The sun rises with a blush that bathes southeast London in rosy colours. Yes, the sun does rise in jolly ol' England, though not until after 8:00 today. After 3 days of cold rain, blue skies invite us to venture out, an hour train ride, to Kingston-on-Thames. Our ultimate destination...Hampton Court, the grounds of which border the Thames River here.
As we stand outside the door trying to decide if it is our sort of place, the
cook sticks his head out the door and says with a wide smile and the wave of his
hand, “Come in!” That determines it is our sort of place. So, we leave the internet search results for another day, and find ourselves in the warm and welcoming Castello Cafe. 
The cafe’s layout is narrow and deep. A
dozen round marble tables stretch from front to back. We settle toward the rear, avoiding drafts as customers swish through the front door. Quickly mugs of steaming hot tea and milk appear, just right for this brisk January morning.
Tempted again this week by a "special," we enjoy a full English
breakfast including two of everything, enough to fill us both: eggs, toast, mushrooms, grilled tomato, potatoes, sausages and rashers of bacon. 
Turns out the proprietor is Italian, the waiter is a son-in-law from Rome. That explains the listed luncheon specials
of Lasagne, spaghetti and chicken dishes with unfamiliar names.
As for the decor -- eclectic: "New artwork by Prelude" -- hung like a gallery, mixed in with food photos. Dismantled Christmas decorations peak out from plastic bags near the loo.
Warmed and sated by our meal, we bid the staff Adieu, stepping out into bustling Kingston-on-Thames. The streets overflow with bargain hunters motivated by post-Christmas sales advertising. We bee-line for one of our favourite London sculptures -- Today the domino-ed phone boxes have received a Christmas wrapping of white dots -- delightful.
The fresh veg market satisfies our needs: avocado and fresh bread to add to our picnic lunch provisions. I step inside All Saints Church, standing sentry at the centre of the town's rabbit warren of streets. Half of the ancient structure is under wraps, receiving plumbing and heating for the first time ever. I'm warmly invited to enjoy a cuppa, and told some of the history of this still vital church where Egbert, King of Wessex, held his "great council" in 838 and Athelstan and Ethelred the Unready and 5 other Saxon kings of England were crowned in the 10th century. Construction of the present church began in 1120. As for today...All Saints is a member of the Local Ecumenical Project with the United Reformed Church in Eden Street and Kingston Baptist Church in Union Street.
With that sun still blazing, we stroll down to William and Mary's gate at Hampton Court, our favourite Royal Palace on the Thames.
The British mark the beginning of spring the First of March and we note that’s only nine weeks away. On a day like today, with crocus shoots piercing upwards, it is easy to believe. The mild weather has attracted loads of young parents with their children. We hear their laughter as mums, dads and kids wend their way through the maze
hedge, trying to find their way out. (Wisdom that may or may not work: put your left hand on the
hedge at the beginning, keep it there and eventually you’ll find the exit.)
The garden is swathed in sunshine. We settle on a dry bench, spread out our loaf of bread, selection
of cheeses, avocado, blueberries, celery, carrots and juice and enjoyed a brisk, but sun-soaked, January picnic.
After lunch we show our Palace Passes at
the gate, parked our shopping trolley in the Members’ room and tour the
palace, following in the footsteps of Cardinal Woolsey, Henry VIII and Anne, William
and Mary, along with scores of tourists. 
We notice the sun dipping towards the
horizon around three. We walk out Henry's gate, pass the ice skating rink mobbed with skaters, cross the flooded Thames, and board the train heading toward Clapham Junction. Another good day starting with a delicious Breakfast in Britain.
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