Made it!

I am so glad that the outbound travel and getting tested went so smoothly for you, and that you are happily ensconced in your hotel room awaiting your daughter’s delivery.

May your results arrive early tomorrow !

Oh what fun! I'm glad you made it and look forward to reading about your adventures!

Hope you keep us updated.

Pleased to hear the SFO to LHR flight was easy.

If time allows visit Spitafields market. 3 weeks ago when I was there I purchased some fabulous hand made pop up Christmas cards. Presently I’m visiting friends in Sacramento for our annual Christmas gift exchange and the cards I added to their gifts were well received. Spitafields is a great meander.

Be sure to investigate if there is a Santa Run you might find to watch while you are there.

Happy Christmas!

Hi -

Welcome to the U.K. Glad it wasn’t as much hassle as might be anticipated. Can I be the first to apologise for the fairly shocking weather we are currently experiencing. Still, England in December… if jet lag strikes the cricket (The Ashes, Aussies v England) commentary is on the radio from 11.30 pm. Although given yesterday’s horror showing by England, it might be best given a bit of a swerve. Quite early on last night I gave up and buried my head beneath my pillow…..

Hope you have a great time while you are here!

Ian

But I'm over the Christmas songs...time for something else.

not much chance of that I'm afraid - they're only getting started 🎅🏼

If you need more Christmas cards, or, you could bring them home for next year: the ones produced by many charities in the UK are fabulous.
Sometimes you can find them sold at churches, smaller shops, etc.
They are far superior to our North American cards!

Have a wonderful trip and we look forward to more updates from you!

buried my head beneath my pillow

That's not the Yorkshire way, ianandjulie, or is it holdover from the shocking Yorkshire dressing room?

Nigel -

I realise I should have listened to the entire thing sat bolt upright in a chair fiercely gripping the arms with set jaw and flat ‘at and muffler on, making the odd grim grunting sound occasionally, but some things are too predictably distressing to endure.

Speaking of which, enduring the fallout from the Yorkshire racism fiasco is going to go on for a long time - years - yet. Anyone who hoped they’d heard the last of it is due a disappointment if you ask me. Still, ‘The Dazzler’ is in charge for now and I wish him the best of luck. He’ll need it.

Ian

Ian -

I do admit that Golden Duck first batman of the series isn't exactly beginning as you mean to go on... Rootie's toss backfired... and resting Jimmy - he's not that out of form and out of fitness is he? Then again numbers 2,3,4 should have been able to stand up to the bowling attack, but I certainly couldn't against M. Starc & Co.

@Ian and Nigel

Well, I enjoyed every minute. Usually crack a stubbie every wicket we take and 100 we make. Was just about Franz Liszt by lunch time. If this keeps up I my need to join AA.

RandR, my apologies for going off subject, but just could not let this go through to the keeper. One of life’s great pleasures, humiliating the Poms at their own game.

Regards Ron

thanks for all the well wishes! and hey, it's 2040 and I'm still awake...
sushi from M and S was just what I needed for an early night... I've got Endeavor on the tube and getting ready for bed... Wonderful quick visit with my girl and anticipating an exceptional week... once I'm cleared. Don't want to take things for granted.
I love idea of Spittlefields and Xmas cards.. and Santa Run... Her boyfriend is a former rugby player, so that is usually our sport of choice over here!
If cleared, we go to Lewes for weekend, (meeting his parents!) and a chance to watch...
She lived there during lockdown and I'm looking forward to seeing the town and walking the downs...
This trip is about seeing HER London, Wandsworth where she lives, Battersea, Regents Park - which she loves, Camden from her uni time here.. so Im not expecting the big touristy stuff which we have done a lot of. Also Christmas lights and are considering Xmas at Kew... any recommendations re that ? Maybe I've said this before but my only request is that pubs have to be as old as possible. History and alcohol in one place... love it!..
ok... calling it a night..stay tuned for test results. Expecting at least most of tomorrow in my 97 square feet..
ps no worries re weather.. California was gray and gloomy when I left so this feels familier and I don't care. I've got layers and umbrella, British accents, my girl at my side and a pint close by. All as it should be... gnite

RandR, thank you for sharing your experience. Would you be able to share the link for the Covid test center in terminal 2? We leave 12/19 for a 3 week stay.

