The road less travelled...

Safely arrived in London and tucked up in my lovely little (emphasis on the little) hotel room with the two important things - the Internet and a bed. I'm soon going to stop with the Internet and get between the sheets so I can recover from four hours of sleep over the past 40 hours. I'm currently yawning my silly head off.

I am suitably impressed with Malaysia airlines. Both legs of my journey from Melbourne to KL and then KL to London were very good. (There's not a lot they can do about the fact that I've literally crossed the globe in a day.) The flights left exactly on time, for the most part the crew were very obliging and polite, and I have to admit that the food was actually very, very good (proper steak, decent potatoes and even the broccoli wasn't overcooked)!

Okay, so both flights were full, so no luxurious stretching out. Hence why I'm a little short on the sleep.

And maybe I did have to wait for almost an hour at passport control because of the obscenely long queues.

And yes, okay, so there were a few hiccups with works on the Tube line so I had to swap to a bus, lugging my case and backpack.

But you know what?

I'm in London. I have a two week holiday ahead of me.

So I really don't care! *g*

Safely arrived in London and tucked up in my lovely little (emphasis on the little) hotel room with the two important things - the Internet and a bed. I'm soon going to stop with the Internet and get between the sheets so I can recover from four hours of sleep over the past 40 hours. I'm currently yawning my silly head off.

I am suitably impressed with Malaysia airlines. Both legs of my journey from Melbourne to KL and then KL to London were very good. (There's not a lot they can do about the fact that I've literally crossed the globe in a day.) The flights left exactly on time, for the most part the crew were very obliging and polite, and I have to admit that the food was actually very, very good (proper steak, decent potatoes and even the broccoli wasn't overcooked)!

Okay, so both flights were full, so no luxurious stretching out. Hence why I'm a little short on the sleep.

And maybe I did have to wait for almost an hour at passport control because of the obscenely long queues.

And yes, okay, so there were a few hiccups with works on the Tube line so I had to swap to a bus, lugging my case and backpack.

But you know what?

I'm in London. I have a two week holiday ahead of me.

So I really don't care! *g*

So I did wake up at 5am, but that means I had about eight hours' sleep and I'm firing on about three-and-a-half cylinders this morning of a full four, so that's pretty good. I have been catching up on my many emails and LJ entries. I've got my phone fixed so I can use it over here. Now I'm planning my day. I expect to visit Westminster Abbey (again), Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms (again), Pollock's Toy Museum and possibly the Britain at War museum. I'm also considering seeing the Henry VIII exhibition, but I'll need to book in advance for that so I can go on Saturday. Has anyone else been and is it work it?

I've been thinking about my flight. I saw a lot more films than I usually do:
Wall-E
The Reader
He's Just Not That Into You
The Uninvited
Bride Wars
Enchanted
Considering I'm not a film buff, that's a very respectable load of films to have watched, but it does suggest that I had almost no sleep at all on the flight, which is sadly accurate.

Again, the food was astonishingly good, but can anyone explain why, as soon as meals or drinks are served, the turbulence immediately begins? So unfair! I did get a bit of a bath from one of my water containers, but luckily I could mop it up before it could soak in.

So we're in the grip of a 'heat wave'. I know, I know. Terrible for the Brits, but it feels like a normal summer day to me. My hotel has provided a fan for my room and, yes, I'm going to carry water today. But I do that anyway. So I'm afraid I shall do a bit more mockery...*g*

So I did wake up at 5am, but that means I had about eight hours' sleep and I'm firing on about three-and-a-half cylinders this morning of a full four, so that's pretty good. I have been catching up on my many emails and LJ entries. I've got my phone fixed so I can use it over here. Now I'm planning my day. I expect to visit Westminster Abbey (again), Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms (again), Pollock's Toy Museum and possibly the Britain at War museum. I'm also considering seeing the Henry VIII exhibition, but I'll need to book in advance for that so I can go on Saturday. Has anyone else been and is it work it?

I've been thinking about my flight. I saw a lot more films than I usually do:
Wall-E
The Reader
He's Just Not That Into You
The Uninvited
Bride Wars
Enchanted
Considering I'm not a film buff, that's a very respectable load of films to have watched, but it does suggest that I had almost no sleep at all on the flight, which is sadly accurate.

Again, the food was astonishingly good, but can anyone explain why, as soon as meals or drinks are served, the turbulence immediately begins? So unfair! I did get a bit of a bath from one of my water containers, but luckily I could mop it up before it could soak in.

