Today is Sunday and so far we have visited King Henry 8th’s famous home. We will go to church tonight – Baptist Tabernacle.

This morning we woke up at 8 a.m. – have certainly adjusted to UK time it appears.

Following breakfast we tookoff on a cool, drizzley morning to get the bus to Waterloo Station and the train to Hampton Court. This is King Henry 8th’s palace – very sumptuously and lavishly and elaborately decorated – all part of his intention to prove he had great wealth apparently. One room of tapestries cost as much as it would have done to build a palace. ..used gold and silver thread in them. They also protayed many biblical stories. We saw the rooms where the various Queens lived, had children, etc. The huge kitchens there were actually operating – and included a massive fireplace for spit-roasting and big 16 century style BBQ fires for the cooking pots.

The gardens were just beautiful – very geometric and “royal” – actually reminded Raeline of some of her childhood books - was it Noddy?? Not sure! Private temmjis court, wine cellar, the largest and oldest grapevine in the world (certified in 1995), banqueting hall – and on it goes.

Again there was a very good audio guide system, plus a number of people in period costume giving commentaries – even King Henry 8th himself appeared, along with an accompanying Duke of somewhere.

Just had a lovely roast dinner (first for 3 weeks) and now heading off to the Central Baptist Tabernacle Church to hear Rev Masters – great speaker apparently.

Tomorrow a day in London city. Tonight it is a nice still London evening – 6 p.m. Must get ready for church!

Love to everyone

Peter and Raeline