Saturday October 9th
Having packed small bags and only essential items in the backpacks, we were not well prepared for breakfast. We had thought ahead and bought a box of muesli bars as emergency rations but we needed a more substantial feed before setting out for London. Hamish rang about 10.30 and I suggested we go out for Brunch. As he had just got up and not eaten he wasn’t about to turn that offer down. We met at the guard room and he took us to Ruislip where we had a great breakfast at Cafe Rouge. He was off on another Squads gig later in the afternoon and we were booked on a coach to Ipswich from Victoria at 4.30 so he dropped us at the West Ruislip station and we took the train into town.
When we had been walking through London last Monday I had seen the notices for an Exhibition at the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace called Victoria and Albert; Art and Love. I was determined that we would get to see it before we came home so this seemed like a good thing to fill in the afternoon. Of course there was the problem of the wheelie bags and gallery security. Alan was sure they wouldn’t let us in after the fuss at the Royal Academy. But nothing ventured, nothing gained and I was prepared to ask and be told no. So we went in and spoke to someone who asked someone else and she said yes they would store our bags in the cloakroom but they would be subject to a full search. We were only too happy to do this and they got some young chap over who had to pull all my bras and knickers out to check I wasn’t a Muslim extremist. They then asked if we had any sharp knives or objects. Alan admitted to having a Swiss Army camping knife which he had to hand over. This was placed in a plastic bag and he was given a number so he could retrieve it at the end. It was then locked in a drawer. The security screening was the same level as an airport. However you can’t be too careful and Buckingham Palace is an obvious terrorist target. The long involved process was certainly worth it. We finally got into the exhibition which included an audio guide.
Victoria and Albert are my favourite royal couple and I find them fascinating. This was a collection put together around the theme of their great passion for the arts and their love for each other. They were collectors but they gave gifts to each other for birthdays, Christmas and anniversaries that were very personalised and well chosen. It was so good I just had to buy the book about it even though I made a promise not to buy any more books at things we went to. The tickets could be stamped and we are able to return any time within the next year to look at it again. We might just do this if we get time as we were a bit rushed at the end being mindful of having to walk the bus station. It was quite extensive and bigger than I had imagined it would be.
We retrieved all our baggage and walked along to the Victoria bus station and found the departure for Ipswich. There was time for a quick coffee and then we were off through London. The drive out always takes a while but it is always interesting. This time we went right along the embankment and had a great view of the Houses of Parliament, millennium wheel and Tower of London. The route eventually took us out to Stratford near where they are developing the Stadium for the Olympic Games. Parts of East London are not nearly as scenic as along the Embankment!
The trip to Ipswich took 20 minutes less than stated and the bus driver apologised at one stage for getting us all to Chelmsford 10 minutes early. He was a real character and kept us amused with his comments from the minute we got on. He tried to convince us that he had only had his bus licence three days and had finally passed on the third try because he hadn’t hit anything.
At Ipswich we had to wait for the Route 66 bus to take us to Martlesham Heath as we were so early. We finally arrived at Mike and Kathy’s around 8pm after what had been a very easy trip. It was great to be back in our “own house” again where we lived for a year in 2001.
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