Ahmed, this is so entertaining, thank you ! I have been crying with laughter. And it's great that you are obviously a happy person who doesn't let wee hiccups spoil your day.

As for under 3 hours Glasgow-Manchester, though... I reckon these devices, & route-planning websites, seem to work on the assumption that yours is the only vehicle on the road. We reckon on 5 hours to Manchester.

Nice to hear that Edinburgh is now one of your favourite cities.

Thanks caroline_edindburgh - you are absolutely right. I should have edited that. We did calculate and account for 5 hours (instead of the 3 I wrote). However, since fate had a slightly different plan, we took about 7 hours to get there.

I have long since learned that 35 mph is the most one can hope for on English, Irish, Welsh or Scottish roads. That only sometimes improves if you are on a highway!

Oh dear, poor you. Still, glad you enjoyed it when you got there !

The place you stayed in the Lake District looks lovely - was that a Fodorite recommendation ?

GreenDragon, we usually take 10-11 hours to get to the PILs in Pembroke, which is about 400 miles :-(

Ahmed-I am thoroughly enjoying your trip report. Love your sense of humor. Can't wait to hear about London!

Caroline, I rest my case - 440/11 = 36.36 mph :P

Regardless, you can see a lot more of the beautiful countryside going 35 mph than you can going 70 mph - which is one reason why I love going there!

Oh gosh, so it is ! True - although it tends to work out that it gets dark shortly after we reach the scenic part :-(

Thanks all.

Caroline - I read about the Wateredge Inn in a guide book and then checked up on it at Tripadvisor. I think I did mention it here, but no specific response that I can recall. There were other recommendations, but they were mostly either booked or did not have a family room.

Interestingly, I did manage to see a few that we were considering, from outside and they all looked pretty decent. I think we sometimes fret over these things excessively!

Ahmed -

I am really enjoying your light and easy - and humorous - style. Plus all the great information. Looking forward to London . . .

Thank you all. Please forgive the fragmented report, since work pressures do not allow sufficient time to do this in one go. But its nearly done now, so please bear with me.
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We left Ambleside, all relaxed and just about ready for a city holiday in London. After our journey through Scotland, Greater Manchester and the Lake District, I had had my fill of looking at sheep and had no desire to see any more. But honestly, we had had the time of our lives on a very memorable holiday thus far.

The thought of going to London, infused a renewed sense of excitement.

By now, the Motorway was beginning to feel like home. The GPS behaved itself and we zipped through to Manchester airport. While we were in Inverness, a week or so earlier, I had gone into the train station and managed to get a decent deal on train tickets from Manchester Airport to London. A very convenient arrangement – dropped the car off at Manchester Airport, had a quick bite and boarded our train for London. There was one stop, at Crewe where I, the family porter, juggled children and luggage with great flourish. I caught some whisperings to the effect that our luggage is heavier because of all the little hotel toiletries I habitually steal. I chose to ignore them. We all carry our burdens.

We arrived at London Euston, later than originally planned and our greeter from A Place Like Home, could not be at the apartment to meet us. Instead, they sent us a car to the station, apartment keys with the driver. Gratis. Very nice of them. I immediately transformed into a distinguished gentleman and motioned the driver to the luggage. He was a pro. He picked the smallest ones and started to load them in the van. I am no walk over either. I went and sat in the car. His life story, during the ride was terrible. I mentally knocked off a couple of pounds from his tip. He should have paid me for listening to his sob story.

The apartment was fantastic. Very well located – in Kensington Court, just off High Street Kensington and about a 5 to 7 minute walk from the Tube station. It has two decent sized bedrooms, one with bunk beds for the kids, a spacious bathroom and a large living room. The kitchen was just right, with all modern amenities. We were informed that the tiny ensuite in the main bedroom was not functioning and required major civil works. They said that they would refund a 100 pounds of the rent, without my having to ask them. A Place Like Home is a very professional outfit with a well deserved reputation.

It was late evening, so we walked out to the Simply Food outlet of M&S and got ourselves supplies for the next couple of days. Now free of the burden of driving, beer figured prominently in our grocery bill.

I had a promise to keep. One of my principal needs from the holiday was to be able to spend time with the kids, my wife’s was to get away from them! Not really, her need was more to be free of housework etc. so I, in a weak moment, agreed to do all in the apartment. I placed the roast chicken from M&S in the oven, fried the read-to-fry chips and served dinner. “Daddy is such a great cook”, my offspring said adoringly. One day, they will realize that it was the Portuguese at M&S who are the great cooks – meanwhile, Daddy is quite content in taking credit.

My own familiarity with the sightseeing in London comes from a distant past, when my parents took us there. For the past many years, I go to London quite often, but on short business trips. My wife had done that during her childhood as well, so for us it was a great opportunity to re-live that through the eyes of our own children.

Plus, the girls wanted to shop. My own shopping is a very simple affair. I know what I want, I know from where I want it and hence I spend minimal time, in what I think is generally time wasted, on a necessary chore. The wife, on the other hand, thinks of it as a source of entertainment. Following her during these testing hours, raises my blood pressure. In order to prevent myself from becoming an alcoholic, over the years I have learned not to accompany her on shopping expeditions. This is an excellent, mutually agreeable arrangement, since I am the sole provider of pain to her when she is shopping anyway. So we crafted the first few days in London, based on gender specific interests. My son and I would watch cricket, while the wife and daughter could go and shop.

