Day 1

I land at Heathrow at about 11:00 am  The plane circles London and I can see The Tower, Tower Bridge, The London Eye and the House of Parliament.   I must say the view from the plane is probably the most exciting part of the trip. It's a birds eye view of the entire city.  Mrs. F picks me up at the airport and takes me to her car. I immediately go the wrong side of the car, she reminds me "Gretchen, other side". I of course don't feel stupid, after the 10th time of doing this...I feel stupid. We are driving out of the airport when I see a sign that says Welcome to London. I want to snap a picture. It's totally in her way and feel guilty about it. In fact, I want to take  lots of pictures and chatter. Mrs, F wants to just make it safely home to Gerrards Cross without accident. We park and I take my luggage up 3 flights of stairs. My room and bath are on the third floor. She has two twin beds with cream colored bedspreads. There are black and white portraits of family members. There is a nice view out my window. So, I unpack and come downstairs for lunch and tea. We discuss my itinerary and what we plan on doing together. 

Her home has a name. Since I am really trying not to give a lot of information away I should call it ....Pemberley. Does it not sound romantic ? She lives in a home that once once a large home. It was divided into two homes and she lives on one side. I have no idea who lives on the other. The carpets are green. She has a staircase that you can look down and see the various floors. She has large portraits that hang of family members. In one portrait a man has a scowl on his face. He is sitting in a large chair and the painting is dark. There is also smaller portraits and then on the lower floor she has one of a beautiful lady with grey hair . She has a beautiful dress with jeweler y  Little F and I hope to look like her when we are older. The rooms have sinks in them, and each floor has a bathroom. I am also introduced to "the warming room" where all the wash is hung to dry. Fabulous idea ! If I could just have one of those I would be saving a fortune on electricity. I also learn about locking her place up and how to make tea.

I am tired and yet my adrenaline is on fire. We take a field trip to the train station. She shows me how to purchase a travel card. This card will take me from Gerrards Cross to the tube station Marylebone on the Chiltern Train. "The Chilterns" are hills in Buckinghamshire. The travelcard includes all tube stations and buses as well. She also takes me to the Waitrose market in town. I choose two 2 liters of  Diet Coke to drink for my stay. It is then that I remember that I have to carry those liters back up the hill to her house. I remind myself this every time I go into town. She also takes me to a hardware store. I find an adapter for the electronics that I have brought  along. I am reaching into my wallet and grabbing change to pay for it . I decide to leave it on the counter and try and figure out what I am doing. England makes too many types of currency. The lady behind me who is in a hurry grabs the change on the counter and pays for my adapter. Okay, that wasn't rude or anything.

We return back to Mrs. F's for tea, TV and a much needed sleep. This is when I learn that Mrs. F has a hard time hearing. Her TV is on full blast and I have a hard time communicating with her. I am watching TV shows with her and recognizing most of the actors. It's when I realize that I have watched too much British TV at home. She tells me that I am getting on the train at 9:45 pm. and going to Charring Cross and getting a phone on The Strand. I am then going to the National Art Gallery and the National Portrait Museum. Later, I will walk The Mall and look at Buckingham Palace in the light. So, I climb into the twin bed. I am once again reminded how warm and cozy her beds are. She must buy the softest sheets in the world. I sleep so well....and have of course  a lot of fear taking on London alone, but that is why I am there...to be alone.