is reclaimed china clay pit. Here, massive Biomes housing the largest rainforest in captivity, stunning plants, exhibitions and stories serve as a backdrop to the striking contemporary gardens, summer concerts and year-round family events.” 

The Eden Project is hugely impressive.  From an old quarry and environmental educational wonderland.

Beautiful trip back to Bath to catch the London Train and prepare for Scotland. (The next blog)