@TravelFamily - ExpressTest runs the test centers at Heathrow. Here’s the link if you want to book a test.

https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/fly-safe/covid-19-test

Wonderful summary of your experiences; so far, so good! Fun to read and I love the details you provide. Thanks for posting and have a wonderful time with your girl and the new family!

considering Xmas at Kew

stop considering and go. Nice and warm this Sunday and Monday. No storm those days either.

Take a fattish virtual wallet as food and drink is predictably dear. Great frites. Even more fab stuffed waffles. Plenty other good stuff I didn't try because I had spent enough. But I'm a local (nearly) and tourists and their daughter might well decide that even more is in order (the jerk chicken looked good as did the Indian street food rolls)...

Some of the light displays at the beginning sort of felt a bit like a slow start, by my goodness it all took off like a rocket and got better and better. I'd go back in a flash!! Absolutely loved it as did my wife who is vision impaired. The music is excellent and varied. Watch out for the real fire.

If you have vision problems I'd suggest a walking stick as some of the areas are quite dark and the walking surface changes texture and angles. Kew suggests packing a torch (flashlight).

Long - above. Short - go.

Thank you for posting. I'm making the same trip leaving on United from SFO on 12/31 and am concerned about arriving on 1/1 and the next day is a Sunday. Hope the holiday doesn't slow things down.

I did check and one can sign up for a January 1 test at Heathrow.

Did you fly into terminal 2? Was it tricky to find the testing center?

Hello... ! 11:40 here and so sunny it is killing me not to be able to go out! Rain is headed this way, per the BBC which I watched for hours this a.m. So I'm up on the Downing Street holiday party news, the cricket match - ouch - I feel your pain Ian -- but happy for you, Ron! the Plan B covid update (extended masking wearing etc) a medical bit on cellulitis (ick) and how to drive at night if your vision isn't what it used to be.. oh also I did my BBC exercise tips.
I may be ready to go back to xmas music...
If I could open my window, on the seventh floor, I could call down to someone in the M&S parking lot to bring me some food! But extra-big breakfast buffet tray should keep me going, still have some turkey jerky and airline pretzels...the hot pot is a blessing. Endless tea and coffee at my fingertips..
forgot to write in 'field hockey' in the spot about Lewes.. we may watch some field hockey..
no worries about cricket talk.. love it. I'll miss the SF niners while I'm here but happy to take in cricket, football and even field hockey... my grandfather played football for the Schropshire 'Snobs' before he came to US in 1918.. My DNA pulls at me here, as it did for my daughter..
enough of the scene setting...
super easy to find covid testing at terminal 2, Cynthia. just go outside from arrivals and down escalator. big signs guide you.. not far at all. and as I mentioned, they didn't care that I was early. So I'm thinking they wouldn't mind if you were late. Still need to set up test to fly home. Thinking about going back to them, it was that simple and fast.
my only glitch on trip was my cc got rejected at tube as I tried to top off my oyster card. thought 'heck I spent so much time prepping for covid requirements I failed to tell the company I was coming.' Fortunately the two oyster cards I brought each had enough to get me to Earls Court and then to the bus...(how great is it that the amount on your card still works for later trip) When I told my daughter about it she said "mom, don't you remember I told you not to insert your credit card at the tube! Tap it." Apparently for sums under 40 pounds, you tap. not insert. So, there's a tip.
Also, on a whats app call home, my husband told me cc companies apparently don't care if you leave the country anymore. so no need to alert mine, anyway. Card worked fine at hotel.
Nigel, thanks for encouragement re Kew. We talked about it last night and it's on our plan. Sounds brilliant.
Well I'm obsessively checking email, hoping for the note clearing me to move about the country. Although I'm at least hours away I reckon. Guess I'll go back to the window and watch the train go by while I do my BBC exercise tips, which today included air guitar. Maybe someone walking out of M&S will notice a crazy woman in a seventh-floor window doing some impressive air guitar moves..

