janisj the areas in Belgium and France will be full of Aussies. Enormous remembrances April 25 ANZAC day-100 years since the start of WW1 -in Australia ,UK Turkey France and Belgium.
Hope your time with your dad is wonderful.

I won't be there til May 6, but I am interested in Janisj Battle of the Bulge exploration. A few years ago DH and I spent two days with a fantastic guide there. We stayed overnight in Bastogne.
How did you explore?

Janisj and jamikins, thanks for taking care of the arrangements and see you there.

Janisj - please add one more to the booking - Lady B.

I envy you the Renaissance Janis!

A suite? well, there's posh.

Annhig - you don't know the half of it. My goodness what a great room, and the service was unbelievable. I'll post details in my TR

. . . Posted from my MUCH more down market 2nd floor (3rd floor American) walk up in Brugge . . .

Apologies - I must think I'm a time traveller . I had us arriving at LHR Monday and then just realized today when ordering airline meals that we leave Australia Monday and arrive Tuesday afternoon. So after 21 hours flying I won't be in a fit state nor be on time to join the GTG. Apologies - hopefully it's my only mistake this trip!

janisj, I am sure your visit to the Battle of the Bulge sites will be most interesting. DH and I hired a guide for two days and felt like we got a very good understanding of how the battle went. Our guide was Martin King, who has become sort of famous, but not at the time we went. We stayed overnight in Bastogne. We had no family members at that particular battle but we had a couple of older friends who did and we took about a million photos for them.
I am sorry to miss the GTG but don't arrive til May 6. There will be so much going on in London at that time, should be very exciting.

Northie: that's too bad ( but I know how 'things' get confused - somehow I am getting 2 extra days in London . . . Long story). We'll miss you. Maybe we'll haul some strangers in off the street to make up the rest of our party.

Challiman: my battle fields tour was on Friday. I used Henri Mignon who was a 9 yo living near Bastogne during the battle. A really lovely man. His father was killed by schrappnel. We had a great day out and found the exact farm where my dad was for four nights during the heaviest fighting. The blogs are all new but it is still a farm.

Just a thought . . . Because of my two 'extra days' (don't ask ). Maybe we can get together later in the week/weekend. I'm off line most of tomorrow but will be in London from Tuesday noon-ish w/ wifi access - maybe we can touch bases after you recover.

That would be great . I'm free Wednesday and Thursday - off to Brighton on Friday

Back on line and ensconced in my TEEEEENSY 'studio' in Ebury Street. But lovely bathroom .

Northie - I think you are traveling today or just arriving?? If you see this, I'm totally booked up on Thursday but can definitely manage something on Wednesday. I'm booked into the Sargent exhibition Wed morning at the national portrait and was going to hit TKTS after that to see what's available. So Wed. - lunch or afternoon tea or pre-dinner drinks or ? Where are you staying?

janisj - I could meet you outside the portrait gallery at 1 or even book at the restaurant there . They have vacancies. We are in Muswell Hiil this week.

Ooh - lunch at the Portrait would be lovely. 1:00 is perfect. I'll try to book right now . . .

We had a wonderful GTG last night more details later since I'm running a little late. we talked for HOURS . . .

Ok let me if we get in and dh and I will meet you in there

Northie: I just tried to book and it can't be done on-line w/o a mobile # and I don't have one w/ me. Tried ringing and its too early. There is a slot at 1:45 but I won't have access to a phone after I head out in about 45 mins.

If you see this could you book it?

Successful or not we could meet at the Portrait then and either eat in the restaurant or pop into the cafe???

I may not see your reply one way or the other . . . Fingers crossed

We were posting at the same time

Ok - you book and ill see you there . . .

Booked 1.45 table!

So how did it go? Pictures?