Jolly Old England

  Hello friends, we are spending the week in England.  Our journey began with a Eurostar train from Paris Gare du Nord that took us to London, St. Pancras station.  We hustled to our hotel that lies at the south end of Westminster bridge.  After dumping our bags, we hopped on our tour bus and completed the fastest tour of London on record.  The kids spent the evening swimming in the hotel pool and having room service.  The next day we were on the first capsule of the day on the London Eye and then we departed the city to go East, into Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
   I found a midweek deal at the Ickworth house where we are enjoying a lot of fresh air and quiet.  This grand estate was built in the 1700's and is now owned by the National Trust. Yesterday we explored the estate a bit, kids took a swim, we had tea and played croquet, and then enjoyed a lovely dinner in the conservatory. Today we took a 7 mile bike ride around the 1800 acres of park land.  Call me sick but I'm hoping a murder will take place.

The current Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square is showcasing this work of art :
Hahn/Cock by Katharina Fritsch
Each work gets to stay 18 months until the new commission replaces it.

View from the front of our hotel.

Tower bridge.

On the London Eye

Whitehall Court - yes I think I'd like to call this home.

Ickworth Estate - Bury St. Edmonds Suffolk
Our home for the next 3 days.  Please tell Carson and O'Brien we are on our way.

Croquet with some fine lads we met.

It's sheep we're up against.

Sites from our 7 mile country bike ride.

Home in the distance.  Enjoying absolute quiet all around.