Thanks for the tip about tapping at the tube for less than £40. I don’t recall that being an option on my last trip there in 2019.

If you are ready for some more Christmas music, may I suggest a couple of slightly off the wall Christmas music albums? You might investigate ‘The Jethro Tull Christmas Album’ to start - some of their previous Christmas/Winter songs re-recorded, along with some new suitably Christmas themed material. The Albion Christmas Band have a welter of folky Christmassy albums as you might expect (they tour - exist really - only in December and if you can still get tickets to see them on this year’s jaunt, I’d thoroughly recommend it). Amongst my personal favourites are ‘While Mortals Sleep’ by Kate Rusby, - more folk based songs - ‘The Wren’ is beautiful and ‘Cranbrook’ has messed my head up in the fine tradition of ‘words of one song to the tune of another’ since I first heard it. My absolute favourite Christmas album is ‘Christmas Time Is Drawing Near At Hand’ by Sneaks Noyse - it’s only available as a download now (I got a download via Amazon) but it’s a trawl through Christmas songs ancient and modern (well, up to Victorian times) and in our house no Christmas is complete without ‘A Christmas Fantasia’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

And, seeing as you don’t mind a bit of cricket talk, I’ll reply to Nigel. Apparently Jimmy Anderson is absolutely fit and raring to go, they are just ‘managing’ a calf problem. To me, you are injured if anything has to be ‘managed’. It’s dropping Stuart Broad for the unfortunate Jack Leach that’s bitten them in the bum. Ron must be absolutely off his face by now you’d think! Fair play to the Aussies.

Ah yes, on the tapping of credit cards, I think some banks at least have increased their limit for tap out to £100. I ‘tapped out in Tesco’s’ for over fifty quid the other day without issue (admittedly a debit as opposed to credit card). I gather this is due to Covid meaning cash wasn’t accepted in some stores and the avoidance of keying in PIN numbers on the suddenly exclusive method of paying by card was preferable to the alternative.

I suppose with the greater upper limit an increased amount of caution/awareness is required.

Negative!!! just got test back.. so about 26 hours for results! Excuse me folks but I've got some walking to do...More later :)

Fantastic. Enjoy!

So glad you were able to go!

Let those of us who haven't experienced international travel in quite some time (our last trip was April 2019, a fabulous week in Costa Rica) live vicariously through you and do share all your adventures.

I'm so glad all your test results came back negative. Sound like the isolation wasn't too bad.

Best,
Elizabeth

The general contactless limit increased to £100 on 15 October.

Not all terminals still may have been updated yet and some retailers may choose to run a smaller limit anyway.

Her boyfriend is a former rugby player, so that is usually our sport of choice over here!

Good lad! Rugby is the better sport and one which we've got form for giving the Aussies a good thrashing (they really don't like losing to us).

Apparently for sums under 40 pounds, you tap. not insert.

If you have tap on your credit card (or debit card) the limit for contactless has risen recently (unless your bank put a lower limit) from £45 to £100 per transaction. Insert sminsert. Nah!

Happy things are going well so far, RandR, and happy to hear you're able to enjoy some actual R and R!

