UKSep2006

2006-10-04T19:49:00.001-07:00

Buddha here. I was lucky enough to have the chance to visit the UK (West Sussex) on a business trip during September 2006 with Fletch and Merv. I was working at Billinghurst and living in Midhurst. We stayed in a 14th century hotel called "The Spread Eagle Hotel" in rural Midhurst that had a lot of old world charm. Our visit to the UK was mostly work but we did have a couple of days where we could tour around. We visited Stonehenge, Bath, Brighton, Portsmouth and London. The following photos on this blog show where we all went.

2006-10-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

A shop in London. Not sure what this is all about?

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Harrod's Department Store, Knightsbridge, London

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Inside a railway carriage in the London Underground

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A rural setting near Midhurst, West Sussex, UK

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Narrow streets in Midhurst, West Sussex, UK

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Stormy sky backdrop behind the "Swan Inn", Midhurst, West Sussex, UK

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The Bricklayers Arms Hotel, Midhurst, West Sussex, UK. A charming spot for an ale or three

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The Wheatsheaf Hotel in Midhurst, West Sussex UK. A real homely pub with great atmosphere and good tucker. One of the few licensed non-smoking establishments in Midhurst. (UK non-smoking laws in restaurants and pubs kick in around 2008)

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Narrow winding street with Tudor Style house on the left in Midhurst, West Sussex, UK

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A Spread Eagle Hotel accomodation block in the foreground and the "Swan Inn" in the background in Midhurst, West Sussex, UK

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"Spread Eagle Hotel" Reception and wonky stair case.

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Rolls Royce and Bentley day in the carpark at "The Spread Eagle Hotel", Midhurst, West Sussex, UK.

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My attic room at "The Spread Eagle Hotel", Midhurst, West Sussex, UK

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Merv, left and Fletch, right on the pebble beach at Brighton. Note that my shutter speed beat Fletch's digit getting to full vertical! :-)

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Artwork on display at the seafront at Brighton UK

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Some artwork on display on the seafront at Brighton UK

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Some alfresco dining at the seafront at Brighton UK

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A photograph of the beer my work colleague "Merv" liked to drink.

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"This is a Beach?" Yes it is a beach but where there should be sand there are stones as far as the eye can see!

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Shoreline at Brighton, UK

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Brighton Pier, UK

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Terraced houses in "Bath" UK

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"Bath" UK. Walkway down steps between buildings

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Terraced houses in "Bath" UK

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"Bath" UK. Photograph of buildings with a country backdrop

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Street scenes at "Bath" UK

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The Roman Baths erected around 2000 years ago at "Bath" UK

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Countryside outside "Bath" UK

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Stonehenge, UK

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Buddah at Stonehenge

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Hallway inside "The Spread Eagle Hotel" Midhurst, West Sussex, UK where we stayed during our visit to the UK.

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Lounge and Bar inside "The Spread Eagle" Hotel in Midhurst, West Sussex, UK.

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Merv and Fletch in front of me going down the escalator into the London Underground. Bloody long way down!

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Fletch and Merv in front of Buckingham Palace.

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Buddah in the front of Buckingham Palace with one of the Guards with those big hats at the rear. Didn't see Sweaty Betty or Phil the Greek, but that was ok cause we didn't ring ahead.

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A squirrel in a park in London. Cheekly little devils!

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People and deck chairs in a park in London. People hire them out for an hour or so to soak up the sunshine

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A park in London where you can hire deck chairs to sit in the sun. It's like something out of Mary Poppins!!

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Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

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Inside a carriage in the country trains on the "South Western Line" that run from Haselmere to London Waterloo. Really comfortable and modern

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The "Spread Eagle" Hotel situated in Midhurst, West Sussex, UK. This hotel is over 600 years old and has an "old world" charm about it. I suppose I use the word "old" in that the whole place creaks and groans when you walk around it and the water pressure in the rooms is like melted butter oozing from a seive. However, on a positive note, the staff are very friendly and sure looked after us uncouth Aussies. They probably thought that the three of us were a distraction to the snotty nosed Toffs from the shooting set or the Rolls Royce touring club who stayed there during our visit. To say we brought them down to earth was an understatement!

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Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth UK

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Zoom of the glass floor in the Portsmouth Observation tower. Note people walking on the floor looking down.

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Portsmouth UK. Sail like observation tower. Note the small square near the top of the tower. This is a glass floor which enables people on the observation deck to look down.

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Narrow Streets in Midhurst, West Sussex UK

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South Street Midhurst in West Sussex UK - lovely old buildings

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Road Sign near Heathrow airport pointing to Portsomouth and "Effingham"!!!