Blogging weekend Part 4 London! The final chapter.

I was thinking of the times I've been to London in my life.

The first time I was 14 at school and we had a trip to the Natural History museum. On a coach, off a coach, Museum, on a coach off a coach. Didnt see much of London really.

The second time was then I was student at college age 16  We went for the weekend to a hair conference. Yes we did get some free time, I vaguely remember Soho and Harrods but that was it.

The third time was to see a show, another on coach off coach experience.

The fourth time was with college again but as a teacher going to the same conference. But didnt get any free time as we had students that year that needed watching!

Fifth time lucky! And with a very competent chaperone.

After the first day of Brit Mums Live was over myself and Sarah went back to the hotel to freshen up then we went to Piccolinos off Regent Street. How beautiful was Regent Street. I stared and stared at the sweeping buildings while Sarah, who visits London often, laughed at my amazement.

Sarah is in the corner of the photo thinking 'what is she doing? '

Next stop. Piccolinos!

I love when you can see the chefs cooking!

The starters. Sooo tasty!

Sirlion steak and house chips with a tomato salad. The steak melted like butter in my mouth.

After the meal Sarah took me on a whistle stop tour round London.

Covent Garden

I felt like Eliza Doolittle and very nearly burst into song but I thhink would have killed me. I was so excited to see the areas where some of my favourite childhood films had been made. And i'd do anything ( get it) to have spent some more time there.

We stopped of at Sarahs favourite London pub 'the Punch and Judy. 

I really enjoyed it there, sat outside taking it all in. We chatted for ages and really got to know each other as more than work friends. I will not forget that night for a long time.

Last stop was Leicester Square. Its actually a square! Sarah was in stitches at this. But Piccadilly circus isn't a circus is it? 

As a child my favourite board game was monopoly and this weekend I have done the yellow and green properites. I had no idea they were near to each other in real life. You can tell I dont get out of Lancashire very much...

As the evening ended, we got a taxi back to the hotel. We chatted to a real cockney taxi driver who loved telling us the famous people he had, had in the back of his taxi.

Noel Gallager, Allan Sugar, Keith Richards to name a few. I rubbed my bottom on the seat as if to rub off some of the DNA, I just wanted to soak it all in like a sponge.

Back at the hotel we had a nightcap then chatted for ages in our beds about the weekend until eventually falling asleep.

I not only had a fabulous time at Brit Mums live but I loved seeing the sights of London just as much.

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Sarah for making the weekend so special and putting up with my ooooo's and ahhhh's, tree hugging teaching me escalator equitique and for generally being my carer haha. The weekend wouldnt have been the same without you xx

Blogging weekend Part 2. Going underground

Once over the eventful trip to Manchester that had been correctly navigated, well almost...my job was done, leaving my life in the big city totally in Sarahs hands. 

First stop, the London underground.

Many things have been shown about the London underground, on documentaries, films,TV shows, and its sometimes in the news usually for something bad. So I had expectations of it being busy, noisy, a bit scary and all a bit of a stress but at the same time I was excited!

Its amazing to think, for me anyway that your walking through the streets of London ( I can feel a song coming on there) knowing there is an enormous network of tunnels right under your feet and seeing how busy the roads were, its a good job they have the underground. 

So we found, well guided by Sarah our first underground entrance! Against the lights of Piccadilly circus!

Well after going half a mile down a load of steps the first thing I realised is its deeper than I thought, then we reached the platform. 

It was just like in the movies? And those tunnels look mighty scary!

Luckily it was quiet so my fear of getting pushed into the path of an oncoming train didnt arise.

The second thing I realised was how blooming windy it is down there. No good for my hair at all.

Once on the tube as the locals call it! I think I saw every nation and culture there is in the world all in one carriage and everyone had a phone, laptop, other mobile device, book or magasine. 

I love people watching and if it hadnt been for Sarah watching out for me and picking my jaw off the floor on occasions, I think I would have been there all day.

Once off 'the tube' was the next newbie. 

The escalator challenge.

Never in my entire life, not even on the movies, have I seen escalators so long! I nearly got vertigo, says the woman who is doing a sky dive in August! 

And this photo was taken was near the bottom!

I was glad we were on the quiet side but not for long.....

Another tube to hop on, well I didnt really hop on it like the locals, more like jump, shuffle then find something to cling to, on.

Once off we took another esculator up! I got on with my case safely next to me.

 'Watch your case' said Sarah 'watch your case' 'Lisa! Your case'!!! What was she on about? It was fine, not falling off the step or unsafe. 'Lisa put it in front of you' it was then I looked behind to see quite a few, well about 30 people behind my case waiting to get past! Oh well! Now I know. I moved it mumbling apologises to everyone that ran past.

Sarah thought it was hilarious!

My overall thoughts on the London underground are,

1 It looks just like just it does on the movies. 
2 The tunnels are as spooky as hell! 

3 I've never been up and down as many escalators in my life and I found out there is a thing called escalator etiquette.
4 You need to put more hair spray on as it gets far too windy!

5 They go far faster than I thought, bit like a theme park ride! And sway up and down

6 People don't communicate with each other. No eye contact, nothing. Which is such a shame...

Next step Brit mums live!

Thanks for reading 

Please leave a comment

Lisa xx

Blogging weekend part one!

Getting to Manchester.

Up early all excited to go to Brit Mums Live in London with my friend and fellow blogger, Sarah.

Kevin dropped me off at her house and we set off to Manchester. 

Neither myself or Sarah are good driving in city centres and just as Sarah told me how good I was at navigating I took her to what I thought as the station car park but no it was the wrong way up a one way street! 

Well I didn't see the no entry sign but the police van behind us did. Still not realising I got out of the car to ask the nice policeman which way to the station car park? Then spent the next few minutes apologising and pleading with him not to give me a ticket. 

Phew he let us off with a warning and we finally managed to get on the train. 

Next stop London! 

Lisa xx

Excited!

Case nearly packed!

Tickets and directions in bag.

Off to Brit mums live in London tomorrow with my friend from work.

A bit nervous but very excited!

Lisa xx