Dartford, Canterbury & Thames River Cruise

Dartford: July 6 - 8

We have been very lucky to have Alex and Clem in Dartford for the past four years, who had been providing home and transport, for all our three children, whenever necessary.

This time, like last year, he extended his usual fabulous hospitality to us during the days when we were not visiting somewhere else.

Upon our arrival at Heathrow, he took a couple of hours off work to fetch us to his house where we stayed. He used his BBQ set to cook us a scrumptious dinner with free flowing red wine. If there is a fault in him, it has to be his insistence on us finishing all the food, every time! Such is his generosity.

Canterbury: July 9 - 12

We had an appointment the next morning with Angie, my nephew’s wife, who works in a Chinese Community Centre in London. She invited us to join a Thames River cruise, which she had organised for some Chinese senior citizens. To be there at 9.00 am meant we had to leave early to catch a train and peak hour fare from Canterbury was almost GBP40 per person one-way! Even the ticketing man asked whether we are aware that it was going to be expensive.

About 30 of us gathered at the Chinese Community Centre, which is near Charing Cross Station. Then we took a double-decker bus, occupying almost the whole of the lower deck (Chinese invasion) to London Bridge. From there we walked to the Westminster Pier where Joe bought the special rate tickets for the River Cruise.

The ferry could take in 500 passengers and has toilet facilities and beverage service. The tour commentator gave a very good account of the names and history of each of the famous buildings. Some of which, have been tastefully renovated. One of the new buildings, which looked like a crash helmet made of glass, is the London Mayor’s office. The Mayor is noted for his emphasis on environmentally friendly ideas like solar-power and even preference for mail or other delivery by bicycles wherever possible.

We stopped at Greenwich and Joe led us through a tunnel, which goes to the other side of Thames River. It required taking a lift down on one side and up on the other. We were amazed at the engineering feat for that era.

Buffet lunch was at the Saigon Restaurant (again at reduced rates for senior citizens) and sitting with us was a guzzler from Hong Kong who not only ate almost all items, left some to waste, as well as ‘ta pau’ some to take back.

Though we have been to Greenwich a few times, we were surprised there is another part where there are grand old buildings like the Maritime Museum and the Maritime College Chapel and Trinity College of Music, which is a part of Greenwich University.

We then boarded the ferry to head back to Westminster Pier where we parted company and some headed straight for home, while we ended up going to Arnos Grove for dinner with William, Jun and Beng as well, at the Harvester. Later we said goodbye to William and family and began our long train journey back to Canterbury .