Greetings From Texas

Hello all,

I've just returned from my second trip to the UK (both of them in 2010).  The first visit was to London in July, partially for work and mostly for myself.  I had to come back as soon as possible, and so spent Christmas in London, with a brief trip to Bath right after. 

A few highlights from the December trip: Wagner's Tannhauser at the Royal Opera House (Prince Charles was there too)... Great thali out in East Ham with new London friends... An afternoon in Grenwich ... Rough Trade Records in Ladbroke Grove ... Amazing crowds in the city on Boxing Day, busses overcrowded due to the Tube strike ... Great conversation on the train to Bath with a teacher from Dorset, now long-time resident in London... Listening to Van Morrison and Judee Sill records at the Walrus and Caterpillar in Bath ... Wintry walks in Kensington Gardens on Xmas day ... Christmas Mass at St James's Paddington ... Great times, and I plan to return in 2011!

James

Hi James and welcome.  Sounds like a fabulous trip!  I would love to do Christmas in England some year.

When we were in London in 2007 we stopped in St. James, Paddington.  Our hotel was right up the street from there.

My sibs all live in the Houston area, BTW.  Have a great 2011.

Crikey Ruth was it that long ago that you and David bought Anna and I that meal? Think it's time for another, don't you?

Thanks for the warm welcome, folks!

I stayed in a hotel just up the street from St James Paddington-- it was my closest venue for midnight mass.  The priest's homily mentioned the film "Of Gods and Men," so when I was in Bath the next week, I caught it at the local independent theater.

 My family (and myself) are in the Houston area.  This fact, and some good luck, meant that I made it to London and back without any serious weather delays!

Hi Ron:  No that was our first trip.  We visited you a year ago, August 2009.  It was hot that day, remember?  We loved every minute of it.

Was it the Paddington, James?  That's where we stayed.  I booked us a room in that neighborhood because we took the express train from the airport to London and it takes you to Paddington station and we didn't want to have to walk too far to a hotel.  They were very accommodating, even letting us check out at 5 AM the day we left because we had to get an early train to Luton for a flight to Ireland.  I know there are a million little hotels in all those oh so cool retrofitted Victorian buildings in that area.

We visited Bath last summer, but only for a day trip.  But it's been entirely too long since I've been to Sugar Land. 

I was at the Gresham, one ohe tiny hotels in Sussex Gardens.  Extremely convenient for travel as you say-- National Rail is just around the corner.

There's an interesting Yemeni restaurant nearby, Queen of Sheba.-- where I had Xmas dinner, and watched some lively Arabic music videos.