We thought Covid would be our most significant issue in finally leaving Australia’s shores. With the grandchildren in tow (who are too young to be vaccinated), we spent the last few weeks holding our breath that they would end up Covid free in the week before we left. That was all OK. It was Qantas who were appalling.
The kids got a call in the early morning hours when we were supposed to leave, claiming that the plane was not flying due to major mechanical issues. This seemed odd as Alex and I looked like we were still all OK to fly. No one wants to hear the saga that ensued, but needless to say, I was very unimpressed when the truth came out (after a stream of Qantas untruths) that the plane was fine – they had overbooked the plane and thought they would turf off most of the kids and grandkids who weren’t sitting in the pointy end – hmmm.
We were keen to all fly together, so we finally left a day later. It was a great flight over. Maybe that is very easy to say as Al and I were right at the front of the plane. Perhaps the kids might have a different take on it. However, the grandbebes were perfect and were very excited to arrive in London just as it was waking up.
So far, the Covid travel experience has been super easy. The guards were still changing at Buckingham Palace, the lions were firmly entrenched in Trafalgar Square, and England was well and truly open. There were signs to wear masks on the Tube, but these were ignored by 99.9% of people. As far as Londoners were concerned – what pandemic?
The weather was a little chilly but not terrible, and when the sun peaked out, it was gorgeous. We stayed in the Paddington Basin, a newly developed and lovely part of London along the canal and only a few minutes’ stroll from Paddington and Edgware Stations.
We walked tens of thousands of steps. The walk from Paddington down through Hyde Park to Kensington was beautiful, with almost no one around. Little and big kids had the most fabulous time at the Princess Diana memorial playground. We realised the best bit of travelling with small people is they let you in to sit on sheep, jump on music playthings on the ground, and be pirates on a pirate ship. Not sure who had the most fun – Evie and Lex or the ahoy me hearties, giant children.
Sleeping under the stars 