2013 IHD "Let's get together in The UK!"

[Iona]

Thank you for the warm encouragement! I've put the weekend in my diary..I have to meet this amazing bunch of characters and kind advisors!

I would love to come to Bill's, and if possible, with my husband, Sugarlump, is that OK? We won't come to Newmarket or punt with you but we'll run alongside the punt and throw ice lollies, etc at you! (We've heard the tour a million times - I've even given it before to visiting American students I looked after so Cariad I'm not scared of your sort not one little bit ).

I thought I'd add some suggestions for those with any time on their hands after all the wonderful events already planned...

Anyone who would like a nice cup of tea I do advise a trip to The Orchard in Grantchester...a mile from Cambridge and well worth a visit..you can walk to Grantchester from our house along the river. We could act as guides if you like? My husband could lead the way and I could drive anyone who cannot walk a mile (If you've got the time...)
It's beautiful. Two quaint old pubs (one very family friendly), a beautiful church (I was married there!) and The Orchard is my go to place for experiencing pure joy WHEN THE SUN'S OUT. You can recline in deck chairs whilst children scrumpy, or rather, catch blossom from the apple and pear trees! A little path takes you back to the river and a field where you can play football or cricket etc and climb trees all the way back to Cam! We are also around the corner of The Fitzwilliam Museum (free) Renoir/ Stanley Spencer/ Egyptian Mummies/ armoury. It's a very short walk from town centre and you MUST walk past King's College and into the market square. Some lovely shops. Today I saw and heard a familiar sight of a busker who sits in an enclosed bin whilst playing the guitar- which sticks out at the side- and sings (Matchstick Cats and Dogs mostly). There is music everywhere. The Botanical Gardens (we have two membership cards)  is worth a visit also, espec if you can't make it to Grantchester, it's beautiful - bring a picnic...children can run around, chase ducks, climb amongst rockeries, hide from parents, etc. You can get the most sublime sausage roll there and cup of coffee. Everywhere is close really.

I enjoy the walk to Grantchester and I'm on haemo. You can sit on the grass on the way and enjoy watching the punters punt! (Did I just answer a question there?!)

Cariad, you are right, I drove past another Holiday Inn today. It is in Histon, 5 mins from the centre of Cam. It looked nice from the outside. If you are driving you may wish to, perhaps 2 cars might wish to, park outside our house in the centre of town? Space is very limited here but we have permits to lend out..could do the same for any day/ evening. I can also advise on quiet roads near the centre if you are happy to walk through a beautiful park to get into the centre of town? If people want a couple of drinks I'll be happy to taxi those in need too. You are making such huge efforts to get here and it is no bother for me. Please google these places - they are where I take my visitors from overseas and they are never disappointed..unless it POURS down!

There are 3 Travel Lodges in Cambridge. One, Travel Lodge Central, a longish walk/ 5 min drive/taxi (think £7) into town but it might be quite noisy. Some friends stayed there and found it only OK and stayed on more than one occasion...BUT they have spring offers on at the mo, some £25 rooms. (Mind you there is a £12 charge for parking I think). There is a much newer one on the Newmarket road in Cambridge, near the Grafton Shopping Centre (incidentally where you can buy roller skates Cariad - on Burleigh St. Is it called Billy's? Another called Beavers but not sure where). Again a longish walk or short taxi/ drive into town from Newmarket road. Travel Lodges differ everywhere..some people say go elsewhere for breakfast! I stayed in one once and thought it did the job just fine. We had breakfast elsewhere!

Last thing -if anybody wants to dialyse on Friday morning (8am) at Addenbrooke's you are welcome to have my slot..I'm sure I could make the afternoon one, or evening maybe? The unit is friendly, nurses lovely, tea and lime juice(mmm), ice-cubes, biscuits, rolls and sarnies provided.

Oh and Richard we DO punt from the back of the punt! We will give lessons to anyone who wishes to try it for themselves. You could do the tour with the group AND have an hour of play on your own! (I could run alongside you on the backs and tow you?! Towels will be in easy reach!)

