Friday 5th October

Oh no! Last day in London - so sad! We've had so much fun and it's gone all too quickly, but we're all so glad we had the chance to come here.  We got the remainder of our things together and waved goodbye to Peggy and Tink who are off to Cornwall after spending the night on the barge of a friend of theirs.  The barge has been done up as a houseboat an they're taking it up rivers and locks within England.  Sounds like a great adventure which Peggy and Tink will have an insight into before heading south.  It was strange farewelling them after bing together over the last month - we're so very grateful to Peggy for providing  the impetus for all of us to head overseas and for getting us all there! Thank you Peggy and Grandma! 
We checked out of the apartment and left our bags at the reception down the road in Curzon St then headed off for our last day.  Back up Oxford St, Regent St, and Piccadilly Circus, stopping into shops, and enjoying a really sunny day, before going to Leicester Square. Sue, amazingly "Choquitos" Mexican is still there (!!) and as the kids felt like a big feed, we stayed and had lunch. While I was sorely tempted, I resisted the urge to have the fishbowl sized strawberry margaritas that we used to have and that are still on the menu (Sue, Ant, Kaye, Surrey Quays' girls, I think you know what I mean!). 

We then headed to Leicester Square tube station and made our way to Waterloo to go on the London Eye.  It had really clouded over by this stage, but the view was still great, and there was no rain. In the next compartment/ bubble, a whole bridal party got on.  By the time the half hour was finished, the couple were married and the champagne was flowing and we had a bird's eye view of London and their wedding.  After hopping off, we walked over the bridge to get a closer look at Parliament House and Big Ben, tried to go into Westminster Abbey, but it was closed for the day, so we hopped on the Circle Line to visit Fiona and Danny once more at the Sutton Arms so they could meet the kids. Emily and I had a half pint of lager each and I have some serious parenting work to do with Emily as she couldn't finish it (how embarrassing). The kids had a lemonade which was special as they wouldn't normally be allowed in the pub. They did their best not to scare off the locals before we said our goodbyes and headed home.  We had to change trains at King's Cross so we couldn't miss the chance to go to the above-ground train and find platform 9 3/4 (think Harry Potter). Worth the trip for our very last site-seeing spot.
We made it back to Green Park to collect our bags, and headed to the airport in the pouring rain and heavy, heavy traffic, to join the ridiculously long queue to get through security. We left Green Park at 6.15pm and only got through customs at 8.50, to have to board the plane after quick calls to Stephen -to say farewell- and to Damian to let him know we were about to leave.  
Farewell England for now - the kids have had a great taste for London and want to go back and there's no way I'm waiting another 19 years to go back!!  Emily said to me during the stay, "Why did you come home from here?"  I think she liked it. 
So we're on the plane headed for Singapore and next time I get wifi, I'll put this up with some photos.  Now to sleep at last with happy dreams of England...