Winsomesblog: The Dunn girl's Mother's Day trip to London

Winsomesblog: The Dunn girl's Mother's Day trip to London

The Dunn girl's Mother's Day trip to London

Bonny, Mother and I ventured to London for 10 days to enjoy the British "ways".  Mother (Winnie Dunn) was born in Australia of an English (Manchester) mother and Australian father.  Raised there through World War II, Mother met Hunter Dunn in Sydney, married him and bravely left her homeland for an unknown life in America.

Mother is now 91 and counting and unable to travel the distances to Australia.  Soooo, for the past 10 years or so, my sister and I have accompanied her to London for that British fix!  This is perhaps our last trip and somewhat bittersweet as our Mother becomes increasingly frail.  In spite of that, Winnie is game and we "go for it"!!!

 Our trip will include a lovely apartment stay in Covent Gardens, an evening at the Victoria Theater enjoying Billy Elliott, a Mother's Day dinner at the Savoy Hotel, a visit from cousins from Manchester, a bus tour on a rainy day, shopping on Oxford Street, a visit to Harrod's, and a beer and fish and chips at a local pub!

An evening at the Victoria Theater to enjoy Billy Elliott...

Bonny and I enjoyed listening to a 4 string quartet rehearsing at St Martin's in the Field church on Trafalgar Square.  What a beautiful church.

Oxford Street, heading to Selfridges, Mom's favorite department store.  The walker we took was well used and helpful.  The traditional black cabs accommodated the "extra baggage" just fine.

The weekend found us amidst a celebration for the anniversary of Punch & Judy.  Parades, costumes, puppet shows abounded.

Mom "talking" to an actor scrunched up under the table with his face in dog makeup.  Very clever indeed.

Happily, the city still maintains a few of the "old" buses for us tourists to ooooh and aaaah at! 

Mother's Day in London.  Off to the Savoy for dinner celebration.

Bus tour to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee celebration in June!

A welcome visit from cousins Joan and George Croston of Manchester.

Fish and Chips.....along with the beer, ofcourse!

the view from a cab ride.   Only in London!

Baroness Ros Scott treated us to a wonderful tour of the Parliament building and the House of Lords.

4am came early for our flight home, but we made it with flying colors.  Thanks, Mum, for being the wonderful, game Mother that you are.  We love you.  Happy Mother's Day!  Bonny and Winsome

Having just returned from 10 days working with ClientEarth and conducting a Board meeting, I thought I'd share the few photos I was able to take with my phone as I passed between constant meetings the streets of London...always so interesting.  We would never find an elegant Men's shop filled with wonderful products of grooming!  This shop was in the same building as our apartment in Mayfair.

I always tried to walk through Green Park to get from point A to point B with James Thornton (CEO of ClientEarth) as we met and nurtured relationships with old and new supporters committed to the environmental work we are conducting throughout Europe.  For example, cautioning the Polish government on the need for strong regulations to ensure safe development of the 11 coal fire plants on the books to meet the need of new energy consumption.  Or, holding the European Union to the rule of law it has passed with all 27 member countries with an openness and transparency that all its citizens are entitled to (their freedom of information statutes).  Or, educating and demanding that the city of London clean up its horrible air to improve the health of its residents, especially with the Olympics coming to town......all of these actions are but a FEW that ClientEarth has initiated to show the European region how valuable the legal rights are to the ongoing efforts of NGOs, governments, and individuals to protect our environment.  The photo above was taken on a glorious day in Green Park when the very old trees were bursting with spring awakening.

How much fun it was to walk down a street on Berkeley Square and see a line of electric cars "juicing up" with public stations!  Haven't seen that yet in our country, but let's hope it comes to us soon.

 Had a lovely meeting with friend Zac Goldsmith, MP from Richmond, at the Parliament building, also referred to by locals as the Palace....since it was originally built as that!  Tea on the House of Commons side with a view of the Thames capped off the busy week.  Great work accomplished for ClientEarth.

 A personal accomplishment was getting Michael out of the apartment to find a new raincoat at Selfridges on Oxford Street.  And...it was rightly used!

Heading back to London with my mother and sister in another two weeks, so will catch everyone up with that trip soon.