Originally Posted by JULIEROSE

I also love Ikea and luckily we have that store here in the States.

I did say "wonder" around Harrods you are right! It is not the kind of store I would shop in daily, it is the kind I'd buy a souvenir and I usually get a Harrods bag or some biscuits on the rare times I get to London. I have not been home for over five years and I get homesick for London and those wonderful stores and just the feel, energy and vibe of the place at it was my home for ten years and my ancestors home. I was not trying to sound posh or come over like a snob, so please forgive me if I gave that impression. I just love the old stores and old buildings in London that they do not have in the same league here; and to me Harrods being very British and one of the best would be the one I'd like to see again. I just think it is a London landmark and a beautiful store full of history that came from humble beginnings. Part of the reason, that I did not mention before that I want to visit and walk the great halls of Harrods is, that my great, great, great grandfather (who I recently found out about whilst researching the family tree) opened a coffee store around the area at the time Charles Harrods set up Harrods. Both my Grandfather and Charles Harrod moved to that area to escape the filth, poverty, slums of the east end and cash in on the new wealth of area. Both had just very small stores in the beginning, both were from the East End. My grandfather's coffee store did not come to much I guess but Harrods became very famous and he had spoken of it in his diary, all those years ago. My Grandfather wrote that "Harrods had put in some kind of moving staircase and they were all given brandy at the to to help their nerves after the wrecks they became after riding it!" LOL. I won't be getting back to England anytime soon... unfortunately... as I have two young children to care for and a husband in the military frequently away. Too bad I just so want to go to London to take pics and see where my Granddad worked and lived. I miss that city.

Originally Posted by geeandtee

That's a brilliant little bit of history there. I love the bit about the "moving staircase"!
I went to University (part time) in London for 6 years and have to confess I became a bit jaded. But whenever I watch 'Notting Hill', I do feel a little wistful and would be happy to go back for a visit, especially my favorite places, eg. Primrose Hill, Lavender Hill, Hampstead, Richmond, Kew and Chiswick. I fancy an afternoon at Chimes Wine Bar in Pimlico (if it's still there) and a wander around St Pauls Cathedral and other places like Kensington and Chelsea.

Originally Posted by svinnes

I know what you mean about hair...I have tried loads of hairdressers over here and i am so over the lot of them, they are total crap....the fashion well its not too bad down here in Brisbane but bloody expensive i still go daily on to topshop and have a browse and have found out they deliver to Oz....it costs 10 gbp, (god i have not even got a bloody pound sign on my ozzie comp)
I am gonna wait till i go back in Oct to get my hair properly done by a pro, saying that with the roots i have got i look a pro!!!!!

Originally Posted by JULIEROSE

I also love Ikea and luckily we have that store here in the States.

I did say "wonder" around Harrods you are right! It is not the kind of store I would shop in daily, it is the kind I'd buy a souvenir and I usually get a Harrods bag or some biscuits on the rare times I get to London. I have not been home for over five years and I get homesick for London and those wonderful stores and just the feel, energy and vibe of the place at it was my home for ten years and my ancestors home. I was not trying to sound posh or come over like a snob, so please forgive me if I gave that impression. I just love the old stores and old buildings in London that they do not have in the same league here; and to me Harrods being very British and one of the best would be the one I'd like to see again. I just think it is a London landmark and a beautiful store full of history that came from humble beginnings. Part of the reason, that I did not mention before that I want to visit and walk the great halls of Harrods is, that my great, great, great grandfather (who I recently found out about whilst researching the family tree) opened a coffee store around the area at the time Charles Harrods set up Harrods. Both my Grandfather and Charles Harrod moved to that area to escape the filth, poverty, slums of the east end and cash in on the new wealth of area. Both had just very small stores in the beginning, both were from the East End. My grandfather's coffee store did not come to much I guess but Harrods became very famous and he had spoken of it in his diary, all those years ago. My Grandfather wrote that "Harrods had put in some kind of moving staircase and they were all given brandy at the to to help their nerves after the wrecks they became after riding it!" LOL. I won't be getting back to England anytime soon... unfortunately... as I have two young children to care for and a husband in the military frequently away. Too bad I just so want to go to London to take pics and see where my Granddad worked and lived. I miss that city.

Originally Posted by sans

I've just had a really scary thought What if we have all got so use to eating Or'rible food and we carn't eat the food back home anymore

Originally Posted by svinnes

I know what you mean about hair...I have tried loads of hairdressers over here and i am so over the lot of them, they are total crap....the fashion well its not too bad down here in Brisbane but bloody expensive i still go daily on to topshop and have a browse and have found out they deliver to Oz....it costs 10 gbp, (god i have not even got a bloody pound sign on my ozzie comp)
I am gonna wait till i go back in Oct to get my hair properly done by a pro, saying that with the roots i have got i look a pro!!!!!

Originally Posted by brits1

Well on Friday I just went into a Salon Express and this Chinese guy cut my hair (the first ime I have had a dry cut!!..it cost $17.00 best cut I have had while here in Perth then I went home and bought a colour from Coles and did it myself...first time for that as well...and my friends at football on Saturday said it was really nice and who was my new hairdresser..all that for $30.00!! it usually costs me $200 - 230!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by kizbut1

Ha! We used to go for a 'look' round Harrods but couldn't afford anything to get a carrier bag for!!

If you know the name of the street your 3xg grandad was on, you could maybe use google or ask.co.uk for photos of that street at the time you are searching for? Otherwise maybe a library in the area has online facilities, or even a local historian that maybe online. Good luck with the hunting though, I wouldn't mind doing somehting like that but its a daunting prospect - my grandad had 12 brothers and sisters cos his dad remarried and they must be the only 'old folk' I know who dont bother talking about the past - that far back anyway.
Jo

Originally Posted by JULIEROSE

Hi kizbut1, I did google both the streets he was on but could not find pictures of the buildings however, I'm pretty sure they are still there... the main one I am looking for is 226 Picadilly where he ran a coffee shop kinda of club I think as they were back then. The other place is on Longacre which was the Hotel. I'll check out the local library for each area as that is a great idea that I never thought of so, thank you for the hint and I'll write to them to see what they have. I have a suscription to ancestry so, I go over all the census data, you'll be suprised what you find and the more family you have the more chance of finding information so, don't be daunted or discouraged if you want to trace your family history If you need me to ever check anything just shoot me a pm.

Originally Posted by JULIEROSE

Thank you. My grandad several times removed was there in the 1870s. It is interesting to read what came after and to try and find a pic. The buildings have as much history as the families that lived in them!

Originally Posted by LizaJane

I so agree with that comment, I miss the old buildings and the history the UK can offer, just another reason for going home.. Goodluck