Wow! We have done so much since landing in London yesterday morning! We headed past Big Ben and the parliament buildings to Westminster Abbey and walked where kings and queens have walked and we were even asked to be part of a photo shoot for an exhibit that is opening for Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee! After that huge amount of history we hoofed it over to Buckingham Palace and while we did not see the changing of the guard, we were able to see the guards, even a few with uzi's - they mean business! We made our way back to our hotel stopping at the Marquis of Granby pub for some fish and chips. We had a drink at our lovely hotel and hit the sack early, having been up for a few days now. Saturday morning arrived before we knew it, but Rick was ready for his Thames River bicycle tour and had a super day with about 12 people, cycling along the Thames River and seeing the sites including some of the outdoor markets with fine cheeses and wines from around the world.

Here's our view from our fabulous hotel in Westminster!
(they greeted us with warm chocolate chip cookies!) 

Meanwhile Bill, Danette and Liz hiked to Westminster station and took the "tube" to Tower Hill and toured the Tower of London. One of the highlights was going on a guided tour with one of the "Beefeater Guards"! Very entertaining and super informative. These guys have all previously served in the armed forces and a very select group are chosen as the "guardians of the Tower". Lots of great history here all the way back to the Normans! We went back on the tube, exited at Westminster and walked along Whitehall road past the horse guards to Trafalgar Square. Here we did a short walk through the National Gallery and headed back to our hotel to get ready to meet some very special people for dinner ( but not before we peeked into the Texas Embassy Cantina!).

Now for the special evening with Sergeant Barrie's daughter, Wendy; her son Chris Jeffries and his lovely wife Cheryl. From earlier in my blog,you will have read that Sergeant Barrie was the brave RAF soldier who pulled my Dad from his burning plane, saving his life and at great danger to himself tried to rescue the rest of the crew, but was unable to do so. Tonite we were able to meet some of his family and hear more about Alexander Barrie and his children. We did find out that Sergeant Barrie was posthumously awarded the British Empire Medal. The Americans asked that he be awarded the George Cross but since he was on medical leave for his own burns and not on active duty at the time, he was denied that honor.

His grandson, Chris has done so much research about his Grandfather and was able to share a lot with Bill and I - it was such an honor to meet him and his wife as well as his lovely mother, Wendy. What an evening to remember-- wouldn't my sister, Jayni loved to have been in the White Swan pub tonite for these stories (missed brother John and sister Susie too:) Thats all for tonite folks.... Another big day in London town tomorrow - headed to the Royal Air Force museum north of London to see a re-built Bristol Bleinheim Bomber, like the one my Dad flew.