I hope you all have a wonderful time here. Any other questions, feel free to ask! Well done to Sugarlump for organising this event. See you in April....
 

[Iona]

Hmm, writing this at silly o'clock and on reading back it looks as though my husband is indeed Sugarlump..a couple of sneaky wavers too....zzzzzzzzzzzz

[KarenInWA]

Hi all,

I am still going on this trip, but I will not be traveling with Richard like I had thought. Since this will be my first time going anywhere over seas, I will need any and all help/guidance you can share!

I will also be spending the night in London on the 24th, arriving at Cambridge on the 25th, and will stay until the 27th or 28th. Then, back to London, and I will fly out on the 29th.

I am thinking maybe I should go back to London on the 27th so I can enjoy a whole day there? Thoughts? I also have never traveled alone before, so this too will be a first.

Thank you,

KarenInWA

[Sugarlump]

@Iona I am just going to check with Bills they can manage our increased party and will confirm back. Hopefully it will be okay. Will be great to meet you.
I have spent many a week at Addenbrookes and dialysed there too. It's a good unit 

[Sugarlump]

Bill's can manage our party of 14 :
Sugarlump and Drew
Rich
Karen
Cariad, hubby and 2 boys
Poppy and Blokey
Cassandra and hubby
Iona and hubby

The slight downside is they want us to pre-order because of the size of the party! I promise you the restaurant is worth it, in both food and atmosphere!
So here is a link to the menu:
http://bills-website.co.uk/menu/

There's no hurry for the orders but if you could choose starters/mains and let me know so I can collate them. I personally never know if I will want a desert til I've eaten!!!!

Oh and Karen do you want to go on The National Stud tour Saturday morning? And punting Sunday? Cheers!

[RichardMEL]

I love the idea of the walk up the river to Grantchester - maybe for Saturday lunchtime after the studs have done their thing? I'm dying to return to a traditional English pub and perhaps a gentle wander/relax finished off with afternoon tea sounds lovely to me - specially if the weather co-operates! I would definitely be up for that myself.

And speaking of pubs, and the meet @ the HI on the Friday, I happen to know a certain person just won big courtesy of a 33/1 long shot so she will be shouting drinks - right? 

I will be staying till the 28th myself. I know everyone else will have departed, but I'll be thinking to walk around and get some exercise before an afternoon return to London and an evening departure south (possibly stopping at Oxford Circus, Earl's Court, Ealing and the Champagne Bar at the BA Galleries Lounge at LHR )

[cariad]

Still have not booked a place to stay - waiting on a reply from our second choice of self-catering.

What time is the Newmarket tour, and how long? I'm sure my kids would be interested, just not sure they could handle anything too in-depth (or early!) I don't suppose there's any opportunity to ride a horse there? My younger boy is so animal-obsessed, not sure he could stand to be in the company of horses without jumping on. I'll discuss with Gwyn. Seems silly to go all the way to the area without seeing the famous sites.

I love Iona's suggestions for walks, so we will most likely make time for a trek. We also adore botanical gardens, so if the weather is amenable, we'll try to squeeze a visit there in. May have to try for Friday afternoon before the meet-up officially starts. If we're organized (ha!) we could probably be in Cambridge by 2PM. Oh, and yes, Iona, the skate shop was called Billy's, thanks for the info. We'll definitely check their hours and visit at some point.

You can sit on the grass on the way and enjoy watching the punters punt! (Did I just answer a question there?!)

Indeed. So punters punt in their punts. Well, now I know!

Oh and Richard we DO punt from the back of the punt! We will give lessons to anyone who wishes to try it for themselves. You could do the tour with the group AND have an hour of play on your own! (I could run alongside you on the backs and tow you?! Towels will be in easy reach!)

My kids will take you up on that offer if given half a chance. Watch out for the little guy, he's a bit too smart for his own good....