So glad that you got your results and are now out enjoying!! Have a wonderful time with your daughter. And meeting the boyfriend's family !!

congrats.

to RandR.

not the poms

Good morning! Clear and cool day, heading to Hendon soon for a Met police ceremony (the former rugby player is a new member of the force...)
Well I spent my first day of freedom on a nice walkabout of Wandsworth\Battersea and along the Thames, catching a lovely sunset. Dinner at her flat, but expecting to get to the Alma and The Ship at some point, as both are easy walk...Any pubs you want to recommend from this area?
Getting antsy to get into other parts of London. Will need to return to one of my favorite pubs - The George near Borough Market! I love having a pint (or a half) and imagining centuries of people coming to the same spot.. Oh, The Spaniard was a really fun stop back in 2018 but not sure I'll get up that way this go...Rock walls, low ceilings, sloping cobblestone floors, uneven steps, a fire maybe, and then the less-touristy ones, where the locals go..I hope you locals don't take them for granted! Our bars at home are so dull in comparison...
otherwise, I see cricket looking up...!

otherwise, I see cricket looking up...!

The corpse twitches!

If up for a pleasant walk try the Dove pub near Hammersmith.

Was at The Dove in November. Tasty lunch. Cozy ambiance. For me an enjoyable pub to relax at after
a lengthy stroll along the river path.

I’d started my Thames Path walk in Putney as I’d stopped in Hurlingham Books, a favorite “find” on a trip a few years ago. The River Cafe ideal for a full English breakfast near the Putney tube station and the adjacent Eight Bells pub good for a pint.

Putney is not a touristy area and discovered all of the above simply by mapping out a river walk.

Lastly, Hammersmith Bridge is under renovation.

from today's Guardian try this one if you're in Kensington

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/dec/10/a-great-walk-to-a-great-pub-chuchill-arms-kensington-london

Hi RandR, I've been enjoying your posts, and the responses, especially since I'd hoped to be in London too right now, and this thread has some nice tips for walks and pubs.

Have you by any chance seen my post, and are you interested in the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland?

The Churchill Arms has even more impact in the summer when covered in flowers from top to bottom and side to side...

.... regarding the corpse twitching - anybody here any good at remote cpr? I don't think it will last....

Edit: I had no idea that the Churchill Arms (never been in the off season) would buy every tree and lightbulb in west London!!!

All the trees on the Churchill Arms are interesting to see at night. The few times I’ve been by there, it was so busy there was no place to stand or get a table. I’ve never been by it when it was decorated with flowers.

good morning! Saturday and we are headed for Lewes in a few hours... looking forward to countryside and seeing the town. There is talk of a bike ride or walk in The Downs to one of the great, old pubs in the area...

Yesterday I saw several non-tourist areas, and dang I was in Putney briefly on a Christmas tree hunt.. but missed those good suggestions, Claudia.. could go back!
Charles thanks for recommending the Winter Wonderland, I'll look it up.. Christmas at Kew remains at top of our list.
I've enjoyed walking along the Thames.. this area has quite the row of upscale apartment buildings along the river... I'm more a fan of the old areas.. but the promenade is nice.
Haven't been to Churchill Arms, but have seen the pictures of all the flowers! Will add it to the list. Tomorrow we will head to Kingston and Richmond, where my daughter works, I think there is a Christmas faire in Richmond. any recommendations for lunch in that area?
I'm still seeing masks everywhere except in pubs and restaurants, where they aren't required. And I'm seeing lots of covid testing sites. Still need to get mine sorted for Thursday. But feel I have multiple options.

Will say I am always impressed with the public transit system. Could we not have copied that in US? So easy to get around, love it.
Sorry, Brit fans, re cricket outcome..on with the day!

Don’t worry about the cricket. We have another four opportunities to be heavily beaten in the coming weeks! Actually maybe the losing-at-cricket stuff should be more appropriately posted under the ‘Christmas Traditions’ thread!

Huge fan of pub meals. Was In Richmond last month. Met a friend and enjoyed a lovely meal at the Angel and Crown pub. This pub, relaxing and well managed, is down the walk way adjacent to the Tesco Express.

Or if up for a walk along the Thames path, the White Cross pub serves food.

The chips ( fries ) at Pickle and Rye are excellent. It is a very popular place reservations a smart move. There’s also a venerable Bill’s restaurant in Richmond. Another spot that needs reservations.

