Dad's award ceremony London, England
When we got back to London we collected our stuff from Puna and Shane's place and made our way across town to a hotel right near the famous cricket ground 'The Oval.' My parents were coming to London as my father was going to be awarded an 'Honorary Fellowship' to the Royal College of Gynecology and Obstetrics. We settled into our room and Tama went to the local shops to see where we might all go to dinner when Mum and Dad arrived. I was so excited when we got the call from the front desk that they were in reception and it was amazing to see them both as the last time we saw them was in Hong Kong three months ago. We went to a lovely French restaurant about ten minutes walk away and had a gorgeous meal and lots of catching up talks.
After breakfast at the hotel, we all went into central London for a look around the shops. First stop was Oxford St and we had a coffee before hitting the clothing outlets. Dad wanted to go to Jaeger which is one of his favourite shops and ended up getting a suit and a couple of shirts and ties. He also bought Mum a beautiful top there. After looking around a bit more we went to Knightsbridge and Harrods where we were going to have lunch. 
Talk about spoilt! We had wood-fired pizza for lunch and it was incredible. 
After a lovely glass of wine for Mum and I and a beer for Tama and Dad we left Harrods with full stomachs and caught the underground to Piccadilly Circus. After getting the compulsory tourist shots we walked to Trafalgar Square and went to have look at the amazing collections in the National Gallery.
That night we were treated to a very special treat indeed. Dad had booked us in for dinner at a 5 star Spanish restaurant. It was quite the experience. The wine and food was incredible and the service impeccable. We had some lovely starters which were accompanied by freshly baked rolls.
Mum and I had traditional paella for two as our mains and then when the dish came out there was easily enough to feed at least 4 people. It was enormous.
Tama had a steak meal that he polished off and so Mum and I told him to have some of our main as there was no way that we were going to finish it. It was a truly memorable dining experience and one that we won't forget.
The next morning was the big day of Dad's award ceremony at the Royal College. With another scrumptious breakfast out of the way we went back to rooms to get dressed. This was especially good as I finally got to see Tama wearing the lovely new suit, shirt and tie that we bought in Vietnam. When we were all ready we walked to the College about 10 minutes away. The ceremony was full of pomp as the Royal College is very much a British Academic Elite arena. Dad was one of 6 recepients of an Honorary Fellowship which recognised their contributions and achievements to the fields of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Dad was given the honour of speaking on behalf of the recepients and did an outstanding job of course. 
The final act of the proceedings was to appoint the new chair of the College. When this was all done there was an after function of finger foods and drinks. We all toasted Dad's success with glasses of champagne and I was so very proud of him. 
When we got back to London we collected our stuff from Puna and Shane's place and made our way across town to a hotel right near the famous cricket ground 'The Oval.' My parents were coming to London as my father was going to be awarded an 'Honorary Fellowship' to the Royal College of Gynecology and Obstetrics. We settled into our room and Tama went to the local shops to see where we might all go to dinner when Mum and Dad arrived. I was so excited when we got the call from the front desk that they were in reception and it was amazing to see them both as the last time we saw them was in Hong Kong three months ago. We went to a lovely French restaurant about ten minutes walk away and had a gorgeous meal and lots of catching up talks.
After breakfast at the hotel, we all went into central London for a look around the shops. First stop was Oxford St and we had a coffee before hitting the clothing outlets. Dad wanted to go to Jaeger which is one of his favourite shops and ended up getting a suit and a couple of shirts and ties. He also bought Mum a beautiful top there. After looking around a bit more we went to Knightsbridge and Harrods where we were going to have lunch. 
Talk about spoilt! We had wood-fired pizza for lunch and it was incredible. 
After a lovely glass of wine for Mum and I and a beer for Tama and Dad we left Harrods with full stomachs and caught the underground to Piccadilly Circus. After getting the compulsory tourist shots we walked to Trafalgar Square and went to have look at the amazing collections in the National Gallery.
That night we were treated to a very special treat indeed. Dad had booked us in for dinner at a 5 star Spanish restaurant. It was quite the experience. The wine and food was incredible and the service impeccable. We had some lovely starters which were accompanied by freshly baked rolls.Mum and I had traditional paella for two as our mains and then when the dish came out there was easily enough to feed at least 4 people. It was enormous.
Tama had a steak meal that he polished off and so Mum and I told him to have some of our main as there was no way that we were going to finish it. It was a truly memorable dining experience and one that we won't forget.
The next morning was the big day of Dad's award ceremony at the Royal College. With another scrumptious breakfast out of the way we went back to rooms to get dressed. This was especially good as I finally got to see Tama wearing the lovely new suit, shirt and tie that we bought in Vietnam. When we were all ready we walked to the College about 10 minutes away. The ceremony was full of pomp as the Royal College is very much a British Academic Elite arena. Dad was one of 6 recepients of an Honorary Fellowship which recognised their contributions and achievements to the fields of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Dad was given the honour of speaking on behalf of the recepients and did an outstanding job of course. 
The final act of the proceedings was to appoint the new chair of the College. When this was all done there was an after function of finger foods and drinks. We all toasted Dad's success with glasses of champagne and I was so very proud of him. 
From there we caught a black cab into London and went to Selfridges for yet another treat! Dad took us to 'The Wonder Bar' which is a wine bar in the store that sits above the most amazing wine store I think that I have ever seen. At 'The Wonder Bar' you put credit onto a swipe card and then chose from the extensive wine list the wine that you want to taste. Once you have made your selection you make a note of the number code of the wine and then find it on the wine dispensing machines that line the walls of the bar. There are trays of stunning crystal wine glasses everywhere and you take one and then insert your card into the machine. Then the prices of each size of sample of wine come up and chose the one you want and press the button. The machine then fills your glass to that amount and debits the correct amount of money. 
It was so much fun. We also had some beautiful rare tuna and other nibbles. That night Mum and Dad went to the black tie dinner event at the College and Tama and I went and saw some friends for a drink and a bite to eat.
It was so much fun. We also had some beautiful rare tuna and other nibbles. That night Mum and Dad went to the black tie dinner event at the College and Tama and I went and saw some friends for a drink and a bite to eat.The next day we had planned to meet up with some dear family friends of ours, The Steens from Bristol. We had met them when Dad was in training at Bristol Hospital and I was going to school with their eldest daughter Anna. She and I became best of friends and by coincidence their house was merly a stones throw away from ours. Our parents struck up a friendship that has lasted to this day. Mum and Dad went into London to meet them for brunch while Tama and I stayed in our room so he could watch the next All Blacks game against Romania. We had tickets to this game but we decided to give them up so we could come to London for the presentation instead. After the game finished with another resounding win to the All Blacks we met up with Mum, Dad and Charlotte and Martin Steen at Westminster where we boarded a ferry for a cruise down the Thames to Greenwich. It was such a great view of London and we saw lots of the major tourist sights along the way.
It was so good to see them both and after the cruise we all went to Knightsbridge for coffee and scones and yet another look around Harrods. That night we went to Angel for dinner with their daughters Anna & Laura and had some really lovely Turkish food.
It was so good to see them both and after the cruise we all went to Knightsbridge for coffee and scones and yet another look around Harrods. That night we went to Angel for dinner with their daughters Anna & Laura and had some really lovely Turkish food. After breakfast in the morning Mum and Dad got ready for their return trip back to New Zealand. 
Martin and Charlotte came to pick us up and we said our sad farewells and headed off to Bristol to spend some time with them.
Martin and Charlotte came to pick us up and we said our sad farewells and headed off to Bristol to spend some time with them. 
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