Britain and Ireland Panorama 2012

I remember when I was in the UK and Ireland, my friend and I kept looking for a weather channel on TV so we’d know how to dress for the day, but we could never find one. I finally asked our guide where we could find the weather channel, and his reply was “you’re Canadian aren’t you”?. It seems that our guide was used to being ask that question by Canadians. He told us that they don’t really have a weather channel in the UK and Ireland, because the weather changes so fast that they can’t keep track. People just layer up and prepare for everything.

So am I  . Hopefully this long weekend, although if its fine we may be taking a few excursions in my NEW car!

My husband finally agreed that my 1994 Mazda needed upgrading so we have spent the last 10 days test driving various vehicles and finally decided on  Mazda3 GSX hatchback, 2014 model so 20 years younger than 'Gloria'! We pick up the new one this afternoon! And it is sunny!!  -1°C frost this morning.

Part Two HERE   

And I am now working on the 3rd installment that I have named Ireland as that's where we were for the most part! 

Part 3 - Ireland - is now HERE  

I'm a bit slow in typing up of late. Developed OOS systems in my non-dominant arm and then, when vacuuming I trip on cord and fell on my right arm so now both have only limited mobility!  Sigh ...  so final 'chapter' could be a while away?!

Finally - the last part can be found HERE  

In a few days I'll write up our time in London before we headed off on the Eurostar to France for the TT Best of France Tour.

It sounds like you had a great time on your own in London Solaira. I’m going to St. Paul’s while I’m there in the fall and looking forward to it. I’m glad you liked it so much.

We already bought “skip the line tickets” to St. Paul’s through Viator, as we are on a tight schedule, and don’t want to waste time waiting in line. We are going there as soon as we drop off our luggage at our hotel, and then we’ll have three hours to see the place, grab a bite to eat, and get to Buckingham Palace for our 3:30 entrance tickets. On the Sunday, we are spending all day at the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio.

My other friend and I are talking about travelling to London for 4 days before going on our Eastern Europe tour in the fall of 2016, and we are already planning on doing a few “London Walks”. The last time we were there we spent almost a full day at the Tower, and then went on the London Eye and to Westminster. Unfortunately we didn’t get to go inside Westminster as they were setting up for a royal visit the next day. I hope to get to go inside when I visit in 2016.