(We've heard the tour a million times - I've even given it before to visiting American students I looked after so Cariad I'm not scared of your sort not one little bit ).

Sounds like a challenge to me!  

So looking forward to this!

[cariad]

Hi all,

I am still going on this trip, but I will not be traveling with Richard like I had thought. Since this will be my first time going anywhere over seas, I will need any and all help/guidance you can share!

I will also be spending the night in London on the 24th, arriving at Cambridge on the 25th, and will stay until the 27th or 28th. Then, back to London, and I will fly out on the 29th.

I am thinking maybe I should go back to London on the 27th so I can enjoy a whole day there? Thoughts? I also have never traveled alone before, so this too will be a first.

Thank you,

KarenInWA

Wow, this is your very first time traveling alone? You're diving straight into the deep end, aren't you!

I wish I could think of ways to make the flight easier, but there really aren't any that I've discovered. What time does your flight arrive? Ideally, you'd have a late afternoon arrival so you can get to your hotel and get to sleep at around your usual time. The flight from the west coast to London is BRUTAL, and unfortunately you won't have much time to acclimate. Unless you're really good at sleeping on planes, I would say expect to be sleepy by mid-afternoon here, and waking up in the middle of the night. It's a doddle the other direction, though. (Gwyn and I once both awoke at about 3AM after a flight here, and both of us were starving. Britain has far less of the Open-24-Hours-A-Day culture, so we jumped in the car and drove 15 minutes to the nearest motorway services to eat at a Little Chef - which I cannot recommend.)

In terms of cash, you might want to see if you can find a bank in your area (Seattle?) that can sell you a few pounds just so you have some before arriving and you don't get stuck with an extortionist exchange rate. Although no matter how you pay, you will be charged a pretty hefty fee for the exchange, either by your bank or the nearest Bureau de Change. Most places will take a credit/debit card, I think even taxis and vending machines accept them now, so you could almost go cashless I suppose. However, I will warn you that ever since introducing this diabolical Chip and Pin system, it is a pain in the hat to use a non-UK credit/debit card, and many places won't be able to suss out how to do it. If it is an unmanned purchase, like tickets at a train station, I don't think you can do it at all. It is safest in my opinion to bring cash so you won't be caught out at some point.(The exception is hotels, they are used to international cards.) Remember that banks will NOT exchange coins, and the smallest bill we have here is the £5, so try not to get stuck with too many £1 & £2 coins when you leave, they add up to real money quite quickly.

My biggest piece of advice would be to be sure your mobile is going to work here (hopefully you can get a good deal on overseas usage) and that you have contact numbers for people here in case you need help. There is nothing worse than that feeling of being cut-off from all contact after being so accustomed to being able to look anything up and call anyone you choose. So long as you have your phone, any problem you encounter should be easily remedied.

Hope this helps! I look forward to seeing you again!

[Iona]

(Cariad, you do make me smile!)

The Botanical gardens is a great place to start walking to Grantchester from, as is The Garden Hotel or Trumpington Street. There are two pubs in the village and both do hot food/ coffee etc..if you want a cup of tea then it's got to be The Orchard.

There's a lovely church in Grantchester (I was married there) where you'll find a memorial to Rupert Brooke (poet).
I can take you or simply point you in the right direction,  alternatively, Richard must remember the way?! If you'd like to park near the Botanical Gardens you can pick up a permit from me if that helps? Or you could park in Newnham and hope for a space (v close to Grantchester) but do walk along the river, not the Grantchester road.

 We'll happily teach you to punt (well, I won't but husband can) . The guided punt tour is informative and you'll see many of the old colleges as you recline/ sip champagne/ bucks fizz (bring your own!) If you are confident about punting you can punt to Grantchester (takes a looonngg time and be careful not to knock out any naturalists swimming! It is very strange to be lying down in a punt only to see a head or other bodily parts appear at eye level!)

