Summer is a cummin in

My feet have fallen off !

21st July 2012

Yesterday the question had been posed at Hampton Court. When did Buckingham Palace become the monarch’s residence ? I could remember that the house was originally the Duke of Buckingham’s but thought that it passed into royal hands sometime about Queen Anne. I was close. That was when it was built (1705). It was then bought by George III for his wife as a town house (1761).

Much to my surprise it was Victoria who first used it as a palace (1837) and having discovered it too small, had it greatly enlarged. It’s current form dates from just before the Great War. And I never realised that the Marble Arch used to be the main gateway. They had to move it to Hyde Park to make room for the palace’s east wing.

So, Saturday was going to be a move away from the royal courts to the land of the masses – Camden Market. The theory formulated on Friday evening was that Vytautas, Rasa and her son Lukas were going to be there for 1000 hours. Well, that was never really going to happen. Let’s face it Lukas is a student so probably doesn’t do mornings. I said that I would give them a shout and we would take it from there.

The morning was bright and sunny and after all the rain we have had over the last six weeks it was as though a switch had been thrown and the sun had come out. From moaning about it being too cold, we were now exhausted by the cauldron.

I made my way up to London where I was stunned to find that a Travelcard was seven quid. Didn’t it used to be just a few shillings. Having looked though, the Paris Métro is as expensive. I have to say that I am not a great fan of London. Too many people, and Victoria Station was just the start; hordes of them.

Getting up to Camden Market was a simple Tube ride and despite the thousands of people I soon spotted Vytautas on the street. Sister, Rasa was also present and correct but nephew Lukas was ‘just about to head over’ (That is student speak for : I now have my eyes open).

Camden is a very colourful, vibrant place and there are stalls and shops galore. I always have doubts about quality at any market, but as I start on the basis that everything is either counterfeit or stolen I am probably coming from the wrong direction. As I wasn’t buying anything all I had to do was tag along as we searched for interesting things to buy as souvenirs.

No lack of choice, but that poses a difficulty in itself. It is easy to decide that you want a T-Shirt but how do you chose amongst thousands. We walked and looked, walked some more and the search for goodies went on.

Lukas finally arrived and we went into the Stables area near Camden Lock. As its name suggests this is where the transport company Pickford’s housed their barge and van pulling horses. There are numerous bronze statues and panels reminding visitors of this heritage. I should have taken more photos but was wary about walking about with the camera. As for Vytautas he spent the entire day carrying his camera bag which was slowly filling with other things as well. It weighed a tonne. No wonder he was looking a little weary on his final day.

After a couple of hours we said goodbye to Lukas and the remaining three musketeers set off for the West End and more shopping in Oxford Street and Piccadilly. One of my points about being in London is that it is hard to find anyone who speaks English. Rasa doesn’t and had felt a little isolated because of it but I had insisting that it didn’t matter.

Standing in one of the shops looking at T-Shirts she asked Vytautas something about sizes. The lassie arranging the display immediately replied for her in Lithuanian. The prosecution rests.

The presies had been bought, we had eaten and had a pint and dandered about Pall Mall as far as St James’s Palace. The streets were calmer and away from the crowds I enjoyed walking along looking at the buildings and various elegant boutiques (I doubt that they would consider themselves as shops) providing gentleman with clothing, fine shaving implements, wine and cigars. A different world altogether from Camden Market.

It was time for me to head back to Kent and for Vytautas and Rasa to think about their last night in London and getting ready for the flight home to Vilnius (Population slightly less than the number of shoppers on Oxford Street).

22nd July 2012

Sunday dawned another fabulous day and Hannah and Alex had organised a barbecue at Anton and Deb’s to celebrate one year of marriage.

Last year they had picked up strawberries from one of the suppliers that Anton visits in the course of his work. They had been very good so he went back for more. They were ginormous. Very tasty but you could only get four in a bowl.

Alex had made up some home made burgers that were excellent and as always the guests were well fed and watered – including the four new inhabitants of the garden; the chooks. A pistol (well technically its a revolver I suppose) was doing the rounds which fired pink foam bullets. These were instantly taken for rapid, flying worms and chased all over the place. Humans had to get there first before the fowl eat them.

An entertaining afternoon.