Going Home

Actually I am at home. This is the last entry. Normal life will be resumed, soon. I chose to do something very ordinary on my. Last day in London - to go shopping - surprise! Jaime gave me directions to bus to Brent Cross Shopping Centre. Seeing all those people at retail and play made me realism again how big this city is. I had fun looking though shops like Zara, Tommy Hilfiger and Banana Republic, but after a couple of hours it was back to Cricklewood to pack. Jaime escorted me on the bus to Kilburn Park Tube, then on to Paddington Train Station where we caught a train which took us directly to Heathrow. Contrary to rumours, queues are not always a problem at Heathrow.Jaime saw me to Security and we said our goodbyes. Premium Economy was a good way to fly. Having more room to sleep in and being able get more choice about a number of aspects made the experience more enjoyable. I had a great trip to London. Looking forward to the next trip already. Samoa in September!

An Eye on London

The day started early - the only way to beat queues, school trips and catch parties. I was only the Eye just after 10. The day was clear and sunny in small patches, though once up on the Eye, sun and rain were chasing each other. The London Eye is a really unique experience, and worth ignoring slight feelings of vertigo to achieve. London seems at once very familiar and very new from this vantage.Since the trip
Only takes 30 minutes, there was much more day to fill. Over to London Bridge, where the outdoor Borough Market won over the Tate Modern, as the sun was out. Then I returned to Southwark Cathedral, for a closer look around. There are so many treasures and curiosities there.(I can hear the foxes below in the garden as I write). A trip down the line to West Ham
Was the start for about 40 of us on the Olympic Walk which took us to some new and some old parts of East London which were sites of the Olympic Games, ending with vista over thensite from the second floor of John Lewis in the Stratford shopping centre.

Regents Canal and Coventry Garden

Jaime kindly took me to Warwick Avenue where I met Kerry to take a 106 year old narrowboat on a short trip to Camden market. What a lovely journey! Green trees, water birds and elegant houses and a very quiet space all in the middle of London. There is a large alternative community of narrow boat dwellers along this stretch with very colourful boats. We docked a Camden Lock and we walked through part of the market and down the street, parting company. My next stop was Covent garden and I enjoyed seeing the phone boxes, part of an art installation.I went to the National
Portrait Gallery and did some shopping in Oxford Street. Later that evening we went out to Haddon Gardens to a restaurant called The Bleeding Heart, run by John Hancock (Trinity Hill) and his partners.We had a great meal - wonderful food and wines.

V&A and Kensington Palace

Just for a change it was a grey day! So the V&A was a good place to be. I think you could speed about a year in this place and still not see it all. As I came in a small group of students were being briefed by their teacher on their task. I later saw them industriously - there was no shortage of subject matter.
Still I chose an exhibition of British Ball Gowns with designers ranging from Hartnell to McQueen. No photos allowed. The exhibition of British
Art was interesting because it focused on art for public places - chairs, screens and installations. There was
also a display of 18th century clothing with beautiful handwork. At 1 pm I met Kerry at Sth Ken. Tube and we bussed to Kensington Palace. This was a treat as we found out after lunch in the cafe - very good. Four independent exhibitions all had clever and interactive aspects. The challenges they offered with their combination of art, history and storytelling were never dull. The views from the windows of the new gardens were elegant. Loved this.
Next we went back to the tube and I went off to Hammersmith to meet Liz a former HGHS colleague. Lots of catchup in a short time.

A Tower and Three

Today was an early start. I met Kerry and Emily in the anteroom for the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. As we were early we rode the travellators several times and had a really good look at the impressive items on display. The Queen's crown was definitely the piece de resistance, with the Cullinan diamond in the front as large as an egg.The rain was a spoiler as we sloshed from the White Tower to the Salt Tower and walked around the battlements with great views of the city and London Bridge. The animal sculptures and displays were well placed. I parted from K. & E. To go the the British Museum to met Naamah ex-HGHS. We had lunch in a pub, The Plough, and then watched part of the Wimbledon Finals. Later we walked on through Russell Square to Leicester Square, Piccadilly and Covent Garden where we had a hot chocolate and went our ways on the Tube. another great day in London.

Hampstead Saturday

Today Jaime got up early and went off to work. That was to take a while. After a couple of phone calls - from Renuka and from John - the morning was shot. We went out to do the shopping at the Co-op! I now understand what it means as Reena got £20 off her groceries with a Co-op voucher.
When Jaime came home we set off for Hampstead. We walked through a number of lanes and streets uphill to Hampstead Cemetery. That proved to be a rather beautiful space with some really well-kept graves and others which were very neglected. Next up was Hampstead Village. We stopped in a pub, the Horseshoe for a drink. After checking out out a couple of shops we caught the bus home through Primrose Hill and Camden, rather posh places all round.

B.P.

Today Reena and I got to have a girls' day out at Buckingham Palace - or B.P. as the insiders call it. The tour was in three acts - or four if you count lunch! We set off in miserable rain early as we had a 10am entry time. Our first tour was an exhibition of Da Vinci's anatomical drawings which were quite beautiful and over 500 years old. Then we did a tour of the State Apartment - sorry no photos allowed. The Dianond Exhibition was VERY bling and so entrancing that the queue came to a complete halt. They had to get staff to urge people along. Reena and I had lunch in the Garden Cafe (pictures allowed) where it was a bit parky as they say here! Then we exited through the shop (as you do) for more delights.
The fourth part of this event was a visit to the Royal Mews where they keep their cars and horses. This was a treasure. First of all there were less people - by a factor of about 500 - it was outdoors and it was fine! Check out the Gold Coach! The last event of the day was afternoon tea at the Landmark Hotel Marylebone. Gorgeous is the word.