Slept off the jetlag and hangover from yesterday, everyone up bright and early (noon!!) for brunch. Veggie and cheese omelette, just like in the old days.
Out and about in the afternoon with Tara's friend Andrew who drove us to the Thames (via Kew Gardens and a bunch of other very famous location names that had Jan and I with our jaws dropped in amazement). Andrew is a very skilled driver, and he needs to be too because EVERYBODY here drives on the wrong side of the road. How he gets anywhere in one piece is a mystery to us, pointed the wrong way as he is.
Merry old England is a giant photo-opportunity, but we didn't take advantage today because we were with the girls and seldom thought about the photo shots, just about them. We walked down the banks of the Thames in Richmond (one of the countless suburbs that London is split into), bought some pints at a pub called Revolution, then sat on the grassy banks amongst a crowd of people all enjoying the sunshine like us. We watched a bunch of people 'punting', or rowing about in small boats on the Thames, and watercraft of all sorts scurrying about. Very civilized country this, you just drink your pint out in the open with kids and dogs all around, and nobody bothers you at all. The Victorians were right, God is an Englishman.
Wandered back to the car eventually for the ride back to Acton via the very heavy London traffic. I was sitting in the left front seat, but I had no steering wheel or pedals. Very strange, and very disconcerting while zipping down the street going the WRONG WAY. But luckily, everyone else on the road was going the wrong way too. I did reach for the gearshift a few times, since I had nothing else to keep myself busy with and I couldn't keep my eyes closed the whole trip.
The girls are out at a club opening tonight as Jan and I type this. Then we're off to scout out the pubs in the area. That's our mission, and we have to report back to the girls in the morning.
