Grandma's England Journal - Day Nine

4/8/92:

Bright, sunny and mild morning. Lynne and the girls took Phyllis and I to the Brit Rail station at Huntingdon where we boarded at 7:05 for London. Train traveled very fast, tunnels under major highway systems were hard on the ears. Saw lots of the countryside, farms, fields of green grass or perhaps wheat. Meadow after meadow of grazing sheep with their new lambs with little black faces. At King's Cross Station we purchased tickets for one day unlimited tube (or underground) and bus fare. Took the Circle Line to Notting Hill Station, then we walked several blocks downhill, past stately old residences converted to apartments, very quiet area after the bustle of the stations.

We asked a flower vendor for assistance to Holland Park Gardens. We were standing on Holland Park. We started off again and just before reaching the corner, Phyllis' friend, Eily was coming to meet us. She is a sprightly 87 years old. She had a light lunch prepared. We asked her out to dinner after we came back from sightseeing but she said no, that she liked her own cooking better and besides it was better for you. Our luggage stowed in a large bedroom with twin beds, bookcases, a fireplace and dressing table, we left.

I should describe her apartment. In one of these large homes, you enter by pushing the bell for the number of the apartment and the occupant could talk to you and also release the lock so that you could enter the foyer. Up broad (8'-10') thickly carpeted stairs in soft beige to the third floor to #8. There were two apartments to each floor. Her door was double-locked, led down a narrow hallway with closed doors on one side and occasional windows on the other. Just beyond the room Phyl and I shared, was a short hall that led to first-floor toilet (window always open) second old fashioned bath tub and wash bowl and loads of towels. I think she lived mostly in her little kitchen, old fashioned set of open shelves, very old flowered blue platters at least 18" long decorated a mantle. Her stove, sink and cookware were in a small pantry. Her walls everywhere were covered with paintings, prints and photos - of many subjects and places. Lots from India, Africa and British West Indies. Her living room was large with a fireplace, a sofa, chairs, tables and even a TV. I would call the furnishing well-worn and past their prime.

We left Eily, took a bus at the corner 94, to the top of Notting Hill. There we took the Green Line to Westminster Bridge, where we got the Thames River tour boat. That was great seeing London stretched out on both sides, other river traffic and finally London Bridge in the near distance. We docked just west of the Tower of London. We went on a tour with a Beefeater guide, took pictures of several sites, the ravens, the remnants of the old Roman wall that they are trying to preserve. I took a picture of Phyllis with one of the Beefeater guides then she was going to take my picture; another guide came up so she took one of me with two Beefeaters. They were very courteous and well-informed, willing to answer questions from our tour people and of course, pose for pictures.

We decided that after all the walking that day, we would take bus tour of London. Took the tube back to Victoria station where Tours started. We took front seats of the double decker as up on top there was a wraparound windshield. It protected us from the chill wind but let us have a fine view in all directions. The tour guides remarks came to us from speakers. It was great seeing Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing St., the Sherlock Holmes pub on Baker St., Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Fleet St., riding over London Bridge, the view of the Thames - so many sights. Hope my pictures turn out.

We took the tube back to Notting Hill. Arrived back at Eily's at 6 p.m. There we had sherry, pita bread broken and dipped into cod roe topped with black olives. Thoroughly enjoyed the food and relaxed conversations as we recounted our day.

Dinner was about 9:30! Roast rack of lamb with mint jelly, cauliflower and carrots, delicious. Finished about 11 p.m. I retired very sleepy.