After a bit of rallying we all made it down to breakfast and energised us for what was to be one of the busiest (and possibly most important) days of the trip. We did the calculations and decided with 5 of us it was to be more economical to travel by taxi than by tube which really isn't a very good lesson for the kids, but practical. For 5 of us to travel in Zone 1 it was to be GB15.6, yet to get from one end of London to the other (without the walk to the tubes) was about GB12. We got to the Tower to meet Kate Young (Eckett)… Low and behold there was Kate, slightly greyer than last I saw her, but looking exactly the same. We took an hour and a half to admire the crowns and orbs, swords and armour, the torture chamber, and the White Tower. Very impressive - I quite thought Elizabeth's crown would go well with a couple of my outfits, or at least the diamond and sapphire may rival a few jewels of others I know!

A coffee and a sandwich and we caught up on all the Young/Eckett news. Thomas is leaving school this year, he is due to play cricket at Lords this weekend so Kate and Simon have a box for the Grandparents. Simon's parents are well and will be coming for the day and then they will return to Salisbury for a Brahms Requiem concert. She is not sure her father will make it due to ill health. She is enjoying living in the Old Rectory and has an open garden for the village in a couple of weeks so really should have been working the garden rather than come to spend the day with us. Thomas wants to read Ancient History at Bristol next year, and Alice will be leaving school next year. Simon works from home now selling GPS systems for dimentia patients. All seems very happy in the family, although a little worried about Kenneth's health.

Then a taxi to Victoria, and a train to Cheam (on the Epsom line) to meet Auntie Helen. At just the right time Helen and Oscar came strolling up the lane to the station. They led us on a walk for about 15 minutes to a tea house by a large house that used to be Henry VIII's hunting lodge. A cup of tea and a number of cakes (mostly eaten by Oscar) and a cone of ice cream for the children. Helen is very fit (she verily strolled along and had no difficulty with steps at all), a little hunched over in the back, and seemed well. Oscar did tell me on the way back to the station that really she was well and didn't really need to be at the Lodge any more but she was comfortable there. She gave us a few gifts for us to consume (chocolate) and take back to Australia. Oscar was rather reserved, but smiled happily when he felt confident enough to look at us. He seems fortunate to be working in a book shop that has done well, and he is being looked after by then. He is happy he has a job as unemployment is reasonably high and he lives near Richmond which of course has many rather wealthy people.

Both Helen and Oscar could do with a good dentist we thought, but we enjoyed finally meeting them and it was good of Oscar to take the day off work. Rufus had sent some photos of Burghley Ave with some lovely flowers, but unfortunately Sonia and Isabel were busy with some group so couldn't join us. Oscar said they were currently deciding on the school Isabel would attend, and Oscar enjoyed getting to know a little girl and spend time with her - last time he saw her Isabel wanted to go on his shoulders and Oscar wasn't quite sure about that.

Fond farewells as Helen had to go back for dinner at 5 and train back to London, a quick turnaround at the hotel and we had earlier booked at Porter's English restaurants for dinner which had lovely fish and chips and pies. Off to bed for a good rest before some true sight-seeing on Thursday.