Scotland the Brave

Have finally seen the Tattoo in the flesh. TV does not do it justice. Good seats thanks to Chris. When we watch it this year (and in the future) it will be that much better because we can imagine being there.
Now we have done much more since the last post. London was a buzz! Hop on hop off bus gave us our orientation and then the walking started to have a closer look at St Pauls Cathedral, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, etc. Monument to the Great Fire of London is a feature of the city. Almost as important as Nelson's Column by the way the tour guide on the bus was talking and then it got a special mention on the Thames Cruise as well.
Dinner Cruise was a special event. About 3 hours of sights, good food and good wine that we both thoroughly enjoyed and would do again if we come over again. We went to Greenwich to see the Harrison Clocks at the Museum and to see the Prime Meridian. Yes you can see it because they have actually created a line in the ground that marks the spot. We have photos to prove it. Can't be sure whether I was East or West at the time because I was standing on top of it.
Went there on a light rail train - with no driver - WEIRD!!! True, no driver but we got there without incident. Don't tell John Brumby he might want to save money by trying it with our trams. What a disaster that would be.
Back to London on the boat down the Thames and that gave us another perspective of the importance of the river to the development of London. Very pleasant in the sunshine too. Yes the sun does shine over here.
Concert at the Albert Hall one night was magic experience. A truly magnificent building and can understand the atmosphere for the Last Night at the Proms now.
London Eye really does let you put the eye on the city. 135 meters up is a long way up.

Off to Cotswalds in our hire car Off to Cotswalds in our hire car Off to Cotswalds in our hire car - not a typo - we really did have three attempts before we got on the right road. (Getting used to the signage and the road system by now though)
Need photos to show the sights and do them credit. Suffice to say we would like to visit there again.
On to Coventry, Lincoln and York. A few Palaces on the way like Blenheim and Castle Howard (Brideshead) - magnificent buildings with great histories. Not as overdone as the French Chateux. Coventry Cathedral was a highlight.
Then to Newcastle and some time with Tom and June Steanson. Fantastic hosts and we visited Whitby, Hadrian's Wall and the area generally. The weather was lovely and we saw the wall at its best. Explored Roman forts - 2000 years old.

Had a Rotary night at Tom's where Australia was the theme. It was a fund raiser for a Shelter box. So we have now helped to raise funds for these boxes in Australia and UK.

Our last night with Tom and June was at their seaside place at Seahouses. Right on the waterfront and once again the weather was sunny and very pleasant.

Have explored Edinburgh on the bus and when we finish this we will go and look at the waterfront at Leith on the Firth of Forth and then find some dinner. Weather good, food good, wine good, company good so I guess we will just continue to have a good time.

PS. Bank account - who cares until we get home!