Wednesday 28 November 2012

London And An Accident!



Last weekend was spent in London, one of our favourite places.

We got the train on Friday morning and after dropping the bags off we headed to Covent  Garden where there's a very nice vintage shop called 
"The Vintage Showroom"


that we had a browse around,

the tree in the square was  impressive with it's hundreds of red baubles hanging from the branches,


and I loved the advent houses in Fred Perry's window, only a few more days and we'll all be opening door No 1, 


the house with the blue plaque is where he used to live.

On Saturday morning we were bright and early as we had a date with a "Pashley" bike!!



I'd read about "Tally Ho! cycle tours" around central London in Homes and Antiques magazine so I booked us on it and it was the highlight of the weekend.


Jack Harris, our guide kept us amused with his knowledge and stories, did you know  the story goes that the "nose" half way up the wall at Admiralty Arch is Napoleon's and if you rub it as you pass by on horseback it's supposed to bring you good luck?




We rode along some of the streets at the back of Westminster Cathedral where this house still had the signs painted on the wall pointing to the air raid shelter in the cellar.



If you have a couple of hours to spare I'd highly recommend a  "Tally Ho!" cycle tour on a wonderful Pashley cycle meandering around London and stopping off for a "wee dram" in one of the little pubs tucked away off the beaten track!!

In the afternoon we went to Camden Market, a lovely bustling little place full of street traders selling their wares and it's also where the lovely "Loop" shop is, I got some tiny  wooden mice buttons and a pattern for some gloves.



As it started to get dark we saw the Mayor and Brooke Kinsella (of Eastenders fame )walking along so we followed the crowd and it turns out they were there to switch on the lights in Islington.


After a quick change of clothes and a hearty "pie and mash" we headed over to Hyde Park for the "Winter Wonderland" that's held there each year, I'd got us tickets to go in the Magical ice kingdom that was full of ice sculptures.



It had taken 20 ice sculptures 4 months to carve them all.

WOW.....








brrrrrr it was chilly in there!!

I think I'd better make this into two parts before I bore you to tears but before I go when I said I wanted new boots this winter this wasn't quite what I had in mind!!



Back soon,

Lucey xx

14 comments:

primrosesattic said...

Loved you pics, looks like you had a great time. Shame about the boot.

Claire said...

Hope those boots don't come in pairs Lucey!!!!
What a wonderful visit to London........seeing you all rugged up in coats, scarves and hats is just what I needed to 'cool me down'. It's 34deg. here on it's way to a possible 39!! Crunchy, brown grass outside and keeping an eye out for smoke!!

Those ice sculptures are amazing fancy spending 4 months in cold conditions carving them....that's dedication to their art.

Loop....how wonderful, ooh, I would like to take a peek in there. Your buttons sound too cute.

Hope the boot won't be on for too long......shall have to come back and find out what happened....take care.

Claire :}

Elderberry-Rob said...

How fabulous your bike ride was! I hadn't heard of these (shame I can't ride a bike ha ha!) Can't wait to see what else you did. We will be in London in few weeks time so now you have given me even more things to go and see! I love Covent Garden but have never been to Camden Market so that's on the list. Betty

Elderberry-Rob said...

hang on - I just realised what sort of 'boot' that is - hope you're ok?

VintageVicki said...

Noooooooooo - not one of those boots! I had one of those last year - 6 weeks of wearing it - hope you are ok xxx.

Was loving the first part of your post - your London trip looked great - love the ice sculptures :)

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

Oh no hope you are ok! London looked wonderful, wasn't bored one little bit! :)

Shortbread and Ginger said...

Looks like you had a wonderful time - the bike tour sounds great fun! Interesting fact about the nose - didn't know that!
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

Crafts @ Home said...

Oh dear, what a lovely post until the end!!!! Hope your ok. The tour around London on bikes looks fab :)
Sue Xxx

LaaLaa said...

Oh no! I hope you're ok. Don't you both look super on your bikes? I like the sound of the tour but do you ride on the road? I wouldn't fancy cycling on the roads in London. xxx

SeasideKaren said...

I'd never heard about that nose Lucey! Will definitely look at the bike tour...I treated myself to a pashley for my 50th birthday, and keep it at our caravan in Alne, so I miss riding it over winter. Hope your leg gets better soon.

Rose H (UK) said...

Looks like you had an 'almost' perfect time. Sorry to see 'the boot' hope you're okay and not suffering too much.
{{Hugs}}
Rose H
x

Josie-Mary said...

Looks like a lovely day.... the bike ride sounds fab! Sorry to see the 'boot'..... hope it gets better soon :) x

Kandi said...

Oh no, you poor thing! Your cycle trip looked fabulous, I guess you must count your blessings that you did your trip before you got your new boot! xx

claire said...

i just went to Camden last Monday, it was fab! Hope your new boot isnt around for too long, at least you don't have a matching pair!!!