Lastly, if it’s only dinner you seek the food at the Dragon Inn is fabulous. Eddie the owner and manager goes out of his way to insure a pleasant dining experience.

So glad to hear you made it there and are enjoying your trip!

hello... phew, it's been a whirlwind and not the greatest wifi in Lewes, so I lost a few days posting...
good news: Lewes is really enjoyable. I love that a small town in GB, like so many small towns, is full of history and great old buildings, has a small castle, some seemingly major historical moments, great shops, and a few gems for pubs. And it's not on much of a tourist path...
I saw my first field hockey game, walked priory ruins in misty dusk for full effect, enjoyed wonderful views from the top of the castle/Norman keep, walked a bit of the downs to a Sunday roast in a Kingston pub, The Jugs, and stayed in a 400 year old hotel. so my room was more circa 1970s, sadly, but the lounge and front bar were the historical bomb for me... the White Hart. 300-year old parliament clock there, plus lovely oaken coat of arms above the mantel with a tudor rose... Got into a bit of a chat with a lovely man who didn't like author of my book, Hilary Mantel, (I'm rereading Wolf Hall series, love it) and we had a great meal at the Pelham Arms.
train travel was again, great. My daughter and her bf brought their xmas tree home on the train, which just seemed extremely civilized, everyone masked and felt pretty safe.
our sad news is Kew garden Xmas show is booked. We were waiting to making sure weather would work and we blew it. Nigel, I apologize. We have come up with other options for lights, but that will be my big regret of trip.
I'm hoping others have been fine with meeting requirements for testing to get here. Test to get home can be anytime day before, and there is a center in my daughter's Wandsworth apartment building... seems like it'll be very doable. As long as it is negative.
Food-wise, I've checked off great fish and chips, (the Pelham Arms in Lewes) cadbury chocolate - wow I just love it, so better than what we have... so I'm stocking up for Christmas stockings)... great curry, a solid beef roast, and several good ales and ciders. Need to get one great meat pie before I go... I have 3 more days...plenty of time. Claudia thanks for great Richmond ideas, I too love a pub meal.
Shopping needs are few. I want to find a good Christmassy scarf, to make up for the one left behind on train back from York in 2018,
Tomorrow we decorate Xmas biscuits we made tonight. then head into 'central' as she calls it, London core, to see some of the big stuff with holiday scene...
Anyone have recommendation for pub in Westminster or Embankment or core area with great meat pie... please pass it on! Or, which ones to avoid? I realize I waxed on re pubs, and there are pubs and then there are pubs.... thanks all!

I have the Princess Of Wales Charing X near the embankment tube stop bookmarked as one pub to visit. It is at 27 Villiers St. I haven’t been to it yet, but it supposedly has good meat pies. Other places for meat pies, Holborn Dining Room, The Guinea on Bruton Pl., Windmill (ale & pie room) at 6-8 Mill St, and Battersea Pie Station, Lower Ground Floor, 28 The Market.

Piemeister pies are good, available in some Sainsbury's. Bisto Best beef gravy and a top quality cheesy mash are a great home alternative if you can’t pickup a good pie in town.

Love these pie suggestions, thanks! Heading toward Holborn today..
note.. I am obviously overly optimistic re things. The Randox test site in this complex is booked up -- I think many p eople now are testing... so I am back to testing at airport, which is easy and I already know where it is..But That'll be a big 'fingers crossed' moment..
Pie reports to come...

Piemeister pies are good, available in some Sainsbury's. Bisto Best beef gravy and a top quality cheesy mash are a great home alternative if you can’t pickup a good pie in town.

I'm assuming Mike meant Pieminster pies which are a good option however I strongly disagree with the Bisto suggestion, horrible stuff made with, among other cheap filling agents, maltodextrin, sugar, palm oil, MSG and 1% beef extract which is a beef slurry produced by mechanical extraction of a carcass. All formed into dissolvable pellets.....tasty! If you can't get hold of some leftover gravy made during a roast and obviously don't want to go through the hassle of making a beef stock from scratch then a simple onion gravy would be a good alternative.

