London and Windsor

London & Windsor – Monday 27^th June

A day in London, some washing and a drive in the car – we’d like to get Hayden and Elisse out of London for the day.

After a late breakfast and a big wash, Hayden, Elisse and Bruce go shopping… for a barbeque. Hayden and Elisse are very excited about their new toy and Elisse starts messaging friends for the inauguration.

We drive to Windsor and walk along the Thames, find the lock and watch boats being moved up and down. It is a beautiful sunny day and England is green and bright with flowers.

We find a nice pub lunch at the Royal Oak. I treat myself to a ploughman’s lunch and a glass of wine (yeh, should have been beer or cider). Bruce has a chicken and Caesar salad and Hayden and Elisse share Mexican Tacos. Our policy is to eat the food of the country we are in, where possible.

Royal Oak, Windsor

The original Royal Oak Hotel was demolished in the late1930s and replaced with the building we have currently in 2004. It was owned by Courage’s Brewery.

An older view, complete with horse manure on the road! This photograph dates from around 1913.

The Royal Oak Public House in May 2004 with the Round Tower of Windsor Castle beyond.

Windsor History – The Royal Oak

Next is the ‘Long Walk’, it is 3 miles long, we walk just about 1/10^th of it and take some more photos. Hayden is creative – trees from a worm’s eye view.

We drive back to London and prepare for a night out with Elisse’s flute teacher Alan Hardy and his wife Helen and twin sons James (Mr Stripes) and William (Mr Blue).

Elisse walks us from Kensington to Tootsies’ restaurant in Old Brompton Road, Kensington. This is a hamburger restaurant with style. We entertain James & William by taking photos of them making funny faces – it is a lot of fun.

Next is the Royal College of Music (or RCM) and Royal Albert Hall, via the college’s local pub. I’ve decided to dress up for the evening with my new shoes and damage my feet majorly with the long walk in the hot evening.

Hayden & Elisse piggy back James & William – they have a great time – laughing and giggling the whole way. Helen has fond memories of halls at the Royal College of Music – it is an emotionally time for her.