Thanks Sugarlump..we'll look forward to Bill's. Anythng anyone needs just ask and we'll try to help.

[Sugarlump]

Still have not booked a place to stay - waiting on a reply from our second choice of self-catering.

What time is the Newmarket tour, and how long? I'm sure my kids would be interested, just not sure they could handle anything too in-depth (or early!) I don't suppose there's any opportunity to ride a horse there? My younger boy is so animal-obsessed, not sure he could stand to be in the company of horses without jumping on. I'll discuss with Gwyn. Seems silly to go all the way to the area without seeing the famous sites

The Newmarket Tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. You start off in their little cafe and finish there. They take you round the massive stud grounds in an old single decker bus and you get to see lots of foals, some of the mares and the stallions at a safe distance. It is quite interesting and quirky but no riding I'm afraid!
I was going to book the 11.15am morning tour as soon as I get confirmation of numbers. £10 an adult £8 a child over 6 and £25 for family ticket (2 + 2).
let me know what you decide 

[MooseMom]

Hi all,

I am still going on this trip, but I will not be traveling with Richard like I had thought. Since this will be my first time going anywhere over seas, I will need any and all help/guidance you can share!

I will also be spending the night in London on the 24th, arriving at Cambridge on the 25th, and will stay until the 27th or 28th. Then, back to London, and I will fly out on the 29th.

I am thinking maybe I should go back to London on the 27th so I can enjoy a whole day there? Thoughts? I also have never traveled alone before, so this too will be a first.

Thank you,

KarenInWA

Karen, you will be fine!  Travelling alone in London is ideal because there is so much to see and do that sometimes it gets difficult to coordinate plans with someone that might not want to do the same things as you do.

I suspect that you will disembark at Terminal 5 at London Heathrow.  You will have to take one of those underground shuttles to passport control/baggage claim.  It is well sign posted, and there are airport employees who sort of herd everyone in the right direction.  They understand that people coming in from overnight flights might feel too dazed and confused to figure out where to go next.  LOL!  You will have been given a card to fill out on the plane as you arrive in London that you will give to immigration officials along with your passport.  You won't have anything to declare, so you can pick up your bags and go through the "Green Channel" and out to the arrivals lounge.

How will you get to your hotel from Heathrow?  Have you made arrangements?

By all means, do spend time in London if at all possible.  If you do, be sure to buy an Oyster card because if you pay each fare separately, it becomes really expensive.  Public transport in London is quite dear.  You can buy an Oyster card at Heathrow and/or at major train termini, but if you prefer, you can buy one online and have it sent to your home in the US.  How cool is that?  Here's the link:

https://account.tfl.gov.uk/oyster?App=8ead5cf4-4624-4389-b90c-b1fd1937bf1f&returnURL=https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/security_check

Last thing...do anything you can to avoid travelling in economy.  It is wretched.  If you have further questions, maybe I can help.  I've been back and forth to London so many times (although usually into Gatwick)! 

[kristina]

...I would not mind to travel to Cambridge (even though I always prefer Oxford...)
...but if anyone travels through London we could meet in London as well... I am very much situated in Central London....South Ken...?
....not far from the Museums... i.e. Victoria and Albert Museum... there is a nice little café in the V&A Museum where we could meet...
... how about it?
I would very much like to meet other IHD members and exchange our experiences... and about our situation in ESRF... how about it....?

....best wishes from Kristina....

P.S. I would really like to meet other IHD members in a rather casual way... if that is possible...?
... we "have met" through our computers - of course -  but it would be so much nicer to meet other  IHD members in person...
... over a cup of coffee and a little chat and exchange some of our experiences... how about it...?

Thanks ...and  I am looking forward to meeting you, in person.... Kristina.

[cariad]

11:15 is our kind of start time! I think we'll join you for this, just let me double check with the mister. £25 is a generous discount off single tix, and 90 minutes should work perfectly for the boys.

(Cariad, you do make me smile!)

Aw, you're so sweet! Glad I could spread a bit of cheer.

