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20-22 October

Sitting at Heathrow Terminal 4, killing time. Set about 5 different alarms last night (including 2 set by our host David who arrived Friday night) to ensure we got up in time and of course both of us slept about 2 hours all up, ending up turning off all alarms by 5.15am and just getting up.  Actually managed a seamless transfer to Heathrow this time.  Taxi to local tube station with minimum number of stairs for Stephen to lug our bags down and onto the Piccadilly line to Heathrow.  Train full of sleepy looking people clutching large bags.  Even claiming our VAT refunds went through easily.  Slight hiccup at security as Stephen's backpack got pulled aside and we realised the very very well wrapped glass bowl we had bought was impenetrable when going through the machine.  And of course we then had to unwrap every little bit of paper and bubble wrap.  Still better than trusting it to the checked in bags we thought.  Had a good last weekend in Londo...
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19 October

Just back from great dinner at the Flour and Grape.  Italian restaurant at Bermondsey that serves lovely fresh pasta amongst other things.  Crisp clear night so another amazing walk across London Bridge.  Pubs overflowing with people as is a Friday night and still very mild for this time of year.  Locals look to be soaking it up. Bermondsey was full of people enjoying some nice looking bars and restaurants - definitely an area on the rise. After cleaning up the place earlier in the day, we made the most of the sunshine and went for a wander around the Temple Bar area. Ended up in the Inner Temple, Middle Temple and the Temple Church.  Place full of barristers and solicitors.  All looked very old but bit misleading as great swathes burnt down in the Great Fire and then was destroyed during the Blitz.  Are still some old bits remaining and is quite surreal - very rarefied atmosphere - smelt of privilege.  Wandered into a wine bar/restaurant on Fle...
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17-18 October

Another 2 great days. Definitely a more noticeable nip in the air. Visited the Museum of London which is only a short walk away. Went there a few years ago with Will and is even better.  Enjoyed the summary of London and seemed a neat way of encapsulating a lot of what we have seen this time  - from Roman ruins, Anglo Saxon  era, rise of the British Empire, Great Fire, Docklands, Victorian times, both Wars, fall of the British Empire and up to today.  Given how overwhelming London can seem, was a nice way to  summarise it all. Stephen then tried to sneak back to the fishing shops, mumbling something about a waterproof cap with ear flaps.  I tagged along to minimise the risk of a  new fishing rod somehow turning up for transporting home.  Stephen did find some gold tinsel he was hankering after plus a cap that is going to provide Will with many hours of amusement I fear if he ever sights  it. Does look very practical and with the ear flaps c...
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15-16 October (part 2)

Also found a place called Hays Galleria after visiting Bridge Theatre.  Was once an enclosed dock and been tidied up. Is now a rather nice shopping centre but with still the old wharves.  Another interesting east end Docklands area. Saw A Very Very Very Dark Matter in the evening.  Weird.  Starred Jim Broadbent as Hans Christian Anderson so was good to see him on stage.  The play is bizarre - a bit like a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale perhaps?  The premise is that HCA did not actually write his stories.  They were written by a black woman from the Congo who is also a pygmy and who he keeps locked up in a cage in his attic.  Plus he saws off one of her feet to exchange for a magical  concertina from some gypsies.  And it gets better.  HCA travels to England to stay with Charles Dickens - overstays his welcome (which I believe did happen) and then discovers that Dickens also did not write his stories.  You guessed it, he t...
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15-16 October (part 1)

Very relieved on Sunday night that the new Dr Who managed to locate her Tardis.  Enjoying some old favourites on TV - Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You. Very amusing although the jokes are starting to look a bit desperate as far as Brexit is concerned.  There is a 'peoples march' this Saturday from Park Lane to Parliament.  The gist of it is the 'people' are apparently demanding a vote on the Brexit deal.  Trying to make sense of what they are looking for, I think the idea is that the politicians are making a mess of things so the people should somehow decide what happens next.  Their website looks confused to me.  While claiming that they respect the last vote, i.e. voting for Brexit, whoever the organisers are, now seem to be saying that staying in the EU should still be an option and counter arguments to the leaver's arguments are set out.   The key speakers for Saturday's march include politicians from the 4 main parties, the Mayor of ...
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13-14 October

Sunday and is raining and cooler.  Parts of Wales have apparently washed away but London has escaped this.  Just misty drizzly rain.  Saturday was ridiculously warm and sunny.  T shirt weather.  Decided to visit Portobello Road markets at Nottinghill.  Was not expecting anything too exciting but neither of us had been there before. Packed as expected.  Many antique shops, clothing shops, junk shops etc.  Lots of silver and fiddly bits of antiques (or maybe antiques). Some very cute spoons - mustard, salt spoons etc that were allegedly old but one thought of the endless cleaning and happily walked away.  Plus we have many spoons that are already good at... spooning things.  Lots of atmosphere.  We wouldn't return though.  Bit over the whole market thing.  The houses around Nottinghill are stunning - huge white terrace style houses or smaller brightly coloured terraces.  Upmarket area.  I guess one to tick off th...
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10-12 October

It's Saturday morning and quiet around Paternoster Square.  We stare straight into offices from our windows and balcony - so all silent today.  The streets outside however are never quiet.  I'm not sure how I will order my day without the bells of St Paul's. Been catching a few buses to get around and occasionally managed to nab the front seats upstairs. Tricky though as place packed with European tourists - French, Spanish, Italians and Scandinavians.  Think there are some mid-term breaks for schools as lots of school children around. Actually not heard too many Australian accents or could just be where we are hanging out. Have seen two quite different plays.  One was a new play "I make Greatness Happen" at the Hampstead theatre.  Very good production.  Set in a high school classroom with 3 high school aged children and their teacher.  She is assisting them to pass their English GCSE's which they have already failed. Very clever script and ac...
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