Athens ’25 – Day 8

Last full day abroad, beginning with a casual start and taking time in the early morning to have a coffee / mug up at the rental. Easing into Day 8 on the itinerary. That’s not to say we don’t have lots planned 😂!

Conveniently, Brompton Cemetery rests a block away from our digs, and you know we can’t pass up a good graveyard. It was the morning’s first stop! Janie was keenly interested in a specific gravesite, that of Emmeline Pankhurst. Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), a more militant wing of the British woman suffrage movement in 1903 earning the label of “suffragettes.” She was imprisoned several times, and drew much attention for staging hunger strikes. Later, she toured and lectured on woman suffrage, in the U.S., Canada, and Russia to encourage the industrial mobilization of women. Pankhurst unfortunately died weeks before Britain established voting equality for men and women. Additionally, Beatrix Potter, author of the “Tales of Peter Rabbit,” lived nearby and her character names Nutkins, McGregor, Peter Rabbett and Jeremiah Fisher are from the gravestones in this Cemetery. Nicely, the massive cemetery is well kept, open to public, and still very much a working cemetery (despite its age).

More than 1,000 blue plaques can be found across the capital, on buildings humble and grand, honouring the notable women and men who have lived or worked in them. Continuing our morning walk, we tackled a couple of these plaques close to our accommodations that were of particular note. One, the once home of famous film producer Alfred Hitchcock on a busy London thoroughfare. Of more significance to us, we located the Lady Diana place of residence before her marriage to Charles. I could picture the paparazzi laden street catching the young future Princess making her way shyly past the rows of cameras, but not sure if that’s the way it rolled. For more info click Blue Plaques, there is a keen website so you can check for other such notable residents in an area of London you may be visiting.

After a quick break we rejigged at 25 Coleherne for our PM attraction. EFL Championship Football ⚽️ for a Queen’s Park Rangers (H) vs Leeds United (A) Match. The pitch is located near the Sheperd Bush Market Station… it was a smooth and easy commute for the early 12:30 game time (we think all times may have been shuffled earlier to make way for the Wales vs England Rugby match today). Entry was professional, as we snuck into the long side through Ellerslie Rd. Gate and settled in for a pie and Carlsberg. The old school style bandstand stadium began to fill 1/2hr before match time – by game time very few seats unfilled and Leeds United fans (away fans) had the entire deck of the School End of the pitch.

As for the match, we saw a spirited run by the 14 place QPR Team, leading 2-1 at half, and ending in a 2-2 with league leaders Leeds United. Home fans had to be proud of the quality shown by the lads, and a draw with Leeds had to be considered a win for the club. Good on the boys for hanging in, even after a late Red Card issued to goal scorer Taito. We so enjoyed the game energy and felt absolutely safe our entire visit! Nice “itch” to have scratched during the trip, after being bummed with the non-entry at Olympiacos!

And, not to let the fun collapse too quickly, we’d made an online reservation and booked a table at Prince of Teck Pub (Earl’s Court) for Six Nations Rugby action between England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿! Now, we “ain’t” rugby fans (nor were we football fans several years back) but, indeed, it’s never too late! As Mitch Podolak would say… most of us are eventers. We want to be where other people are having fun 👋.

Upon arrival, we found ourselves front and centre holding court at the local… and a huge screen dead ahead! We shared grub, drinks, rugby on the big screen, and a huge England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 victory. Can honestly say it’s the first time I’ve sat for a full rugby match. Good energy in the bar (although I think many were just at their Saturday local) and the food – drink was just perfect. England absolutely handled Wales 66-14… which was expected.

At early evening the reality of the trip home took hold, so it was back to the rental for sorting and clean-up! After running the math it was looking like a 4:30 AM wake up to get to Heathrow (via Piccadilly Line) so we did our best to be ready before hitting the bunk. It was a packing of bags and a last snack 😞… Travel day Sunday!

… Athens ’25 – Day 9