However, I would eschew the pie at home experience and seek out a decent one in a pub. You can't really go wrong with a pub that serves good food in general, I don't have any personal recommendations for London although I did have a fantastic lamb and mint pie in Brown's in Covent Garden.

Wasn’t 100% sure of spelling JC, ty.

Bisto is shocking stuff i agree. Bisto BEST is genius. Big difference.

Last day! so sad... but my feet won't do much more so a long plane flight sounds pretty good - lots of sitting. I did find a so-so pie in a pub in The City and today have last chance for one more... Sometimes you have to eat near where you are... so I've missed my chances at many great recommendations... Yesterday we went to the London Museum, near St. Paul's. very well done, tons of info and hardly anyone there. I loved seeing that bit of the Roman wall..
We then walked to Green Park, did a turn down to say hello to Buckingham Palace.. and back up to Fortnum and Mason for celebration tea for my daughter's new job as a teacher here. Followed up with people watching at Trafalgar Square and wow, the Xmas lights have been fun. Tons of shoppers everywhere. The stores were crowded, at least some were very crowded... so we didn't spend time there..

The other night we did a double decker bus tour to head through the holiday lights and see a good chunk of the city. It was great, and will have to do for our night light show. Still regretting blowing Kew plan.
oh, bonus travel points for finding Ye Olde Mitre in Holborn. Great pub, may be my new London favorite.
Also a note re underground. Mostly everyone has been masked but the other day on Central and Victoria line we had several people around us with no masks.. I slipped on a second mask and hoped for the best.
Today I plan to double mask most of the day. The covid numbers are growing as expected..and I'm nervous re test tomorrow, although I feel fine, am boosted and gargle with salt water (to make my mom happy)
have my test booked for Heathrow. 4 hours before my flight tomorrow, so that should be fine...wishing I'd arranged it for today, but I've already paid, so there you go.
Stay tuned for final word on that...

There And Back Again....
Made it home... Now it's lovely memories, but I'm so glad I made the effort to go..
Will say Heathrow on Friday was back to being a zoo... I got there with 4 hours til flight and it was packed. Took antigen test there (I do wish I'd done it day before so all my flight stuff would have been ready) but that said, it was organized and relatively quick to get through the cue, plus results in 30 minutes.. Then I got in line at the United Airlines area... that was crazy long.. Gal at the desk said it was first day they'd gone from 3 flights to 10 so obviously more than triple the amount of people who'd been coming through.. so keep that in mind
By the time I got through security it was almost time for initial boarding, so much for last-minute shopping.
I did end up finding my delicious meat pie... at The Guinea in Mayfair.. pricey and more posh than pubs we'd been at, but I just told myself we were celebrating my daughter's Jan birthday a little early...
The whole trip was super, and I'll give a shout out to the Holiday Inn Wandsworth (we tend to go airbnb so this was my first London hotel picked solely as it was so close to my daughter's apartment. It delivered on service, breakfast, comfort and locale for what I needed. Also price was good and with train station 2 blocks away it was easy to get around.
I will say it was feeling more and more worrisome re the virus, with pubs packed and shoppers everywhere, and I began to worry more about catching it, and about residents there, business owners, workers and what is in store over here. Great good luck everyone heading there now.
I've not been during the holidays and the Christmas scene and sounds were pretty magical. We popped into a church near Regents Square with a caroling service going on. Heard carol singers at Trafalgar Square and then sat outside at The Admiralty for a pint and to watch the nighttime holiday scene. Was also impressed with how nicely many of the pubs were decorated..
Wanted to thank everyone for suggestions, support, good will and to say how great it is to be in the company of fellow travelers again.. I suppose I'll be heading over there as often as I can now with a child in residence, money and virus allowing, so will be back for more help next time..
Happy, merry holidays everyone...