LONDON

We landed at some ridiculous hour - about 5.00 am I think - at Heathrow, and as expected Chloe and I with our EU passports were waived through immigration like old friends, whilst Karen and Chanelle had to join the alien queue. By the time they got through, Chloe and I had already collected our baggage, had breakfast and read (and acted out) the first six chapters of War and Peace.

We were able to check in early at the Travelodge at Euston just north of central London, and we hit the streets. We had only a few days in London before we were heading off for the provinces, so we hit the pavements to take in the sights and sounds

Karen, Chanelle and Chloe at Trafalgar Square

From the doorway of the National Gallery with Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column in the background. Also visible in the distance is the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament known as 'Big Ben' although the name is actually that of the bell inside the clock


The girls with the National Gallery in the background

Walking down towards Buckingham Palace, with the

Queen Victoria memorial in front

Chanelle and Chloe at "The Palace"

As New York has its 9/11 day of infamy, so London had it's turn of terrorist attacks on July 7 2005. Since then it's not unusual to see police officers

wearing bullet-proof vests and carrying sub-machine guns.

Heathrow Airport in particular has scores of them, and there

were several out the front of Buckingham Palace

A more serene moment at St James' Park near Buckingham Palace

Chanelle and Chloe at The Serpentine in St James' Park with

Buckinghuge Palace in the background

The girls at Westminster Abbey

A 'teenage moment' as Chanelle captures a 'myspace' style

picture on Westminster Bridge

Hmmm...interesting way to have a wedding

The girls contemplate a movie at Leicester Square

Chloe's first trip on a London double-decker

and Chanelle and Karen share the moment

The rebuilt Globe Theatre, where Shakepeare plays were staged way

back in the 1500's, and the ice-cream van where it is claimed, William

bought his cones during the intermission

Interesting moment at Southbank on the Thames

A 'two-for-one' dessert special at Lloyds Wine Bar, Leicester Square