Day 44: London

Its unanimous.  The kids think Sally Martin is the best thing about London. And I would agree if I didn’t wake up with another thumping headache this morning.  So on to the Science Museum that a frightfully English grandmother in Hamelys insisted we must visit as it was “positively the most splendid thing to do with children whilst in London”.  Even her “50 year old son that lives in New York visits it every time he comes home”.  And she was right, it was fabulous. Best of all, it had no queues.  There were all things science to see including engines, planes, phones, inventions, computers, you name it.  There was a whole section on planets and space, earth, volcanoes and earthquakes.  It was five floors of science made cool for kids and Max and Zachie were like a sponge.  So there we stayed for hours watching a cool 3D movie in the largest IMAX cinema in Europe. Scarlett, Zachie and I flew to the moon in a simulated flight and Max and Rick flew a fighter jet.  It was pouring rain when we left so we opted for some sightseeing on the bus again. We are obsessed with the double decker buses and its fast becoming our preferred mode of transport in London. The traffic was at a standstill and we just happened to stop outside Harrods, so we thought we'd take a quick look in the much touted food hall.  It was pretty impressive (as were the prices) although I will make a big call and say I think DJ’s is better (well maybe just as good).  The rain really started and the $2 plastic rain coats just didn’t cut it. Rick kept saying that this was the real London and at that moment I longed for leafy Lindfield.  Sadly I had left Sally’s umbrella on the bus, so we decided to cut our losses and head home via the tube.  The kids were very pleased! They went home while I walked around trying to find a decent umbrella to replace the one I had lost.  I was soaked by the time I got home and couldn’t stop thinking about Australia. On to Miss Sally’s for dinner via the tube first and then a walk in the rain because we couldn’t get a cab. Salvation finally came in the form of a black cab and a divorce was adverted. The kids thought it was fabulous and very old fashioned aside from the TV screen in the back of the cab. Sally welcomed us in and smothered us with lots of TLC, delicious food, amazing wine and movies. We enjoyed our last “Spritiz” in Europe and dined on gorgeous Italian including a beautiful crab linguine.  Scarlett watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the first time while the boys played on their Ipads.  It was Nirvana for all concerned and the most like home we’d felt in nearly 7 weeks (clearly I am a little homesick).  It was very hard to say good bye and we lingered as long as we could.  Home at midnight via another black cab. We were happy to be home but even more happy that we are heading to our “real home” tomorrow night.