MONDAY AND TUESDAY IN KEW

I discovered the Kew Retail Park about 10 minutes walk away. It had a few large stores – Mothercare, TK Maxx, Gap, Marks and Spencers. Can't do any shopping yet. I have too many flights to take and carrying extra luggage is not fun. 

There are so many contrasts here. Compared with the United States I find the people are much slimmer and shorter. Must be all those stairs they have to walk up and down to use the trains. 

Thought I might get my hair trimmed. No way! The local shop is between £59 and £129 for a style cut. With our dollar at 2.3 times, even the lowest price is a fortune!  Maybe away from London it will be cheaper?

Streets of Kew

The streets are so pretty. Because all the houses are really old, they generally do not have garages and just a small front yard. A lot of people have made these so they can park a car in them but mostly the cars are parked on the street. I wonder what they do when they have a few friends over? Where do they park?

I had a meal at an Italian cafe in Kew village. It was a baked potato with chili con carne and a salad with balsamic dressing. It was divine! Thought I would get a meal there last night but they close at 5pm.

Was great to go to the National Archives. I have a few people who wanted me to do some research for them so my focus was on their work.  

When I went outside for a break I saw a mother swan and her babies walking up to the front door of the archives. Looked they wanted to come and find their ancestors! Or they were seeking the shade.

Sleeping Mask

I have come up with a way not to wake at dawn - I wear the eye mask I got when I was upgraded on the plane. How is that  for glamour?