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Year: 2025

Epilogue: One Wild and Precious Life: The UK Chronicles

Our wild & wonderful UK wanderings…

Hello, lovely readers!

The big G (he’s the tall one), travel buddy Ian (he’s the short one) and me

And just like that, our grand romp across the UK comes to a close – a tapestry of misty mornings, midnight ceremonies, pastel streets, castles perched on volcanoes, and more belly laughs than we ever expected.

From Westminster’s sunlit grandeur to Windsor’s royal sparkle…

From punting mishaps on the Cam to ghost tales in York…

From scarlet-coated storytellers to Ted Lasso pep talks in Richmond…

From Viking digs to volcanic heights…

From art that stirred the soul to history that tugged the heart…

Every chapter gave us something: a moment, a memory, a quote, a giggle, a pint, a surprise, a story to retell later with dramatic embellishment (as is our right).

And woven through it all was the simple truth we keep circling back to – that this is what we choose to do with our one wild and precious life. To explore. To wonder. To laugh. To feel history beneath our feet and possibility in our pockets. To spend time with people we adore, in places that ignite something inside us.

So here’s to the UK – for its charm, its chaos, its courage, its characters…and for reminding us that adventure doesn’t need to be perfect to be extraordinary.

It’s not a ‘selfie’ if there’s more than one in it, ok?

Until the next journey, lovely readers.

Bags at the ready. Hearts wide open.

More stories await.

Dive into our chapters with a lazy scroll through…
  • London’s Blinged-up Beating Heart – Westminster – where the Houses of Parliament compete with Big Ben’s brand new bling
  • Cannons, Captains & Clever Engineering – Portsmouth – three warships that rewrote history in wood, sail and steel
  • Scarlet Coats & Sparkling Stories – meeting the Chelsea Pensioners over a well-earned G&T
  • Lions, Lamp Posts and London Legends – Trafalgar Square – where Nelson keeps watch, lions have cat paws and lamp posts moonlight as police stations.
  • Brains, Bridges & a Bed to Die For – Cambridge – from King’s College Chapel to a punt gone wrong
  • When Monuments Speak – what London’s memorials whisper if you pause long enough to listen
  • Britain’s Family Album – The Portrait Gallery – from Shakespeare to Bowie
  • Dreams, Breaths & Blue Light – Somerset House’s luminous lady invites us to pause and imagine.
  • Keys, Lanterns & Late Night Rituals – The Tower of London’s nightly Ceremony of the Keys.
  • Pints, Punts and Plenty of Ghosts – York – a weekend in the UK’s most haunted (and most pub-filled) city.
  • Pints, Pubs and Pub Runs – From Ted Lasso’s ‘Believe’ to a mad dash along the Thames
  • A city of Stories, a Castle of Secrets – Edinburgh – witches, wars, and a sneaky spy hole in Britain’s most besieged fortress.
  • Crowns, Clocks and Cozy Cafes – Windsor – from bling and butter pats to one poor chap lighting 300 fires – Windsor Castle at its royal best.
  • Pastel Homes and Aussie Hospitality – Notting Hill – where the pubs are bright, the Aussie service fantastic and every street’s ready for a close-up.

And a barrel of thanks…

And! A barrel of thanks and gratitude to our fabulous hosts, Adrian and Christine. There to greet us as we popped out from the tube at Westminster, there for that very last pint at Notting Hill, you were our guides, chauffeurs, planners, and partners in mischief.

You gave us the best of London – from surprise French cannon bollards (the last ones standing!) to VIP Tower of London key handovers, from drinks on Thames-anchored ships to Richmond river cruises, a peek inside the Australian Embassy, and even the secret tip for Horizon 22 – the city’s best complimentary view.

Add in perfect pub roasts, route-planning apps and endless laughter over a Charcuterie board at the end of a long day, and you made our trip extraordinary.

Thank you, dream team! Our door is always open when you next land in Oz.

So lovely, readers… grab your bevvy of choice, kick back, indulge in a spot of escapism, and feel free to share your own fun stories and recommendations in the comments!

Pastel Homes and Aussie Hospitality

Notting Hill…where the pubs are bright, the Aussie service fantastic and every street’s ready for a close up.

London’s most photogenic neighbourhood really does live up to the rom-com movie hype – pastel hues, cobbled mews, and enough Instagram moments to red-line your phone’s staying power.

Hello, lovely readers,

We’re in Portobello Road for the markets – I mean, who can beat Hugh Grant’s life depicted via four seasons’ worth of stroll through those markets, huh? Cinematic genius right there. But I digress. After a quick once over, the boys toddle off to a bright yellow pub to toast an Aussie nephew crafting a ‘fund my travel’ beer pulling career in the quaint pubs of London, while I immerse myself in streets filled with colour and charm, but with a surprising act of rebellion. Here’s a guide to the best of Notting Hill’s most colourful corners:

1. Portobello Road – The Big One

Portobello’s the beating heart of Notting Hill – part market, part movie set, part technicolour daydream, an ode to 60’s rebellion. We are here on a Saturday, a prime market day best avoided if you’re here for the houses, try sunset instead – the whole street glows. And don’t forget to duck down the side mews… that’s where the magic hides.

2. St Luke’s Mews – The Love Actually One

Yes, that pink house. Yes, that mews. Yes, the one from Love Actually. St Luke’s Mews is a postcard come to life – cobblestones, candy-coloured façades, and the kind of quiet charm that makes you want to move in immediately. Mews houses were once stables… now they’re some of the most coveted (and cutest) homes in London.

