OFF TO OSLO

I am so grateful for my guardian angel the morning I left Kew. I booked a cab to the airport a couple of days before as there was expected to be a tube strike. Made sure I had plenty of time. Waited outside 10 minutes before the cab was due at 9.30am. About 9.40 a lady came out from the apartment building. We chatted and I said I was waiting for a cab. She used her phone and after about 5 minutes got through to the cab company. They insisted they had no record of my booking. I had their confirmation email on my phone! . They said they had no cars available. I had a plane to catch!

My angel phoned the cab company she uses and they sent a cab within 10 minutes. Only because it was her asking!. Got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. Do not use Zone Mini Cabs in Kew. Kew Cars came to the rescue. www.kewcars.co.uk

The lady angel is a retired doctor who is in the House of Lords. Baroness Jenny Tonge. Found out quite a bit about her on the internet. She sure did her good deed for the day. And I was ever so thankful.TM

LEAVING KEW

This is where I have been staying for the last 12 days. I booked this room through “Friends of the National Archives”. People close to the archives let out rooms for researchers.

I just had my room, with a microwave and tiny fridge and shared the bathroom. The kitchen was just for washing my dishes. I learned to improvise and picked up a free local property magazine and used it as a place mat.

My bedroom

Shared bathroom

LAST TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY IN KEW

Spent my time at the Archives and the London FamilySearch Centre which is based there. Sad to say the baby swans are now only 4. Evidently they get a few born each year but only 2 or 3 ever make it to adults.

Even though all the houses here are all red brick with a white trim the front doors are really quite unique. I took photos of some of them this morning. Haven't figured out to get the photos side by side.

After the archives I took a walk along the River Thames. I think I shall take a river cruise when I am back in London.

Can anyone tell me how to get these photos to go where I want them to be?

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IN KEW

Walking to the archives daily I am amazed at the number of different cars I pass. About every name I am familiar with; Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Land rover, Lexus, Mercedes, Mini Cooper, MG, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Rover, Range Rover, Saab, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagon,Volvo. And those are just in a 10 minute walk. But the one I think is the cutest is this one that I do not have a name for.

Maids of Honour, Kew Road

When I sit in the sun to have lunch I get some lovely visitors.  

WEDNESDAY IN KEW

Walking around here makes me appreciate how much space we have at home. To fit all the people in, the houses are really close together and go up – not out. And they are so expensive! Between one and two million pounds around here! 

Leybourne Park Road, Kew

I was looking for some information for someone about his father who served in MI6 during the second world war. Unfortunately that is all classified so I guess he never will know exactly what his father did. At least he can find out about MI6 from this book that was published a couple of years ago.

Specsavers to the rescue! On Monday I went into the store in Richmond because one of the sides to my glasses was really stiff and making them difficult to wear. A lovely young man very kindly fixed them for me and suggested perhaps I was taking them off with one hand instead of two and this stretched that side. After a day of being very diligent in how I removed my glasses, they stiffened up again -even worse than before. Back to Specsavers. Another lovey young man took them and loosened the screw and said if that doesn't work then they will put the lenses into a new frame. I am a friend of Specsavers for life!

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?

AT KEW

My hostess, Zina was about to go out and had asked a friend to look out for me. It was now nearly 1pm. She had just enough time to show me my room and give me a key. I just have a room here and share the bathroom with Zina and another guest. He is Brian from Christchurch who is researching the Vietnam War at the National Archives. A lovely young man, father of three. In my room is a tiny fridge and a microwave oven and an electric jug.

First I needed a rest. My ankles had disappeared and I was exhausted. After a nap I thought I had better go find a local store and get some food. I got to the front door of the apartment building and realised I could get into the apartment but not into the building. Once I shut that door I had no way of getting back in. Zina had forgotten to tell me the door code. There are three apartments on each floor. I started on the ground floor ringing each persons door bell. No response. Went up to the next floor to start there when a lady from the ground floor opened her door. She graciously gave me the code so I could leave the building. TM14.

Kew Village is just a few houses away. As I walked around it I was getting worried. I could see some nice restaurants – out of my league and a few other interesting stores, but no Sainsbury's which is what I really wanted. There was a store selling all kinds of organic food and produce. Great if I was at home with my kitchen. Found the last few shops and among them was a Tesco Express store. So relieved. At least I could get a few supplies. TM15.