Mummy/Son Date to London

Henry and I went to London, just the two of us! My boss was in town for the Who Do You Think You Are? Live! Conference in Kensington, and I thought that was a perfect excuse to hop on the train with my little man and spend the day in the best city in the world.

Henry has recently revealed his cheesy fake smile---oh dear. 

Me and my little guy on the tube. Love. 

We met up with Tana at the Olympia Conference Centre and had lunch. It was nice to actually feel connected to the office again and, most importantly, get to actually have a real live conversation with Tana! I've really been missing our chats (aka, the hour or so we would spend each day talking about how much we love books and traveling and how we could spend all of our money travelling the world to buy books. Yeah--seriously, we talked about that all the time). After lunch and Henry's nap in his stroller, we said goodbye to Tana and headed out into the city.

We were lucky enough to be in London on an absolutely gorgeous pre-spring day, so we (I) decided we should go on my favorite walk--from Notting Hill Gate down to Big Ben. So, we hopped on the number 9 bus, then alighted right at the Notting Hill Gate tube stop.

We saw this on another bus just as we got off. It made me smile. :)

It was strange walking down Bayswater again. It was especially strange pushing a stroller. If Henry hadn't been still sleepy and waking up, I would have hauled him out of his buggy for a photo shoot by the Palace Court signs. (don't worry friends, that WILL be happening in the near future).

We popped in to Kensington Gardens and were greeted by a mass of children and dogs. It was half term, so the kids were out of school and taking advantage of the sunshine just like we were. The Princess Diana Memorial Playground was so crowded--so Henry and I decided to nix that idea (which I was really looking forward to) and just walk and walk and walk.

We stopped and said hello to Queen Victoria by the Round Pond, and watched a dog chase a duck down (Henry thought this was hilarious). I was pleased to see the daffodils were starting to come up, but not many had opened yet in Kensington Gardens, or Hyde Park.

Our path took us to Rotten Row, the old carriage byway of King William, and now the byway of King Henry Bruton. In reality, Rotten Row is now a bridle path for the horses of the Hyde Park Stables and the Royal Horse Guards.

Henry enjoyed several biscuits as we walked through the parks. 

Oh dear--speaking of Horse Guards---

Henry and I went through the beautiful archway of Hyde Park Corner just in time to see three beautiful horses and their Guards cross the street from Constitutional Hill. It was right in front of Apsley House, where the Duke of Wellington lived. I must admit--I was probably ten times more excited than anyone within miles to see these beautiful horses go by us. As I pointed them out to Henry, "Look at the horsies!" he humored me and showed his excitement by kicking his legs and pointing at the horses, too. They crossed the street with the light (which had a green sillouette of a horse!) and went right by us--maybe three feet from Henry's stroller! It was pretty awesome.

We pushed on from there, and entered into Green Park. The daffodils were a little more eager to show their faces in Green Park and St. James' Park, so Henry and I stopped to enjoy their bright happy faces. The way Brits' do daffodils is my favorite--allowing them to grow all throughout the lawns and then mowing them down when the time comes. I just LOVE it. it makes for beautiful carpets of yellow.

We grabbed a muffin in St. James' Park, and then heard Big Ben toll the hour--it was time to head to Westminster Tube Station and start towards home.

It's always a good day when you see Big Ben, but especially when there are blue skies and good company. We sure missed Daddy, but it was nice spending the day in the Royal Parks with my son.