On Boxing Day (12/26), many things in the UK are closed.
Luckily, Katharine is a good guide and found a great place for us to go:
Warwick ("War-ick") Castle.
First things first...
We made sure Arianna understood we expected her to follow the castle's rules.
Next, we watched a sword fight in front of the castle.
Once inside, we explored the spiral stairways, gaol, apartments, gardens, walls and so forth.
Here we are inside the castle with the apartments behind us.
Peek-a-boo!
Can you find a peacock in the Peacock Garden?
Since Warwick was a real fortification, there were weapons to protect it.
On the 27th, we went to Bletchley Park and saw multiple enigma machines.
They were the machines the Nazis used to create difficult-to-break codes.
Luckily for the Allies, the Nazis coded everything - including weather reports!
We were able to use that mundane information to help break important codes
and win the war.
There were so many things to look at!
The boys loved this motorcycle used to deliver messages during the war.
On the 28th, we stayed in Huntingdon and celebrated Brady's belated 3rd birthday.
He partied with his friends and enjoyed eating his cute cake.
On the 29th, it was off to Hampton Court.
Henry VIII and a few of his 6 wives (and, later, a couple of his daughters) spent time here.
He was a rather impatient husband and most of his wives paid a heavy price.
The rhyme goes: "Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived."
(Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour,
Anne of Cleves, Kathryn Howard and Katherine Parr)
The fountain in the courtyard below flowed with wine during celebrations.
We watched courtiers dance Tudor style in the Great Hall.
Multiple tapestries on the walls are from Henry's time.
Out in the courtyard, Henry's jester kept everyone in stitches.
He was hilarious and even ate fire!
Queen Kathryn Howard argued with a man (her lover?) in the courtyard.
Her lady-in-waiting kept telling us that it was none of our business...oh, yeah?
Poor Kathryn was the second wife Henry beheaded.
It is said she haunts the chapel of Hampton Court.
Can you find Henry in the stained glass window of the Great Hall?
We saw him stomping around in person and watched him eat his dinner in public,
as he'd done in real life - back in his day.
On the 30th, Tim and Arianna went to London - to see the queen?
The rest of us went to Norwich ("Nor-itch") to see the castle and the cathedral.
In the castle, the boys got to ride in a chariot!
As night began to fall, we visited the cathedral.
Norwich Cathedral is a beautiful combination of traditional and modern.
As we walked in, we were greeted by a projected image of Madonna and Jesus.
Here is a view of the cathedral ceiling - breathtaking!
On New Years Eve, we met up in London and took a spin on the London Eye.
Our mechanical engineer found his own special sign on the way to Buckingham Palace.
Our 3 grandboys are sitting on a ledge of Westminster Cathedral,
which was closed for the day.
Warren and I headed to the Dukes Hotel, where I got a "007 Martini" (hint: James Bond).
It cost me £24...which is a lot more in American cashola...
Oh well, it was a once in a lifetime experience!
The twist is orange peel, which the bartender explained is 'seasonal'.
The bright green circles are olives.
The next picture is The Corinthia Hotel at night.
Check out Katharine's blog to see the FABULOUS roomS the Maguires stayed in.
Grandpa and I babysat the grandboys in their luxurious suites.
KC&B and A&T headed 100 feet out the front of the hotel to watch fireworks.
Soon, it was time to celebrate a certain person's 31st birthday at 12:02 AM.
Brian carried KC's cupcakes all the way from their house in Huntingdon, via train and Tube!
On the first day of 2012, we enjoyed a birthday breakfast together at the Dukes Hotel.
And then...it was time to leave.
How did it go by so fast?
We had a marvelous time and cannot wait to go back!
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