The Botanical gardens is a great place to start walking to Grantchester from, as is The Garden Hotel or Trumpington Street. There are two pubs in the village and both do hot food/ coffee etc..if you want a cup of tea then it's got to be The Orchard.

There's a lovely church in Grantchester (I was married there) where you'll find a memorial to Rupert Brooke (poet).
I can take you or simply point you in the right direction,  alternatively, Richard must remember the way?! If you'd like to park near the Botanical Gardens you can pick up a permit from me if that helps? Or you could park in Newnham and hope for a space (v close to Grantchester) but do walk along the river, not the Grantchester road.

 We'll happily teach you to punt (well, I won't but husband can) . The guided punt tour is informative and you'll see many of the old colleges as you recline/ sip champagne/ bucks fizz (bring your own!) If you are confident about punting you can punt to Grantchester (takes a looonngg time and be careful not to knock out any naturalists swimming! It is very strange to be lying down in a punt only to see a head or other bodily parts appear at eye level!)

Thanks Sugarlump..we'll look forward to Bill's. Anythng anyone needs just ask and we'll try to help.

Trouble is everything sounds so lovely, I want to do it all. Since we'll most likely be staying outside town, we may take you up on the car permit offer if you're sure you don't mind. I'll have to find a Bucks Fizz recipe and start practicing my mixology now. And if The Orchard is a must for tea then you may as well reserve my table now and just check in on my once or twice over the weekend. 

[cariad]

Woo-hoo! We found a self-catering place! We're booked in, staying four miles past Newmarket.

We'll join you all on the tour if you don't mind us crashing the event.

Next task, getting orders from the boys (including the oversized one) for Bill's. I shall return with those, eventually.

[KarenInWA]

It's me again! Yes, I will be traveling by myself on a flight from SEA - Iceland, Iceland to London on Icelandair. It was the best priced flight and had the quickest travel time, both coming and going. Sadly, I will be in Economy class, but oh well. It's better than cargo! LOL!!!

I need to find transportation from Heathrow to downtown London. I had a misunderstanding with Richard, so I will be traveling with him the rest of the way. What I need to decide is do I want to stay in Cambridge Sunday night, or move on to London and have a day or 2 there by myself? I leave London Tuesday.

How far is Cambridge from Stonehedge?

Thank you all for all of your travel advice - I need all that I can  get!!! Oh, and I will be landing at Terminal 1 at the airport. Probably because it's from Iceland?

KarenInWA

[Sugarlump]

@ Karen Take ipod/iphone and headphones with music for flight and eye mask. Even if you can't sleep, it will help you relax!
London is really worth a good day or so. Not just for sightseeing (Buckingham Palace/Changing of the guard/Tower Bridge/Hyde Park  ... the list is endless!) but also for incredible shopping/window shopping
especially places like Harrods, Hamleys and Oxford Street!!!
Remember it often rains in England when packing!!! April is known for it's showers! (and sunshine hopefully)

Do you want to go on the Stud Tour? (I don't know if you are horsey at all!!!!) otherwise there will be plenty of others not going, in the hotel that might go for wander into Cambridge etc.
You're booked in for Bill's on Sat night and the punting on Sunday morning?
Hey it's getting closer! 

[cariad]

It's me again! Yes, I will be traveling by myself on a flight from SEA - Iceland, Iceland to London on Icelandair. It was the best priced flight and had the quickest travel time, both coming and going. Sadly, I will be in Economy class, but oh well. It's better than cargo! LOL!!!

I need to find transportation from Heathrow to downtown London. I had a misunderstanding with Richard, so I will be traveling with him the rest of the way. What I need to decide is do I want to stay in Cambridge Sunday night, or move on to London and have a day or 2 there by myself? I leave London Tuesday.

How far is Cambridge from Stonehedge?

Thank you all for all of your travel advice - I need all that I can  get!!! Oh, and I will be landing at Terminal 1 at the airport. Probably because it's from Iceland?

