Ireland to London

It was sad to leave the farm. Before leaving we had a lovely hot, big traditional breakfast at the B&B, cooked by Molly with Mark & Ollie looking on! They all loved the Aussie souvenirs we gave them.
A 3 hour bus trip to Dublin - we hadn't seen this part of Ireland before. I love Dublin - so 'open' somehow. They do not allow high -rise buildings, let alone skyscrapers.
After a lovely dinner & evening with Margaret at her apartment - she lives beside Dublin Bay - we caught the train out that goes all the way around the bay - lots of bird life.
We were up at 6 the next morning as bus to the ferry left at 7 & ferry at 8. Great smooth 3 & quarter hour trip to Holyhead in Wales. We had to wait 2 & half hours to get the train to London, arriving at 5.45pm. Finally got to B&B in Brockley about 7.30. It all would have been better with half the amount & weight of luggage!
B&B is lovely - a choice of 2 trains & 2 buses to get into the city.
Saturday - we bought a 7 day Travel Card (35 pounds) for unlimited travel on trains & buses. I think we used half the value on buses trying to get to Royal Blackheath Golf Course!!!! Trips made more eventful by a car driven by a learner driver ran into the back of one bus! Plus there was a BIG fireworks event at Blackheath so buses diverted around it. Lost count of how many times we passed through Greenwich!!!! But did see Deptford markets, the Cutty Sark, the Woolwich ferry, the Thames barrier (against floods or tsunamies), Maritime/Military/Naval/Arsenal areas!!!!!

We did get into the dining room of the Golf Club (very posh!) where there is a portrait of Charles SUTHERLAND - one of my old family forebears who was a Captain there in 1834 & he introduced golf to Bombay, forming the Royal Golf Club of Bombay & they still have the Bombay Medal. The SUTHERLANDs & DUNBARS & MASSONs were very BIG trading/shipping families all over the world.

Sunday (both days fine & sunny but cold wind! - got out the jackets, scarves & gloves!!!)
We went to church with the other 2,000! at All Souls, Langham Place. John Stott was minister there when Warren attended it for the 2 years he was in London in the '70's. Great preacher & singing today - spine tingling!
We played the tourist then - strolled up & down Oxford Street (some Christmas decorations up, others being put up). John Lewis', Selfridges, Debenhams, House of Fraser. Lots of people strolling too; Salvation Army band playing!
We started to go to Westminster Abbey but got way-laid by the Palace, Green Park, St James' Park & the squirrels! & Churchill War Rooms - wonderful!!!! That was the afternoon gone. Went onto the Abbey, Big Ben & Houses of Parlt - so impressive at night, all lit up!
Black Friar's Pub at Blackfriar's bridge in middle of photos. They have built the new BF train station on a new bridge across the river