Windsor and Wimbledon... Just a typical London summer really

Well, don’t we have a lot to update everyone on? Despite it being only four days since our last update, we’ve packed our days full of action and are loving London more than ever before. In fact, as I type this I’m sitting at Gatwick airport getting ready to depart for Edinburgh (we’re in a pub and Brad is glued to the football while I wait for my chocolate fudge cake to arrive!), and rather than feel excited about the impending trip, I feel a tad resentful at having to leave London for an entire week. Don’t get me wrong – I’m really looking forward to Scotland and I loved Morocco (aside from the germs!), but I’m so in love with London – what a city! It’s bright, vibrant, so multi-cultured and just gob-smacking beautiful. I can’t wait to have visitors from home, just so I can show you all everything – in fact, even as I’m walking around I think to myself “when XXXXX comes, I’ll take them here, there, etc”.

Before I launch in to where I last left you, I need to get this off my chest. Everywhere you look there are little squirrels – they’re the dandiest wee things! But that’s not all – this morning when I got back from my run, I opened the window to see a FOX in our back yard. How crazy is that!? In central London! It must have got stuck in there as they’re really only ever in relatively rural areas or on the city edge. They’re also quite dangerous and there was a recent case where a mother left the back door to her house slightly ajar one evening while she cooked dinner. A fox came in through the door, went up the stairs and mauled her twin daughters in their cot! This happened just before we left for Morocco and the babies were in critical condition. Freaky! Don’t worry about us – we’re on the third floor and don’t have access to the backyard. Unless the fox uses his key, there’s no way we’ll be mauled anytime soon (fingers crossed anyway)!

Saturday we went to Windsor (outskirts of London) with Shady and Emily, where we spent the day strolling around Windsor castle (where the Queen lives more often than not), checking out Eton college (where Harry and William went to school), and of course sampling the offering at the local pub. Emily had done her research and thought the Queen would be leaving the castle to attend Royal Ascot, and in true Em fashion she was right. We set up camp at the gates of the palace, and who should drive on out – Lizzie and Phillip! She was in her car and was literally only a metre from us - it was so surreal! The funniest thing is Brad completely missed the entire thing! He was playing with his phone, trying to get it ready to take a photo of her and was concentrating so hard that he was completely oblivious to our cries! He didn’t realise until she was well down the road! We’ve never laughed so hard – even the police man who was standing guard had a right old chuckle when Brad finally realises he forgot to actually look up!

It must be so hard being that famous and I was struck by the fact that it must be quite hard for Prince Phillip. A bit like Brad and I really – me being so loved and revered by all, Brad sometimes get lost in the midst of it all!

Sunday we went to National gallery which was possibly one of my most amazing experiences so far. I love art and could have wandered the halls for hours in amazement, but luckily (or not so much depending on your view), I had Brad by my side, reminding me every five minutes that we really should be going given the football was on that afternoon! I’ll be back again very soon, but this time I’ll leave Phillip at home!

We headed to a local Kiwi haunt called the Clapham Junction Walkabout to watch the football and the atmosphere was beyond believe. It was EPIC – especially when New Zealand scored! My ears ached with excited screams as complete strangers hugged and cried tears of joy on others shoulders! We went with our flatmate and a few of his friends, but some of the girls turned up as well which was fun.

Talk about saving the best for last – yesterday we went to Wimbledon! It was AMAZING! After a 5am start, we arrived at Wimbledon Park at 7am ready to line up for the day’s festivities. There were seven of us in total and with the sun shining, excitement in the air and a pack of cards, the time just flew and before we knew it we were in!

It has to be seen to be believed, it really does. It’s an entire village and seems like another world - you can just smell the stress of the players! Obviously we weren’t centre court (had to camp for a couple of days for that!), but we set up on a big hill where we watched the centre court outside on a big screen (although we could hear the cheers and claps), and wandered around watching live games as well. Brad nipped off to the loo when we first got there, and then waltzes back wearing a Wimbledon headband much to our jealousy, so before you know it we’re all wearing one and sipping cider in the sun. Brad also picked up a can of championship balls (actually played that day – we’re hoping Federer played with ours), so we have another little memento. It was such a perfect day that even if you hated tennis, you couldn’t help but be swept away in it all. Marcy and Hank, we thought of you and desperately tried to get on TV by running in front of every TV camera we saw, so if you saw a few lunatics in sweat bands it was all in honour of you!

We took a picnic with us which was much appreciated throughout the day, and at one point I was literally stuffing my face with a piece of cake (I mean stuffing it in my mouth so I could barely chew) when the group went quiet. I thought nothing of it and continued to chomp away, only to be told a few minutes later that there was a TV camera right in my face the entire time! Talk about making a pig of yourself on international television!

We saw Federer play Falla, then Clement play Tipsarevic and could hear Venus sweeping up in her game as well. The live games were hilarious – one idiot Frenchman (Clement) was the rudest most arrogant person I have ever seen! At first I was cheering for him on account of his stylish bandannas (he would change to a new colour and design every set), but soon swapped sides after he started attacking the poor ball girl and screaming at this poor old woman who was the line judge. I turned right off him (as did the other girls who were also cheering for him) and every time he hit the ball he made a sound reminiscent of a walrus. It was very hard not to laugh, but I imagine if I did he would have had me thrown out of the stadium, which he very nearly did to this one poor woman for whispering to her friend! He also told off a woman who was chatting on her cell phone outside of the stadium.

We’re off to Scotland now for eight days which should be great fun. We have hired a car and booked a few places here and there, but the rest is very much left up to fate. Hopefully we’ll have good internet access so we can keep you all updated with our trip, otherwise we’ll post everything when we get back to London on the 29th. So far our itinerary is: Crieff, StAndrews, Aberdeen, Inverness, Loch Ness, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We’ll be travelling through the highlands as well, so will be able to stop wherever we want. Scotland is actually really small and our entire route will only take us about 13 hours. We’ll be dragging this out to eight full days, so will have plenty of time for exploring!

We’re going to see Wicked the day we get back (such a hard life!), then we’ll be planning our next adventure in Basel, Switzerland with Slops! Coincidentally Basel is Federer’s hometown and after yesterday’s performance I’ve got quite a crush, so might have to stop in and say hi....!

Love to all!

Xxx

P.S No more chocolate cake so have had to settle for a crumble instead. Rubbish compromise as it’s literally a plate of jam with a few pieces of crumble on top!

P.P.S Happy birthday to Conny-flower who is 18 in just two days. We sent a little something to you today, but imagine it will take at least a week to get there so hold tight! Love you heaps! xx