Final days in the UK Another London Visit and Epsom Downs:
My next visit to London started around South Kensington.
A visit to Harrods a large Full English Breakfast and Darjeeling tea at the Tea Room opposite Harrods. I then walked Round the Albert Hall watching the arrival of people all dressed up in their suits and attire to attend the Meeting of the Grand Master Freemasons.
Walking past the Albert Memorial I headed towards Kensington Palace.

I had never been inside before and took the audio tour. There was a lot of Princess Diana's dresses on show in the first few rooms and then you enter the older rooms where Queen Victoria was brought up as well as roms where Princess Margaret stayed and used.








Walking onto Paddington Station where I took the tube to Kings Cross/St Pancras Station.
St Pancras station is an amazing building completed in 1868. It is the largest single spanned structure built at the time.
It is due to be the London terminal for the Cross Channel tunnel link from October 2007.






I only had time to walk around the outside of the building as I was heading to the British Library which stands to the left of St Pancras station.
In contrast the British Library is very plain on the outside and looks more like a Tescos Super Store. The absence of shopping trolleys alerted me to the fact that this was actually the library.
Inside it takes on a much more interesting feel.
I had another much needed tea and scone before wandering around the exhibitions of old books, Old bibles, Koran's , Handels Mesiah original transcripts and some works from Mozart and other great composers.
There were many other interesting things there including two original versions of the Magna Carta the original from 1215 and a later version revised some years later.

It was by now getting late and after purchasing a couple of books from the bookstore. I walked back to Victoria Station, passing through Russell Square, Trafalgar Square Westminster, and many other interesting London streets.
One of the best things to do in London is to walk the streets, there is so much to see and you cover a large are without even relising how far you have walked. It was only the next day that I realised as my legs attested to.


Trafalgar Square at night.



















Westminster Cathedral. Peaceful at night Big Ben chiming in the back ground from the Place of Westminster.








Saturday morning I went to the gym. Helen and I then went off to see Mick and his Black MG he is building from scratch at MG BITS just outside Ripley. Already looking in good shape and very highly polished What beautiful vehicle it will be.
He expects it to be complete by Spring for touring around Italy. The Red MG will be relegated to sitting in the garage at home by then.

Helen and I stopped in Pyrford for a pub Lunch and a brief walk along the Canal before stopping into see Mum and then returning back to Helens to prepare for Mick Birthday Celebreations.
We walked to Ewell Village and started the evening at the 'Green Man Pub', met up with the other friends. It was good to catch up with them all.
Mick was given a few presents and then we moved to the 'King Bill' which was somewhat noiser, as it was their Halloween Karioke evening. Several more drinks later and we were ready for another walk.
We left there around 9.45pm and headed off to the Indian Restaurant around the corner from Helen and Micks. Fantastic food. After that, all back to Helen and Micks for final drinks and to complete the present giving.

Sunday was naturally a more quiet day, subdued one could say. Weather fantastic . No breeze even sunny and still warm. I made my final visit to check over number 24 , hoping that the last people who viewed it will choose to rent it.
Mick turned up with Helen in the red MG and joined Mum for tea in the garden of number 21










Helen, Mum and I went for a walk over Epsom Downs.










Memories of times past when we used to walk up there from the house of a weekend, and many memories of spending time up there riding the horses from Headley across the back of the Downs and the racing them alongside the track. Cycling across the Downs to Headley Heath, and flying Stunt kites in the strong winds that can whip up from the valleys and across the hills.


Today was no kite flying day at all. everything was so calm and peaceful.
People walking their dogs. People on horses, and a few flying heir remote controlled planes. A typical Sunday afternoon on the Downs.




When you look North you can see across London and The City the London Eye , Westminster, St Pauls, then further left the BT Tower, The New Wembleys Football Stadium, right around to Heathrow Airport and Windsor Castle.
The views are amazing from the North downs especially on a clear day.


Looking South and East you see nothing but countryside and further South West the steeple of Headley Church, and all of this 15 minutes walk form where I was brought up.




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