2nd July - Arrived in 30C London.

3rd July - Spent the day in London, caught the tube in and saw London through the windows of a traditional black taxi. We visited Harrods, where we even saw a Pizza maker singing opera while he kneaded the dough. We then headed out for high tea to the Dorchester Hotel where we all indulged a little too much.

4 & 5th July - Shopping shopping shopping… we bought, tent, chairs, table, cookers & fell in love with a red Alfa Romeo. We also watched the men's Wimbledon Final, whilst consuming strawberries and cream with Sangria (our pimms substitute).

6th July - We went to Castle Ashby, followed by watching Ice Age 3 and checking out the indoor ski slope in Milton Keynes.

7th July - We visited Elly, wandered through the cathedral, checked out the town and attempted to have scones and tea at the best place in Britain which happened to be closed the day we were there.

8th July - We bought a car… we picked up Romeo our new red Italian sports car, an Alpha Romeo 156 2.0 Twin Spark, with leather seats and sunroof.We headed out to get lost on the country roads of outer Milton Keynes and ended up at a cute little village called Woburn for lunch, before making it back to Marcus and Mandy's house with a little help from the sat nav.

9th July - We checked out the buzzing university town of Oxford, walked through the campuses, saw the river where the Oxford versus Cambridge rowing race is held and also saw the dining hall in Christ church where Harry Potter was filmed.

10th July - We spent the day walking through the world heritage site, Blenheim Palace a masterpiece of English Baroque architecture from 1705, which is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The gardens were designed by Capability Brown, an unknown genius in his time. I think I have finally found my long lost destiny…. (Duchess Meca, has a good ring to it!!)

11th July - We vroomed through the country side in Marcus and Mandy's Fiat 500 (I so want to import one of these back to Oz). We headed out for breakfast, enjoying some real coffee, strolled around awesome factory outlets (found my new favourite handbag brand!! - hint hint it is called Radley, for anyone remembering my bday). We then walked through magnificent Stow gardens before finishing with a couple of pints at the local pub.

12th July - We went to Stoke Bruin and saw many of the canal locks in action, even got a couple of laughs at the novices attempting to work them. Nice scenery but way too much work for an enjoyable holiday!!