Monthly Archives: December 2014

A slight panic with Kings Cross closed as repairs had gone over time. We weren’t sure whether we would get to Edinburgh on the train as planned. All trains were cancelled and the news was telling us trains to the north would be unlikely to run – hmmm I guess I can drive up if I have to but the snow in the north on the TV makes me slightly anxious. It is dark here by 4pm so the thought of snow and the darkest dark is not a drive I would relish. We start yawning at 4pm as it really does seem like 10pm at night. We had a lovely Sunday morning. Our hotel is quite close to Old Spitalfields market so we walked via Petticoat Lane in search of Sunday morning breakfast. After a great breakfast in true British style we wandered around the lovely market before the short walk along London Wall back to the hotel. Twitter is useful for train updates and the East Coast line via York, to Edinburgh was up and running – quite a relief that the long drive north would be done in the comfort of the London to Edinburgh train. We are getting used to the rug up and I have never thought of winter as so stylish, but I am so enjoying people watching – the Eastern European women on the train in their fur coats and hats and the women at Kings Cross looking like something from the 1920s. Out the train window are the green fields of Yorkshire covered in snow. It is 3.40pm and so pretty with the sun setting, casting gorgeous light across the snowy fields. The low stone walls are covered in snow – I am sure it will seem like midnight when we arrive into Scotland but for now Red Leceister and Caramelised Onion British crisps and Gone Girl will entertain me I am sure. Hmmm spoke too soon – the train in front of us has broken down – two hours sitting amongst snow covered fields – thanks to National Rail a free trip to Edinburgh.

The snow out the window is beautiful as we train it across England towards Scotland. The flight over was really easy thanks to being so damn tired and sleeping for about 16 hours. Arriving into London it was a chilly 2 degrees but twinkling with the Christmas lights. We stayed in a really comfortable hotel near the London Wall. It was a few minutes to Liverpool Street Station so getting around London was really easy. We walked for miles after arriving; down along the Thames, past the Tate and to Big Ben. We fell into bed totally exhausted before 8pm.

After sleeping solidly from 8pm I was awake at 3am. I snuck up so I wouldn’t wake Lyd and decided I would read in the bathroom. Was quite pleasant sitting on the heated floor. Craving a cup of tea I grabbed the rail to climb up cause my feet had gone to sleep. Well I thought the rail was attached but it was a drop down rail so after banging myself on the head, seeing stars and swearing loudly I decided Lyd had slept long enough.

Our hotel was in London’s financial district so incredibly quiet. We spent a great day walking 35,000 steps around London. The changing of the guard at Buck Palace was quite different to the summer with the guards swaddled in huge grey overcoats. The Christmas market in Hyde Park was full of roasted chestnuts, woodcarving and mulled wine. We walked through the park and down through Kensington and a stroll through Harrod’s.

We staggered back to the hotel with our fitbits telling us we had walked almost 30km. A short sleep, and then rugged up in coats, gloves, hats and scarves we caught the tube to Waterloo to the gorgeous Christmas market on Southbank. Sitting just beneath the London Eye all lit up in blue, the trees twinkling with thousands of fairy lights, Mariah and Buble crooning everywhere we walk, and the freezing cold being warded off with mulled cider in the cedar chalet – it definitely feels like Christmas.