Arriving in London in the middle of May we thought it would be at the end of spring with summer just around the corner. Somehow the weatherman didn't check his calendar and he is still sending out winter weather. After two reasonable days we woke to greyness again today and by the time we left the studio it was raining and then the cold wind set in. When we were packing in NZ we decided to include an umbrella each - we have worn one out and it had to be replaced today. London sort yourself out - we want it warmer than this. Today we headed by bus to Leyton. I had been to Leyton previously as I had visited a great aunt during a visit in 1983. It was there my sister had started her OE back in 1969 and my mother had stayed on two visits to London. In pouring rain we walked to 17 Griggs Road, an address I had known all my life as "the aunts back in England". My great aunt has died but the property was purchased by her grandson so he may still live there. There were lights on but I didn't knock on the door. From here we walked in the pouring rain up High Road in Leyton to see number 565. Through my research I have found this was the property my father and his parents lived in prior to their departure for New Zealand in January 1925. A short bus ride further up the High Road and then another walk in the rain to 48 Wilmot Road, Leyton and we were standing outside the home of my grandmother. It was in this home as a fifteen year old (employed as a tie maker) my grandmother lived with her parents and grandfather and seven siblings. The rain got the better of us and we made our way back by bus to Lea Bridge where we had lunch at The Drum Pub. It was a typical local with a good crowd of people getting inside away from the rain and wind. Although it was Mexican Monday we had to have something much more British - steak and kidney pie, gravy, peas and chips. Shame mashed potatoes didn't replace the chips. Peter enjoyed a pint. Total cost for two meals, and the pint came to just under £11. Back on the trains again later in the day and we made our way to Victoria Station and then Victoria Palace Theatre to see the show "Billy "Elliot". We hadn't booked seats prior to arrival in London and we were really pleased with excellent seats and had an amazing view of the full stage. We loved the show with a good story line and amazing dancing. Tuesday we woke to a fine day with no rain, at least first thing. We had planned to spend the day with my father's cousin, Kath and her husband, so that I could share my family tree research and ensure I was on the right track with my father's English family. The train trip to Upminster only required one change so within three quarters of an hour we were back in Upminster. We have been to Kath and Doug's home a few times previously and it is always great to catch up. Kath had done an amazing amount of preparation for our visit and to say she is an organised person is an understatement. She has plastic folders all named with various arms of her family and held information and certificates. She even had a box with divided sections for each family member including personal data and photos. It was so wonderful. It was also great to confirm that my research had taken me up the correction family lines. We finished our day with a beautiful meal at Kath and Doug's favourite restaurant. What a great day we had had but did I forget to mention that the rain showers came again today for a while and it was only 9 degrees as we walked home from the train tonight. It didn't feel like a spring evening.