New in Notting Hill: August 2009

Okay, yes.

This is another 4-month-late update. But! I do have some pretty good reasons.

For one, I have been trying to get pictures from my sister / brother-in-law since July for this post, and finally decided to go ahead and just show the ones from my mom's and my camera. Also, I moved house recently and with all that goes with that, time has gotten away from me again. So, this entry has pictures from when my mother, sister, and brother-in-law came to visit...and in the (hopefully) near future, I will include Seth's pictures because he got some great ones with his new camera.

12th June, 2009

This is the Lanesborough Hotel at Hyde Park Corner. As soon as my mother got into London, I took her to afternoon tea.

MY MOM'S IN LONDON!!!! It was so good to see her.

I would HIGHLY recommend the Lanesborough for afternoon tea! It was perfect and the hotel is gorgeous.

Walking through Holland Park

Peacocks in Holland Park

I had to take a picture of this shop window....you wouldn't think they would sell party items to celebrate the national holiday that commemorates when the US gained independence from Britain....but I guess over the years the ex-pat community has created a demand (?)

13th June, 2009

The Trooping of the Colours,

Celebrating the Queen's Birthday

Camilla Parker Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall

THE QUEEN!

(Sadly, I had taken another picture on mom's camera that had a better picture of her face, and I accidentally deleted it. Oh well, this one is pretty good!)

In Fulham, enjoying a Pimms

At a BBQ at my friend, Aoife's house. I gave her this t-shirt because she'd like to move to the States and work as a speech therapist.

Louise, Trish, & Aoife

14th June, 2009

Sunday Roast at the White Horse Pub in Parsons Green with my friend, Sarah, who is from Edmond, OK

Hampton Court Palace in Richmond, where Henry VIII once lived

Mom and I happened to find this on the way to the bus stop back into central London

15th June, 2009

Mom inside in a black cab- we had to quickly meet my friend, Rebecca, in West Hampstead to sign the lease for our new flat

Mom took a picture of what would soon be my new street

Steph and Seth arrived!!

Having a picnic in Hyde Park...Seth is busy figuring out his new camera

16th June, 2009

I worked this day while Steph and Mom showed Seth and Steph's friends, Tami & Allen, around London. Then I met them later that evening for the Jack the Ripper walking tour.

This was our tour guide on the Jack the Ripper Walk! It was amazing and he's wonderful!

17th June, 2009

Buckingham Palace

The Union Jack flying meant the Queen was in residence!

The Changing of the Guard

A little picnic in Hyde Park

Kensington Palace

I took Mom and Steph on a tour of Notting Hill. I think Seth, Allen, and Tami were at a pub somewhere.

Portobello Road

Later that evening we all had fish 'n chips at one of my favourite pubs, The Builders Arms, in Chelsea and Rosie joined us.

18th June, 2009

Steph at the Jo Malone counter in Selfridges- my favourite department store in London- probably no coincidence that it was opened by an American 100 years ago ;)

Upper deck of a double-decker bus

Afternoon tea at the Parlour in Fortnam & Mason's

Mom's new favourite saying

19th June, 2009

Edinburgh, Scotland

On the city-sightseeing bus

Arthur's Seat

2oth June, 2009

St. Andrews, Scotland

If we went to Scotland, Seth said we had to go to St. Andrews. And of course if we went to St. Andrews, he had to golf!

21st June, 2009

Flying to Dublin, Ireland

22nd June, 2009

Seth signing his life away at the car hire place in Dublin

Driving on the wrong side of the car / road.

Glad it was Seth and not me having to use the stick shift with his left hand!

Steph was our navigator

Malahide Castle, Malahide Ireland

No, there is not a castle in this picture. Another hazard of not having Seth's pictures with me in London....but this is on the castle grounds. Wasn't it a GORGEOUS day?!?