KarenInWA

I've never flown Icelandair but even on economy you should have your own screen with free films and television, so that will pass the time, and you should get a basic toiletries kit with sleeping mask, toothbrush/paste, comb, socks, lotion. If you enjoy a glass of wine they usually have complimentary choices with lunch/dinner and that helps me sleep. The extra time in the air is difficult, but they do make up for it somewhat by being nicer and giving you a bit more as part of the package. You can walk around, and sometimes you get a friendly crowd. When I flew to LAX with my kids last year there was a group of Brits at the back who were just standing around chatting. Every time I walked back there they wanted to pour me a beer and talk.

Is your passport far from expiration? There is some rule about not traveling to/from the US if you have less than six months left on your passport, but I'm not sure if it's just a suggestion or enforced. One thing you will undoubtedly conclude is that the US has the most uptight, humourless, paranoid airport employees on earth. The contrast with other countries is obvious. It's amazing what a difference a smile and a few pleasantries make to a trip.

If you plan on doing any shopping in London (spending in the 100s of pounds) be sure to ask for VAT back forms. Assuming they haven't changed the laws, as a non-EU resident you are entitled to receive the tax back on your purchases of any items that you will be using outside of the country (clothes, souvenirs, etc.). VAT is 20% so a sizeable amount of money. I wouldn't ask if you are only spending a few quid, and I imagine shops outside London won't necessarily have the forms (there should be a VAT back sticker in the window of any shop that offers it). Most shops were happy to give me the forms. The only one I ever had a problem with was Burberry on Regent, and that was nearly 15 years ago and I've avoided that brand ever since. (I have a long memory for these sorts of things, and I am unforgiving when an overpriced clothier is anything but the picture of hospitality and gratitude!)

Sadly no, Stonehenge is pretty far from Cambridge, a good 3 hours I would estimate, and probably just over an hour past London. Where exactly do you need to get to in central London? The underground should be able to get you within a few blocks of your hotel if you feel you can handle that experience after a 10-12 hours flight with all of your bags.

[RichardMEL]

Some REALLY good suggestions there re visiting UK/London etc. I totally support purchase of an Oyster card up front (I did this a few years ago, will top up mine shortly to make sure I have enough myself), the VAT refund is very important.. is it still 17.5 or 18%?) and so on.

Karen will be on FI (IcelandAir) on 757-200's (http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Icelandair/Icelandair_Boeing_757-200.php) and they do suggest they have in seat video which is surprising. I had thought they are more a budget carrier. Seat pitch at 32" is generous by most standards so some comfort, but it's still coach. It's under 12 hours of total travel time which is not too bad for west coast -> LHR (If I have the correct flight details. Karen can correct ). As for me, I've got nigh on 28 hours of travel to get there, but it is true I will be in Business Class which some appropriation of a lie flat seat on Finnair for the overnight portion, though the last section on a crummy BA A320 for 3hours. ugh. But I digress.

I'm arriving around 3 hours ahead of Karen, which is not ideal in terms of us meeting up. Not sure how that will work out.

Anyway I was thinking of staying at a hotel about half a mile from Liverpool St station in London (for the train up to Camb) and a not too bad connection on the tube via Hammersmith. Should be reasonable to get there even with a suitcase off peak before the tube gets mental. Would hate to be on the tube in Central London with suitcases during peak time

Personally if it was my first time in the UK/London, and given how tired one usually is on arrival in the UK from long haul travel, I think spending Sunday and Monday in London "doing the sights" makes sense. Me, I've been there done that, so I'm actually staying in Camb at the HI on the Sunday night and plan a leisurely pace back to the "big smoke" prior to a 9pm flight to Dubai. That's just me though

Back to the matter at hand of stuff in Camb - I think some things like the gardens and maybe a college tour and so on will definitely rely on the weather co-operating. We'll just have to play it by ear as it were.. one general rule for England for me

Another suggestion for Karen is to find if her bank has an agreement with a UK bank for fee free withdrawls and so on. For example my bank has an agreement with Barclays in the UK for access. Still get the conversion cost, but the extra few quid for transaction fees being zero'd is definitely helpful.

