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 acting was excellent. Interesting commentary on the relentless focus on testing and all 3 school kids come from challenging backgrounds. Great little theatre too and very reasonably priced. Also saw some short Pinter plays at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End. Again excellent production. Very Pinter. Political commentary plays with a guest appearance from Trump who decides to nuke London, thinking it is the capital of France. Scarily realistic. Had to have a stiff drink afterwards.
Like riding on the upstairs of the buses as you also get a good look at the various statutes, signs etc on building fronts. Favourite shop signs so far - "The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and "Jack the Clipper". We also seem to wander frequently past or on Shoe Lane. So I thought well how appropriate given a number of my descendants were shoemakers. Yet when I goggled this street out of interest, find it has nothing to do with shoe making. All historians agree (apparently) that the name does not refer to the manufacture of shoes. Consensus is it dates back to a tract of land called Shoeland Farm. Oh well. Have found out (I believe) that journalists and publishers/printers liked cockfighting as a form of entertainment. Lots of references to cockpits around here. That's my theory.
Finally got to the Sir John Soan's Museum. Strange place but worth a visit. Talented architect who made a study of collecting many things from the ancient world - Egyptian sarcophagus, Greek statutes etc. Packed plus the house is beautiful. After visiting, walked through the Inns of Court - surreal study of privilege. This is a closed group of terraces complete with a small park with 2 birds of prey sitting there on stands with a handy glove nearby in case you are minded to hold them I guess. Stumbled into their church/chapel. Huge stained glass window with the coats of arms of notables in the Inns of Court. Beautifully maintained. For some reason then found the London Silver Vaults - 30 shops selling much silver. Beautiful stuff but not tempted due to the vast amount of silvo that would be required to keep them sparkling. Lot of fiddly bits made when people had servants I think to clean it all. Huge amounts of silvery cutlery that people aren't keen on anymore .
Re-visited Borough Markets and bought duck breasts and wild boar fresh pasta. Eaten the pasta. Delicious. Duck Sunday night. Also more coffee at Monmouths at Borough Market. Love walking across the bridges and peering down into the Thames. Saw some swans yesterday battling against the tide and more people fossicking along the edge.
Visited the Tate Gallery to see some British Art and more Turners. Loved the selection of British art - lots of female artists never heard of. Enjoyed the Turner and as a bonus was a room full of Constables. I'm swaying in my allegiance - Constable versus Turner. Love the later Turners - more impressionistic but the colours in the Constables may have the edge. First world problem.
Finished yesterday with a walk around Regents Street, Burlington and Piccadilly Arcade, Jermyn Street etc. A lot of the more traditional British shops in Regent Street now missing and is more just international brands now. Love the curved part of Regent Street though. Also caught bus around Westminster - area around the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Cathedral etc packed with tourists.
Still warm and sunny. Making the most of it as keeps threatening on turning.
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 acting was excellent. Interesting commentary on the relentless focus on testing and all 3 school kids come from challenging backgrounds. Great little theatre too and very reasonably priced. Also saw some short Pinter plays at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End. Again excellent production. Very Pinter. Political commentary plays with a guest appearance from Trump who decides to nuke London, thinking it is the capital of France. Scarily realistic. Had to have a stiff drink afterwards.
Like riding on the upstairs of the buses as you also get a good look at the various statutes, signs etc on building fronts. Favourite shop signs so far - "The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and "Jack the Clipper". We also seem to wander frequently past or on Shoe Lane. So I thought well how appropriate given a number of my descendants were shoemakers. Yet when I goggled this street out of interest, find it has nothing to do with shoe making. All historians agree (apparently) that the name does not refer to the manufacture of shoes. Consensus is it dates back to a tract of land called Shoeland Farm. Oh well. Have found out (I believe) that journalists and publishers/printers liked cockfighting as a form of entertainment. Lots of references to cockpits around here. That's my theory.
Finally got to the Sir John Soan's Museum. Strange place but worth a visit. Talented architect who made a study of collecting many things from the ancient world - Egyptian sarcophagus, Greek statutes etc. Packed plus the house is beautiful. After visiting, walked through the Inns of Court - surreal study of privilege. This is a closed group of terraces complete with a small park with 2 birds of prey sitting there on stands with a handy glove nearby in case you are minded to hold them I guess. Stumbled into their church/chapel. Huge stained glass window with the coats of arms of notables in the Inns of Court. Beautifully maintained. For some reason then found the London Silver Vaults - 30 shops selling much silver. Beautiful stuff but not tempted due to the vast amount of silvo that would be required to keep them sparkling. Lot of fiddly bits made when people had servants I think to clean it all. Huge amounts of silvery cutlery that people aren't keen on anymore .
Re-visited Borough Markets and bought duck breasts and wild boar fresh pasta. Eaten the pasta. Delicious. Duck Sunday night. Also more coffee at Monmouths at Borough Market. Love walking across the bridges and peering down into the Thames. Saw some swans yesterday battling against the tide and more people fossicking along the edge.
Visited the Tate Gallery to see some British Art and more Turners. Loved the selection of British art - lots of female artists never heard of. Enjoyed the Turner and as a bonus was a room full of Constables. I'm swaying in my allegiance - Constable versus Turner. Love the later Turners - more impressionistic but the colours in the Constables may have the edge. First world problem.
Finished yesterday with a walk around Regents Street, Burlington and Piccadilly Arcade, Jermyn Street etc. A lot of the more traditional British shops in Regent Street now missing and is more just international brands now. Love the curved part of Regent Street though. Also caught bus around Westminster - area around the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Cathedral etc packed with tourists.
Still warm and sunny. Making the most of it as keeps threatening on turning.
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