Day trip to the city….

Ridiculously early start this morning when Tarly woke me at 6.20am. Urgh! So much for new routine giving lie ins all the time 🙄 I actually felt quite rough (and deservedly so given quite how many empties I stuck in the recycling bin this morning but there was six of us for most of the evening :oops:) so I made a cup of tea and we cuddled under a big pink blanket for about an hour until Ady and Davies came downstairs. Ady had a bath while I continued cuddling with both children, I jumped in after him and a very hot bath and a second cup of tea seemed to restore me sufficiently to get myself and the children dressed while Ady packed up a picnic. And then a mere 40 minutes after I’d planned we set off for London.

I don’t think I’ve ever driven so far into London before, amazing how very specific the feel and culture is as you drive through each borough – so we did lots of people watching as we went, loads of very dressed up people spilling out of Sunday morning services at various churches as we drove by giving us lots to point out to the children.

We parked right next to the London Eye, and coincidentally the Travelodge we stayed in when we went up for a few nights back in 2004 so felt quite at home. As we wandered across the green Alison yelled at us so we joined her and a couple of other FP people in the playpark with more joining us after a while. We had a lovely picnic and a very nice couple of hours chatting to people I’ve met previously like Em and a couple of other brand new IRL people too. I thought I’d found a new toilet trip partner in Em but sadly blew that 😉 and Ady spent the whole time taking loads of pictures with his shiny new camera. You can see them here.

Mindful of the slightly cheaper than we’d been expecting but rather expensive nonetheless parking charges we decided not to go over the 3 hour mark so bid everyone farewell and headed for home. On the way past a Chinese Supermarket along Purley Way in Croydon that I have looked at every time I’ve ever gone to Ikea and thought we really must go and look at we decided to do just that so had a very enlightening half hour or so browsing the exotic shelves including peering in at the live lobsters and crayfish. We bought a couple of bits including multi coloured prawn crackers, a massive bag of cloves and some green noodles, all for the princely sum of £1.58 and came home in time for the last half hour or so of the football. Which as it happened was when everything that was going to happen did happen so that was good. 🙂

Tea and bed for the children, roast dinner and taped Dr Who for us and I’m fully intending to be in bed before 11pm myself. I think I need some catch up sleep and a couple of teetotal days. Bloody hell, when did I grow up then? 😉