So we're in the grip of a 'heat wave'. I know, I know. Terrible for the Brits, but it feels like a normal summer day to me. My hotel has provided a fan for my room and, yes, I'm going to carry water today. But I do that anyway. So I'm afraid I shall do a bit more mockery...*g*

Very, very, very long day in fact. I just got back to my hotel room (it's 10.41pm) in time to see Andy Murray win what must have been one heck of a game because he was only just coming onto court when I headed out to the theatre. (Hey, you knew I couldn't resist a West End show!) And yes, it was Avenue Q again, which was great, but very different from the Melbourne production. I'll do a proper review of that soon.

So, today.

I began at Westminster - no, I actually began at breakfast. For some reason that I really can't understand, I was sitting at a table next to the heater - which was on. Yup, start of a 'heat wave' and the heater is on. Still, perhaps they thought I needed to acclimatise. So I began the day on a rather warm note...

My first stop was the Abbey. I went there in 1997, but I really wanted to see it again. Mostly to visit Poet's Corner, but also because I had very fond memories of it last time. I did the whole tour again and was reminded why I loved it so much. It's such an incredible building. They're doing various restoration works (I suspect such things are constantly ongoing, but it was far more visible today) and it made me remember why I want to get into museums to work.

My second stop was the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum. This was another revisit, but I was also thinking about possible future employment. I took the chance to buy a couple of books I've thought about for the past few months because they're about $20-$30 cheaper than in Oz.

Lunch was a rather expensive event (not surprising, I suppose, considering where I was) but rather nice. Roast chicken and, more importantly, a cold drink and a place to sit down.

After lunch I went for a stroll and ended up at Covent Garden. I bought a gorgeous picture and a present for my step-mum, so that's one name crossed off the list. (Heidi, what was the DVD you wanted again?) I headed off after that to several bookshops near Tottenham Court Road. I was actually very restrained and only bought two books, so I rather impressed myself there. ;-)

After that I strolled up to Pollock's Toy Museum. This was a beautiful and very interesting collection of toys from the past century and a variety of countries. I took lots of photos because it's useful for some work I and others are doing. Pics coming soon.

My last stop on my shopping tour was the Daunt bookshop where I found a lovely book about Grimm's fairytales converted into short plays.

Oh, and I bought my theatre ticket.

I was going to do my review of Avenue Q, but as it's 11.30pm and I'm starting to wilt, I think it can wait until tomorrow.

Nighty night all!

Very, very, very long day in fact. I just got back to my hotel room (it's 10.41pm) in time to see Andy Murray win what must have been one heck of a game because he was only just coming onto court when I headed out to the theatre. (Hey, you knew I couldn't resist a West End show!) And yes, it was Avenue Q again, which was great, but very different from the Melbourne production. I'll do a proper review of that soon.

So, today.

I began at Westminster - no, I actually began at breakfast. For some reason that I really can't understand, I was sitting at a table next to the heater - which was on. Yup, start of a 'heat wave' and the heater is on. Still, perhaps they thought I needed to acclimatise. So I began the day on a rather warm note...

My first stop was the Abbey. I went there in 1997, but I really wanted to see it again. Mostly to visit Poet's Corner, but also because I had very fond memories of it last time. I did the whole tour again and was reminded why I loved it so much. It's such an incredible building. They're doing various restoration works (I suspect such things are constantly ongoing, but it was far more visible today) and it made me remember why I want to get into museums to work.

My second stop was the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum. This was another revisit, but I was also thinking about possible future employment. I took the chance to buy a couple of books I've thought about for the past few months because they're about $20-$30 cheaper than in Oz.

Lunch was a rather expensive event (not surprising, I suppose, considering where I was) but rather nice. Roast chicken and, more importantly, a cold drink and a place to sit down.

After lunch I went for a stroll and ended up at Covent Garden. I bought a gorgeous picture and a present for my step-mum, so that's one name crossed off the list. (Heidi, what was the DVD you wanted again?) I headed off after that to several bookshops near Tottenham Court Road. I was actually very restrained and only bought two books, so I rather impressed myself there. ;-)

After that I strolled up to Pollock's Toy Museum. This was a beautiful and very interesting collection of toys from the past century and a variety of countries. I took lots of photos because it's useful for some work I and others are doing. Pics coming soon.

My last stop on my shopping tour was the Daunt bookshop where I found a lovely book about Grimm's fairytales converted into short plays.

Oh, and I bought my theatre ticket.

I was going to do my review of Avenue Q, but as it's 11.30pm and I'm starting to wilt, I think it can wait until tomorrow.

Nighty night all!