[cariad]

Coach is not that bad! I dreaded it with the boys, but it was actually worse for me being alone. The time passed in a flash going from Heathrow to LAX on Virgin. I know most of you probably use miles. I know I could never pay the asking price in cash for a business or first class ticket - you could get a week at a lovely hotel for what they charge for you to be able to be more comfortable for a handful of hours. I am fine with coach but wouldn't turn down a higher class ticket if someone is offering. I prefer an aisle seat so I don't have to worry about someone falling asleep and blocking my path to the loo.

Personally if it was my first time in the UK/London, and given how tired one usually is on arrival in the UK from long haul travel, I think spending Sunday and Monday in London "doing the sights" makes sense. Me, I've been there done that, so I'm actually staying in Camb at the HI on the Sunday night and plan a leisurely pace back to the "big smoke" prior to a 9pm flight to Dubai. That's just me though

I'm more an 'explore one place at a time' person, so I'd be more inclined to stay in Cambridge and leave feeling like I had really seen it, and then if I liked the experience make plans to spend a week or two in London in future. Another money saving tip, most of the big attractions these days give a discount if you book online at least a couple days in advance and print your tix out before you go. I know the London Eye does this (frankly I wouldn't bother, we have to go because it appeals to the kids, but the price is ridiculous). Many museums in London are absolutely free (or they were 10-15 years ago) so if that interests you, you could make a day of that, although Sunday/Monday are the days they are most likely shut, so check first. If you want to catch a West End show, they offer Sunday matinees but Monday is traditionally dark in theatre no matter what country you're in. I guess if you do decide to go to London it would be helpful to know what interests you most and then see if anyone has suggestions from there. I don't like the big name shops, but a place like Camden Market (again, I'm thinking back 15 years and I've heard it's changed for the worse) is the type of place that attracts me. Also, I am all about street food, and had the most divine cuisine at Southbank Centre last summer. There's also the huge Borough Market not too far from there. Ideal if you're traveling solo as you don't have to go through the awkwardness of interacting with wait staff. There were two relatively new buildings in London last we were there - The Shard and The Gherkin.You'll know them when you see them. If you like views and architecture, you can travel up into The Shard but I think it's pricey. (I think the Gherkin should be called the Bullet, but then it occurred to me that many Brits probably have little idea what a bullet looks like. Of course it's the first thing that sprang to my mind!)

Another suggestion for Karen is to find if her bank has an agreement with a UK bank for fee free withdrawls and so on. For example my bank has an agreement with Barclays in the UK for access. Still get the conversion cost, but the extra few quid for transaction fees being zero'd is definitely helpful.

We probably should have looked into this when we came over. Although I imagine with our credit union we would've been out of luck. Karen, if you do find such an arrangement I would appreciate hearing about it. I know if you have AmEx Platinum you pay no fee, and of course all of us just have stacks of platinum cards in our wallets so this is totally useful information!

[Sugarlump]

Cariad ... how old are your boys? The National Stud Tour and The Punting have differing age limits! 

[MooseMom]

The problem with coach is that if you are traveling alone, you don't know who you might be sitting next to.  The last time I flew coach, I was in the middle of a row, and the man sitting next to me (in the window seat) was a walking, talking furnace.  He was, like, 6' 3" and was wearing a woolly jumper that made me sweat just looking at it.  Whenever I flew with my son, we flew coach because, well, he was little back then, so we'd pull up the seat divider between our seats and had plenty of room to share. 

Karen, since you are stopping in Iceland, are you also having to change planes?  If so, won't you have to go through customs and immigration there?  And since Iceland is not part of the EU, doesn't that mean you'll have to go through Customs and Immigration again at Heathrow?  Anyone know?