3. Lancaster Road – Crayons on Steroids

If pastel isn’t punchy enough for you, Lancaster Road brings the bold. Head to the stretch near Portobello Road for houses painted in unapologetically loud colours – yellows, blues, greens, the whole rainbow. Just watch the traffic while you snap… London buses don’t slow down for Instagram.

NottingHill
4. Colville Terrace – Colour With Attitude

Start at the Portobello end for the dramatic trio: periwinkle, tomato red, and brilliant blue. Wander further along and the colours soften into dreamy pastels. When you need a recharge, pop into Ottolenghi (Ledbury Road) for pastries that should come with warning labels!

5. Elgin Crescent – Easter Eggs in a Row

Every house here looks like it’s dressed for spring –  soft pinks, baby blues, buttery yellows, all lined up in a storybook row from the 1800s. Even Boris Johnson once lived here (feel free to skip that fun fact when taking photos). Finish your stroll with a cocktail at Trailer Happiness – a retro tiki bar that’s as colourful as the street outside.

When the Pastels Fight Back

Not everyone in Notting Hill is thrilled about becoming the backdrop to the world’s Instagram feed. A few locals – understandably over the daily parade of influencers, tripods, and “Can you just take one more?” requests – have taken matters into their own paintbrushes. Literally.

In a quiet rebellion against stoop-squatters and selfie-seekers, some homeowners have repainted their iconic pastel façades black. The message? “No photo here, darling – move along.” Can’t blame them, really. When your front step appears in 10,000 Reels a week, even the prettiest pink can lose its charm.

With phone battery sucked dry, I finally make my way back, sans Google Maps, thanks to the boy’s vibrant yellow pub glowing like a beacon in the early evening sun, and slip gratefully onto a stool just as our Aussie friend slips an ice-cold G&T into my hands and whispers – on the house mate!


Notting Hill is the kind of place that reminds you London really is one giant, glorious film set – a neighbourhood where you can paint your house, your door, or the family dog whatever colour your heart desires, and no one bats an eyelid. It’s also where our Aussie kids, carving out their lives in this big, wide world, show London exactly what good service should look like.

All in all? A fabulous, joy-soaked spot to toast our very last day in this fine city. Honestly, could there be a better finale? 

Crowns, Clocks and Cozy Cafes

From bling and butter pats to one poor chap lighting 300 fires — Windsor Castle at its royal best.

Hi there lovely readers,

The last time I wandered Windsor’s cobbled streets, the village was wrapped in a winter mist so thick you could almost taste it. We’d nestled in a café window, steaming hot chocolate in hand, to watch the fog slowly lift to reveal the castle – regal, ethereal, majestic – then learnt that there’d be no entry that day – Her Madge was in residence. This time? King Charles is elsewhere, and the heavy Oak gates are open.

No cameras allowed, permission to simply immerse ourselves in the grandeur – masterpieces by Michelangelo and Rembrandt, armour fit for a king (literally Henry VIII’s), rooms dripping in gold, the cutest little doll’s house and the famous bullet that felled Nelson (our full circle moment!). This castle is Britain’s most glorious time capsule – equal parts history, opulence, and human quirk. Of course we’ve gathered a few fun facts!

Did you know…
1. It’s been home sweet home to Royalty for almost 1,000 years!

Built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, Windsor is Europe’s longest-occupied palace – 40 monarchs and counting! Henry VIII used it as his personal party palace, and Queen Elizabeth II adored it as her weekend retreat.

2. It once went up in flames
.

A 1992 fire (nicknamed Annus Horribilis, remember?) tore through 100 rooms. The £67 million restoration was partly funded by opening Buckingham Palace to the public, which, in hindsight, feels like a royal “garage sale” gone right.

3. One man, 300 Fireplaces
.

Meet the King’s Fendersmith – possibly the world’s best job title. He’s been tending Windsor’s 300 fireplaces since 1984, just as his father did before him. Talk about keeping the home fires burning!

4. Clocks, Clocks, Clocks
!

There are almost 400 clocks at Windsor – all maintained by one dedicated horological wizard. When daylight saving time hits, he spends 16 hours moving them forward and twice as long winding them back. Imagine explaining that timesheet! Hah Haa!!

5. A Kitchen fit for a King (Literally)
.

The oldest working kitchen in England still hand-rolls every pat of butter with the royal crown stamped on top. Even the kitchen clocks are set five minutes fast – because in a royal household, dinner waits for no one.

6. A Castle so grand it named a family

Once upon a time, the royals were called the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha – catchy, right? During World War I, they decided a rebrand was in order (thanks to some awkward German connections), so Windsor it became. The castle didn’t take its name from the royals – the royals took theirs from the castle. Now that’s what you call a power move.

7. The longest driveway in Britain -Literally

The approach to Windsor Castle stretches a stately 2.65 miles. Perfect for royal processions… or a marathon. Legend has it that delivery drivers insisted that the late Queen met them at the front gate – hmmmm…’’hey Jeeves, I simply must draw the line at carrying the takeaway that far, would you be a pet?’


Windsor Castle is proof that even in the grandest castles, it’s the quirks that make it human – from bling and butter pats to one poor bloke keeping 300 fires burning. Long live the sparkle (and the fendersmith).

Of course, at G&T o’clock we just had to try the Fish ‘n Chips at ‘the best fish n chips in the UK’ pub? Meh! That misty morning, with hot chocolate on the other hand….yeah!

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