Back to the UK for the 2016 Cruising Season

It's been a busy few weeks for us, getting organised to get across to the UK for the cruising season. Rather than just preparing for a five month holiday overseas we thought we could make it more interesting by selling our house at the same time.

Sitting down in the aircraft comfortable that all had gone as it was suppose to was our first chance to relax for quite sometime, attributed in no small part to Rachael's ability to multitask. She managed to organise the the trip and the move from our old house while I finished off the last of my seven months of work.

Something different this year, no stopover in the USA, a different route direct to the UK with a two hour refueling stopover in Dubai. We flew QANTAS for the first time in quite a long time, not a bad trip, a resounding OK. Food was OK, comfort was OK, flight attendants' service was OK although the aircraft was only two thirds full, not sure how they would have gone with a full aircraft.

On arrival in London we thought we could wash off most of the jet lag with a couple of days in a hotel here in London. Rachael had prepared a short sightseeing list which we managed to knock-over thanks mainly to our early start. First point of call was the Tower of London, haven't been here for over ten years. We were at the ticket office when the shutters were opened, enjoyed our tour and it is safe to say it hasn't changed much in ten years in fact not too many changes in 800 years I guess. Snapped a few pictures on the new camera to get a feel for it.

Guarding the entrance

Tower Bridge from the Tower wall

The Keep

After the Tower we headed over to Knightsbridge for a little Harrod's shopping and then finished off at Oxford Street in Selfridges where Rachael got a bit of Christmas shopping done nice and early.

Tomorrow we are off up to Stoke on Trent.