I have an Amex Platinum card, but I didn't use it in the UK because it doesn't have a computer chip.  I still have all of my UK cards and my current account at NatWest, so currency/exchange rate issues are something I thankfully get to avoid.  I guess all of those years living in England did give me some benefits after all!

Karen, there are so many things to see and do in London, but if you have good weather while you are there, you may want to consider visiting Kew Gardens.  Take the Tube to Kew.  It is not only beautiful but also of great historic significance!

[cariad]

Cariad ... how old are your boys? The National Stud Tour and The Punting have differing age limits! 

Oh dear! I don't like where this is going....

Here's the thing with that, just tell me what age they need to be and, within reason, that's how old they are. I am often asked if my two boys are twins, much to the chagrin of my older son (aged 11). We lie all the time about my younger boy's age (7), he's used to it and pulls it off very well. I tell people he talks like a 12-year-old, looks like a 10-year-old, but emotionally he's very much a 7-year-old. I am more concerned about the punting as I know they'd really enjoy that experience.

Thanks for handling all of these annoying details, Sugar. You're a star!

[Sugarlump]

Cariad ... how old are your boys? The National Stud Tour and The Punting have differing age limits! 

Oh dear! I don't like where this is going....

Here's the thing with that, just tell me what age they need to be and, within reason, that's how old they are. I am often asked if my two boys are twins, much to the chagrin of my older son (aged 11). We lie all the time about my younger boy's age (7), he's used to it and pulls it off very well. I tell people he talks like a 12-year-old, looks like a 10-year-old, but emotionally he's very much a 7-year-old. I am more concerned about the punting as I know they'd really enjoy that experience.

Thanks for handling all of these annoying details, Sugar. You're a star!

S'alright organisation is one of the things I am good at!
taking care of the detail
You're safe (giggles) it's up to 12 on Punting and 15 on Stud Tour!!!
It will be good to have them on the punting and the Stud Tour, children se things in different ways and hopefully they will love Bills too 

[cariad]

Cariad ... how old are your boys? The National Stud Tour and The Punting have differing age limits! 

Oh dear! I don't like where this is going....

Here's the thing with that, just tell me what age they need to be and, within reason, that's how old they are. I am often asked if my two boys are twins, much to the chagrin of my older son (aged 11). We lie all the time about my younger boy's age (7), he's used to it and pulls it off very well. I tell people he talks like a 12-year-old, looks like a 10-year-old, but emotionally he's very much a 7-year-old. I am more concerned about the punting as I know they'd really enjoy that experience.

Thanks for handling all of these annoying details, Sugar. You're a star!

S'alright organisation is one of the things I am good at!
taking care of the detail
You're safe (giggles) it's up to 12 on Punting and 15 on Stud Tour!!!
It will be good to have them on the punting and the Stud Tour, children se things in different ways and hopefully they will love Bills too 

Oohhhhh! See I thought you were asking because they wouldn't be allowed to do it if they were too young. We haven't lied to save money (yet) but I'm sure that's in our future, especially before Aidan hits his long-anticipated growth spurt.

I'm sure they will love the experiences, and the company! They both eat up the extra attention they get when they're the only kids. Pair of attention whores, those two!

[cariad]

Gah, now I'm ticked off.

The owner/landlord of these self-catering places in the Cambridge area emailed Gwyn March 12 saying if we wanted this flat for our meet weekend to let her know, and he did immediately. She has now written back to say that that weekend is booked but we can have their bed and breakfast instead, for one night, then MOVE to another place where we can stay for Saturday and Sunday night. Oh, gee, thanks. We can disrupt our weekend with a move in the middle (cause those are such fun!) and then stay an extra night to meet her minimum night requirements for her cottage. The kids have school the following Monday, we are *not* staying Sunday night.

Gwyn is emailing her back to demand to know why she reneged on our agreement. Not sure what we're going to do now but will update when I know. Once we have another place, well, TripAdvisor Reviews here we come!