More fantastic and funny reporting Ahmend, thanks again ! I don't want it to end.

ahmedhaff:

My husband thinks I have gone quite mad - you had me laughing out loud with your latest report.

Well done at keeping your promise to your wife and children. You sound like one terrific husband and father.

Thank you for sharing your trip and gift for writing with us.

Sandy

A recent article in a magazine, describes the game as it used to be. “Once upon a time, Cricket seemed the most British of sports. Leisurely games on the village green. Rain breaks. Warm beer. White men (for the most part) in fussy white uniforms. Such reverence for fairplay and civility that a casual observer could hardly tell who was rooting for whom, much less who was winning”.

Lord’s, the home of cricket, is an incredible institution, steeped in history and has an aura that is peerless. We spent a leisurely few hours watching MCC North and South battle it out. No more than 50 spectators at a time, but they were coming and going. They had a family day with a few activities as well. We went up to the Indoor Cricket School and asked if we could organize a coaching session for my son. They had a slot for the next day, which we booked, much to my son’s delight. Back home, cricket is a very passionate and serious affair. For a 10 year old to be able to get coached at Lord’s is a unique and memorable event. (I suppose the bragging rights are considerable too). For the session at the nets, he of course, needed to be properly attired and required a bat as well. So we went off to the Lord’s store, where he got himself fantastic gear and whites. Cost a pretty penny, but it brought a joy that was priceless. The following day, we came in the morning and went to the nets, my son in full cricket regalia. The Lord’s tavern is an institution unto itself – I strolled across for a bit while my son was playing. All up, an absolutely marvelous day. On the third day, we went across to the Oval to watch Day 3 of the Test Match. England was in a bad shape (they were playing India, we are from Pakistan. Guess who we were rooting for), but we got to see Kevin Pieterson bat – who is my son’s favorite batsman.

All this time, Oxford street had been under a ferocious attack. The invading armies were singular in their purpose and their lethal weapon, capable of untold destruction, was my credit card. They would boldly go into a store, almost purposelessly look around, touching, feeling, exchanging what-do-you-thinks, buying nothing. Going to the next store, doing the same thing and then returning to the previous one without fear and doing the same thing all over again. Sometimes, they would pick something, take it to the counter and have another conversation…”Should I”? the other would provide the reassurance, as has been done since time began…”Go for it”. The weapon would be drawn, swiped and my fate sealed. Emboldened by their conquests, they started gaining more territory and moved towards Regent street. The havoc they wreaked on New Bond street, took the better of a day.

In London, it sometimes feels like they will send you a bill for breathing.

Now that we had done 3 days of our own thing, it was time to see a bit of London. And to watch lot’s of plays.

We started with The Lion King. A spectacular production of a much loved film. It has a special place for us, since it was the first movie we ever bought for the children, when my daughter was about two. The sets were fantastic, the entire ensemble was nothing short of grand. Next, we saw Mary Poppins – this time, a story and songs that we knew by heart, spanning our generation as well as our children’s. Followed that by Mamma Mia – what a delight. A somewhat older theme for the children, but they enjoyed it tremendously. While it takes a lot to admit that I used to listen to Abba songs in my younger days, the play brought alive an era which was carefree and songs we loved so well, hidden somewhere under layers of memories. Finally, we saw Grease. An incredible production of a movie we loved so. At the end of the play, after the actors take their bows, Danny’s character comes back on stage, combs his hair and throws the comb to the crowd – my son caught the comb. I doubt if he will ever forget that moment.

This, of course, was evening activity. During the daytime, we did a fair bit of sightseeing. The Tower was especially interesting. When we went as children, many moons ago, I do not recall the guides. This time, however, they were a treat. Funny, informative and engaging. We spent leisurely hours strolling down Portobello Road in Notting Hill. The parks are always a delight in London and the kids enjoyed strolling through them. My son got bored of the British Museum (for me, the British Museum has few peers) beyond the Egyptian rooms, so we dragged an unwilling along most of it, but the Natural History Museum was a delight. Nothing like dinosaurs to hold the kids’ attention.

I paid dearly for my promise of housework. Never again. But it was nice to see her relaxed and happy. Since Daddy ruled, kids got special breaks too, like loads of ice cream and lollies.

With a bit of sadness, our four fun-filled weeks finally came to an end. It was a great trip, one we will all remember fondly for a long time. We are a close family and can keep each other entertained quite happily and the way we went about our trip, I suppose reflects us and our interests. I always find it very interesting how much children learn while travelling. That alone is worth it all. All up - lot’s of laughs, many happy moments and fond memories.

As I started, I will end this with another note of thanks. To all the lovely people at the forum, especially all of you who wrote such kind words. For my part, writing this report was so much fun as it allowed me to re-live the trip – almost like going through holiday pictures. Thank you, once again.

I loved this report both for the sights enjoyed vicariously and for a peep into the life of a wonderful, but human, family. Thanks so much!

Ahmed, you report was wonderful! I love your dry sense of humour.

When were you in the lake district? We were there June 23rd to July 7th and it was wet, wet, wet but still beautiful.

Well done for such a warm, funny and interesting trip report. One of the best I've ever read on this site.

Thank you for a wonderful report. I've enjoyed it so much.

I have also enjoyed this report tremendously. Thank you so much for sharing.

Fantastic report - sad it's over!

ahmedhaff:

You and your lovely family had a marvelous holiday, you will remember these wonderful times and memories for years to come.

I am looking so forward to seeing your pictures.

Sandy