This morning I had to do a long run for my marathon training so I went for a 20km run along the Thames River. It was so beautiful and made the run a lot easier. Here are a couple shots from that run. (I was a total tourist and brought my camera along with me).

View of the Thames

Rowers on the Thames

Jen and I decided to go shopping this morning before heading to our Buckingham Palace tour. We hit Oxford Street, Carnaby Street. Seems like elastic waisted pants are making a comeback along with the body suit. I so remember wearing those and don’t ever plan to wear another one. Jen was sure she saw the exact crushed velvet one she use to rock back in the day. So ridiculous! For lunch we found this little Noodle Shop called Cha Cha Moon in Kingley Court…a little courtyard with a few shops and restaurants in it.The food was pretty good but the Guava Bellini’s were inspired. We could have stayed there all afternoon but had a few more stores to hit.

Liberty Department Store

We booked the last tour of the day at Buckingham Palace. I guess they only open up the State Rooms one month a year so I was lucky to have been able to see inside. The rooms are extravagant and beautiful. So much detail put in to each and every room. I wish we could have taken some pictures but there were no cameras allowed. They showed some of the gowns that Queen Elizabeth wore at various trips around the world, Canada being one of them. They also showed some of the gifts that she had received from those trips. The artifacts from Canada included a hockey puck from the Montreal Canadiens, native art and jade polar bear statues. It was a great opportunity to see a glimpse in to that life.

Buckingham Palace

To debrief the visit to Buckingham Palace, Jen and I hit a few pubs on the way home. Chilled out for a bit and waited till George got home before heading out to a pub in their neighbourhood: The Sloaney Pony.

The Sloaney Pony

Loved the typical pub fare which of course I did not partake in. Not sure why anyone would want to eat pork cheeks. 

 The menu

 Not a crazy night as both Jen and George have to work tomorrow and I have a big day ahead of me.

Not going to lie, due to the party, Jen and I were a bit hungover this morning. We decided that Sunday would be a perfect day to go for a drive in the country. We hopped in the car and heading to Petworth. A cute little town with a National Trust house called Petworth House.

We paid to walk the grounds and it was incredible. It went on for ever! And really had the best Ionic Rotunda, we have ever seen. Ok, so if you knew Jen and I, you would know that we find random things funny. So the Ionic Rotunda became a joke for us all day long and probably will for days, weeks and years to come. We were really upset that we missed the Ramble and Roast tour (another joke) so we decided to ramble anyway through the grounds. Saw some deer galavanting through the forest. Had to walk carefully as their droppings were everywhere but really a fantastic estate!

Jen and George in front of the estate’s lake.

A pub for lunch was next on the agenda at the Welldigger Arms. Such a classic small english pub with your typical english food. I had my first Ploughmans lunch as we sat in the garden’s.  George had a roast so we actually did do the Ramble and Roast tour afterall. That stop started what was to be our afternoon pub crawl.

Next was the Parrot in Forest Green. So crazy how these random pubs pop up in the middle of these small country towns. This pub was set on some cricket grounds and had a beautiful big garden to enjoy your beer in.

Last pub was at the Abinger Hatch in Abinger. In the middle of nowhere. Big garden. Loads of people drinking on a Sunday afternoon. I could get used to this.

Tonight we are just relaxing and making some dinner. A big day tomorrow.

I have never really been a happy person on planes. They scare the crap out of me. The flight to Toronto was great. But walking to the gate of the leg to London had me worried because of the size of the plane. SO HUGE! But the flight was great. I think I actually prefer bigger planes. There were a few turbulent pockets but overall a really good flight. My seat mates were great. A girl heading to back home to Israel and a guy heading to the oil fields close to Africa. We had a good laugh together. I really wanted to sleep this leg so that I could hit London running without any jet lag but my sleeping pill did not kick in till maybe 45 minutes left in the flight which left me totally out of it when we got to London. I barely remember getting to Jen and George’s place (they live in Parson’s Green in a great flat) and had to go to bed immediately. I slept for a couple hours but felt great afterwards. Jen and I then took the bus to Chelsea and walked around there for a bit. Then walked up to Knightsbridge and then back to her place. Had another nap before having to get ready for this Guilty Pleasures party in Camden Town at this old theatre called Koko. We managed to get a VIP room and it was so much fun. So many people. Ridiculous dance group of, well chubby men. Truly funny. had a great time with Jen and a few of her friends. Stayed out until 2:30. Seriously, despite the sleeping pill dilemna…that is the best way to do it. I have no jet lag at all. Went to bed with a stomach full of slouvlaki.

 Me and the girls at the Guilty Pleasures party.

The dance floor at the party.

The dance group.