London, at home in Belham

I spent the weekend working in the Garden, and particularly loved the rose bushes which over the next few weeks began to flower. One white and one pink. This is the white rose bush which Connor and I pruned and attached to trellis to support the numerous buds.

Connor tackled the lawn which had not been mowed since the end of winter, so was at least a foot tall.

The garden, now all neat and bbq ready to be fired up for dinner.

Katie came over, and we had a fab bbq and shared a bottle of bubbly.

Connor and Katie

Sunday, Connor and I walked down to Belham for a morning walk, coffee and brekkie.

London

From Cape Town, on Sunday 14th, I flew on Lufthansa to London and stayed with Connor, my son who lives in Belham, south east London. From Heathrow it was an easy Tube ride with one changeover to the Northern Line, and I was at his home within an hour. Only hiccup was that I boarded the Heathrow Express, not realizing that both the ‘normal’ tube and the Express used the same platform. An expensive mistake which I found out later when I perused my Credit Card entires a few days later.

FYI, on the Tube and Busses, there is no need to by an Explorer pass any longer -  all access points to the Tube and Bus accepts ‘Tap’ with your credit card. Just remember to use the same credit card for entry and exit for all your journeys on a day, so that the zonal caps apply.

Whilst Connor worked, I sightsee’d London. First day trip was to do the Thames South Walk, aka the Queens Walk.

I caught the Tube at Belham, a 15 minute walk from Connors’ home, traveling north, and alighting at Waterloo station.

Walking through the lovely Jubilee Gardens, the London Eye loomed huge

London Eye Waterloo Pier with its many sightseeing barges

Walking west along the Walk to get a good view of Big Ben and the House of Commons

The back-tracking past the Eye to Tower Bridge, often mistaken as London Bridge

Loads of sightseeing boat trips

This is London Bridge. Not as impressive as Tower Bridge!

A slight detour to the entrance of the Southwalk Cathedral

Side View

The Cathedral is built on older church ruins dating back to the Roman times.

Looking down into the old foundations of History

Beautiful flying buttresses

My photos of various stained glass did not come out so well…

Back along the walk, Lots of flower boxes everywhere

This was interesting. Under many of the arches under overhead bridges, the arches have been built into arcades with shops

It was interesting to see the Thames at low tide, and how the conservation efforts have paid off. The water was clean, and the beaches and stones not full of muck.

I went onto the beach at Gabriel’s Wharf

Clean stones

The Queens Walk Lights

I do love ducks…

Millennium Bridge across to St Pauls

Lots of places on the walk to stop and rest, even picnic tables in booths

It was a really hot day, and after a rest in the shade in Potters Field, I made my way to Borough Market.

Cool Arcade along my route from Potter Field to Borough Market

Sights around Borough Market. I strolled around surprised at the huge crowds, and bought homemade bread, some dips and cheese.

Back to Connors House was a short walk to London Bridge Tube and a 20 min tube ride.

Panama & Cape Town

Meshugga is still in Linton Bay Marina, and work continues. The issues with our Volvo motors also appears to be an ongoing saga, with the Mechanic replacing various bits and pieces….

Other work aboard is ongoing…

Our RH trampoline was disintegrating, as you can see from the holes, and we ordered new tramps.

Nicholas and Marco stripping off the old and starting to attach the new one.

The new one installed.

If anyone follows the 100 year old restoration of TallyHo, as Nicholas does, she arrived at Linton Bay Marina, and Nicholas and Leo got together on Meshugga.

With Meshugga in the water, I relocated Riley and Kaylees’ beds to behind Luis the Welders workshop. I still visit them every evening to feed and play with them.

End May, I had cause to quickly schedule a trip to Cape Town, and did the long haul from Linton Bay on United Air flying via USA Newark. It was an awful layover, even for the 4 hours, as its a dedicated United Terminal with no Lounges linked to Credit Cards etc, and all the stores/restaurants at huge prices with its captured market. But it is the fasted route to Cape Town, flying direct from Newark into Cape Town International.

My time in Cape Town was hectic with medical checkups and seeing family.

One lovely afternoon was my Great Nephews Logans’ 4th birthday party….

My brother-in-law Mike, the Grandfather, and his son-in-law JP (his daughter Robyn-Leas’husband).

Niece Mandy-Lyn and Chris, Logans parents

My sister-in-law Penny (Grandmother) and her other daughter Robyn-Lea (JP’s wife)

The sister-in-laws, Penny, me and Jenny

Thank you Jenny for hosting us for the sister-in-laws weekend get-together in your lovely 100 year old Victorian Home

A dinner out with a bestie Melissa.

Winter in Cape Town is cold, as houses are not insulated….

Mandy with her two sons Logan and Cameron.

Just one photo of the many medical scans I had done. All good news

A huge Thank you to Mike and Penny for hosting me for the two weeks in Cape Town. So nice to spend it with family and not alone in some hotel or Airbnb.