Day 42: London

Holy hangover.  Talking and drinking with Sally last night was all just too easy.  Those Italiano red wines sure packed a punch and I had a cracking headache all day. Consequently we were slow to get moving, with Rick struggling the most and the kids happy to just play their ipads. First stop, Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard via the tube and Green Square .  We waited in the "sun" for 40 minutes and sadly there was no changing of the guard.  Its every second day apparently, but someone forgot to tell us and the thousands of other people hugging the gates waiting for something to happen.  The upside was a troop on horseback came riding past and it was a visual splendor enough to suffice the royal experience.  I had hoped to go into the Palace as its open this month for tours while Lizzie is in Scotland, but none of my troops were interested. An old man and lady arrived in a car and were escorted inside the palace on a golf cart.  Zachie thought she was the queen. Too cute. So on to find somewhere for lunch and I remembered that amazing sushi from yesterday. We googled it and sure enough there was one close by which we set off in search of. A few wrong turns and the stress was building.  We finally located it inside Victoria Station, so there we sat, in a manic environment watching people coming and going, while we ate our not as enjoyable sushi. It was not a great moment which made my head hurt all the more. On to the tube to St Pauls Cathedral.  Rick wasn't keen to take the kids into another church and kindly gave me time to see it on my own.  It was very special to sit in peace for a change and soak it up.  I felt quite emotional as I watched Charles and Dianna's wedding ceremony on the audio guides they give you.  I climbed to the top and enjoyed the view.  It was my most appreciated time in London yet.  Back to reality and we walked across the Millennium Footbridge to the other side of the river and slowly made our way towards Southbank stopping for hot chips and an ice cream along the way.  South Bank was pumping.  I am in awe of the volume of people moving around this city. Its endless and constant and overwhelming.  We stumbled past the street performer from our first night and the kids enjoyed his performance again.  We saw an African band with 20 odd drummers and ladies moving to the beat as only black Africani's can.  The place was alive and buzzing with action, and people.  On to Westminster Abbey and Scarlett and I went to the afternoon service, which again was pretty special. The organ played and I imagined the special ceremonies they've held here and again felt quite emotional again. I think my hangover was dictating. Home via the tube during peak hour. Joy. Dinner was in a pub back in Earls Court.  It was a nice pub but hard to swallow the cost of everything when you convert pounds to Aussie dollars.  Max and Zach had a bowl of chips each, Scarlett a hamburger, Rick a fish pie and I had a salad.  Add a beer, glass of wine and 3 lemonades, and we had spent $150.  It dampened the experience and tomorrow night we might opt for eggs on toast, or just not think about it.  Bed couldn't come quickly enough for everybody.  Only three more sleeps left before our great adventure comes to an end.  Boohoo.