Eye Love London...

Been buzzing around London for 10 days now. Opps more like 21 days since this post has been sitting in the draft folder. Poor old blog. Been catching up with old friends and family. Made many trips on the trains and buses which the kids love. Went up to St. James' park, horse guards parade, past the London Eye and Big Ben. The whole tourist deal. The queue to get on the London Eye went further than my eye could see. I have been out of a real city for too long, I was just amazed by the crowds (not in such a good way, wayyyyy too busy for my liking!). Been visiting parks, reminiscing with people, eating yummy food, visiting parks, reminiscing with people, eating more yummy food, continue chant 'til end of trip...
Here's some of the kids on a trip to Kew Gardens (it's a royal botanical garden!). Love it there...

We have Loubie in his new (very appropriate for a child of mine) t-shirt., Miranda: April's best friend from Kindergarten to 2nd grade in California and she now lives in England. April: say no more. Jodie: My cousin Michelle's daughter. She was born 3 mths after Loubie. Michelle and I used to go to water aerobics when we were pregnant and straight after go and get some fish 'n chips!
I love this one of the 2 cousins...wonder if she is trying to strangle him, sometimes I feel the same way, Jodie LOL

I am going to edit it when I get home, give it that extra bit of oomph!

As an 'outsider' these days, here are a few observations I have made about London...
1. Walking into my Mum and Dad's flat I felt like Alice in wonderland after she'd drunk the grow potion. Everything seemed very 'cozy'.
2. It's busy (well, duh), but it really is very busy. All the time! I know that's a silly thing to say, it is London...!

3. My Mum wasn't lying when she said there has really been no summer. It's cold (for my sub tropical used to weather body). But, I still love London. Forever!
4. It is expensive here. Very. But people know that. But I am quite shocked at times. For instance: You can have the 950 sq. ft loft apt (in the back) for about 595 pounds (approx. 1 million dollars) or you can opt for the cheaper resale council flat for about 260 pounds (that'll be just $500,000, please!)

5. The fuel of London is alcohol! Champagne bars in the mall, the local supermarket giving out wine (red and white) samples on a Saturday morning (hair of the dog anyone!) and packed pubs!
6. The supermarkets are far superior to any I have seen in the States. I am going to be gutted to leave the whole aisles dedicated to yoghurt, or the whole aisle dedicated to cheese to go back to a couple of pots of yoghurt and about 5 types of cheese. Even the local petrol station sells smoked salmon. NO JOKE!

7. On a similar note: a lot of the foods, everyday stuff, is labeled 'without preservatives, artificial colours or flavours'.

I am wondering why American food is not, even though some of the stuff I am seeing is the same brands as the preserved, coloured and flavoured crap the American supermarkets sell (I won't even start on the commissary. Sigh). What is going on here?
Check out these natural colours...and I realize this is sweets (sugar) but I am talking on all kinds of food...

8. Everyone looks really unique, different, somewhat eccentric. And that's a good thing!
As I get used to being here and become assimilated back into London life, all of this becomes less obvious. I think I will definitely get a culture shock going 'home' though.

I have always had a camera by my side, taking photos of anything and everything. To be honest, I have not taken my DSLR out too much. Chasing 2 kids around London's busy streets sometimes wants me to just take the point and shoot and that's fine with me! But, here's a couple of arty farty ones I took on one of the first trips...
The London Eye...

Naaaaaaa, naaaaaaaaa, naaaaaaa, naaaaaaaaa, Batman!

London Underground sign and Big Ben. As a Londoner growing up you take all this for granted. Now, the tourist, I can produce postcard images LOL

I am going to try and get out and take some night shots. We'll see. Plus, I have loads of photos of friends and family. See you soon, I'm cream crackered, out for a ruby murray!!! ha ha