Wednesday, April 20th, 2011: Tower of London & Covent Gardens etc.

 

Brian put on Harry with some bribery- candy!!! WHOOWHO!! Tower of London in the morning. Alexandra really liked the Tower. She was very fascinated to see where the queens lost their heads. We spent the entire morning there. They have changed the tour and bits- they push the recordings and the Yomens give a shortened tour and leave out a few bits. While we didn’t see it all we did have a really good time.

Then we met up with Adam and headed to Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Convent Gardens. At Covent Gardens we watched several street performers. The kids really loved that bit. It was great fun to watch their faces. Then we went to China Town for dinner and ate at a Michillan Star rated dim sum restaurant. YAUATCHA. It was delicious!!!! Home and bed by 9 pm.

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011: London Day 1

 
Wow what a day: 8:50 am fast train to London. We were at our hotel: Mowbray Court Hotel in Earls Court by 11:30. Then we grabbed lunch and headed off to start our search for the missing Wedding Ring (a treasure trail that was suppose to lead us around Westminster and the Buckingham palace.) We had difficulty with the treasure trail and the fact that Brian did not want to wear Harry nor the sling (I borrowed one to help me to carry Brian). When he walked he would not hold hands but would throw a fit if you put Harry on him. He was happy to be carried but not with the help of the sling. After multiple fits from Brian and us having difficulty with the treasure hunt, we gave up and just went to St. James Park.

Next we went to The National Gallery. It was wonderful in there but they had a fire alarm and all people were required to leave. Alexandra  gave money to a “gold Man statue” who posed for a picture with her. Of course we saw the lions at the National Gallery and Westminster and Big Ben. We also saw Downing Street and even saw the changing of the Horse Guard.

We met Miriam for dinner. It was so magnificent to see her. She looked great. We walked to the Strand and had dinner at Wagamama- Japanese restaurant chain owned by Iron Chef Morimoto. It was great food and we had a fabulous time. The kids loved Miriam- Brian calls her “Mary”. After dinner we attempted to get on the London Eye but the queue was outrageous. So we took the kids to the park/playground. Alexandra bought cotton candy with her own money and then shared it with all of us.

Monday, April 18th, 2011: Pool & Lyme Valley Park

This morning Alexandra, Brian and I went swimming at Jubilee pool. We went to the main pool’s public swim and then to the toddler pool. Toddler pool is definitely warmer. But the main pool has a water slide. Alexandra would like to try it next time. This time by the time she got up the nerve, the life guard was gone.

After swimming, we hiked over to Lyme Valley Park to meet Adam P and his mom. It was suppose to be a gorgeous day but it turned cold and windy. We spent a few hours there and then head home to get ready for tomorrow- LONDON.

April 15th & 16th, 2011: Brampton Park and Museum

 



This little engine pulled 8 people around the park-quite fast!



Took the kids to the Brampton Museum and Art Gallery in Newcastle-under-Lyme. It was a great museum. They had a scavenger hunt. Appearently they have several, so we can go back again and do a different one. Additionally they have a sand pit and a playground in the attached park. Fortunately I managed to keep the kids out of the sand pit.

On Saturday, we went back to Brampton Park for the afternoon. They were having a Mad-Hatters Tea Party. Sofia Barber and he baby Hannah (Snell) met us for the day. We had a great time. Played in the park, made Easter hats, rode the train and saw part of the Tea Party. We will definitely go back to this park again!

Thursday, April 14th, 2011: Gladstone Pottery Museum

Alexandra, Brian and I took the bus to Gladstone Pottery Museum. It was a delightful day! We learned how a pottery factory worked in its early days.  Additionally, we painted pottery: Alexandra a pig, and Brian a old kiln.

While many know our area for Wedgwood, many people don't relize that the area made alot ulititary items: bowls, jugs, and especially toilets.  So after painting our pottery, we saw the salute to the loo expedition “Flushed with Pride”. It even had smell effects!!! Alexandra said “let’s get out of here. It smells!”

 

Tuesday April 12th, 2011: North Staffordshire A & E

 

Does this look like the face of a toddler in the Emergency Room?  It is!

As we were getting Brian ready for bed, he tripped over his own feet and bit through the outside skin and the inside flesh (but not all the way through) of his lower lip. Off to A&E we went.   Brian kept saying : “Momma lip bite bleeding. Momma bleeding.” Brian had fallen asleep during the car ride so I walked into A& E with a sleeping/bleeding boy on my shoulder. Right away the hospital admissions staff asked few questions (name, DOB, my name, contact phone # and did he have a local doctor so they could send a letter indicating any follow up that might be needed). Next they sent me back to the children's unit. I waited about 2 minutes to see the nurse who looked Brian over -made the initial diagnosis and made sure nothing else was wrong. By then Adam showed up. Then we waited 30 minutes or less to see the doctor, who made the final diagnosis and we were treated within 5 minutes after that. They gave Brian liquid stitches to hold his outside bottom lip together and his full bottle of antibiotic (so I didn't have to find a pharmacy on my way home) to keep the inside lip from getting infected. In total we were there for less than 1.5 hours and that included observation time to make sure he was not allergic to the medicine. One more thing: it was ENTIRELY FREE!

In the mean time, Linda took Alexandra to the Observatory at Keele. Anusha walked them there through the woods. They had a good time looking at the moon. When they were ready to go home, the staff told them how to get to the Student Union. Alexandra told them, “if you can direct us to the student union, I can get us home from there” and she did!!! Grandma Linda was very impressed!

April 11th, 2011: Caeverlock Castle

On our way to Caeverlock Castle we saw a rainbow. It was beautiful.  Caeverlock Castle was our first castle with a true water moat!! I made Alexandra get out of the car to see this.