Farewell London

The time came to say goodbye to London, the City I love, and it comes only second to Melbourne in my favorite cities list. It’s the ‘other’ place I feel most at home and it both enthralls me and frustrates me. So there is always a pang of sadness when I leave London but all holidays come to an end.

I checked out of the hotel but left my bags so that I could hop on the Tube into Embankment Station and do the short walk up the alleyway that is Villiers Street (where Rudyard Kipling lived no less) onto Charing Cross, over the road and onto Trafalgar Square to pop into the National Gallery. There is a knack to working out whether there is a point to jumping the lines on the Underground to get to a station or stay on one line and walk the often short distances to your destination. The illusion of the

geography of the streets being aligned with the layout of the Tube as depicted on Beck’s map is a great deception. You can spend ten or fifteen minutes getting off a train and changing lines, traversing the labyrinthine passageways and tunnels only to find when you emerge from the other train that your destination was exactly halfway between the station you changed at and the station you ascended from. Leicester Square Station on the Piccadilly Line for instance is about five minutes’ walk from Charing Cross which is a changeover to the Northern Line (and one of the least regular of the Tube lines). Doing this changeover would take about six minutes plus a three minute ride and then a couple of minutes to get out of the station.

Anyway just a tip for you.

Did a quick round of the Gallery checking out the range of Constables then the Monet’s, a Van Gogh or two before hopping on the bus to St Paul’s to grab a little knick knack I’d spotted on my visit earlier. I was surprised by how quickly time was getting on so did a quick wander to the Millennium Bridge for some photos and back to grab the bus back to Paddington.

Tip number 2: If baffles me how many people fork out a minor fortune (or at least the price of a reasonable meal) to hop on the ‘Big Bus’ in London (currently about $60AUD)and whisk around all the tourist traps, sorry interesting spots. OK there is the ferry cruise and a couple of other ‘gems’ thrown in but really it’s a waste of money frankly. My tip is on your first morning get yourself down to St Paul’s and have a squiz around the area (the Cathedral – sorry ridiculously priced admittance but worth it just once. Come out and take the little stroll up to Postman’s Park and be touched, amused and enchanted by the plaques to unsung everyday heroes. You can walk about six minutes to the Tower and/or the Monument from here but I’d save those up for a day of their own and include the Museum of London and the Roman Wall. From Postman’s Park walk back through St Paul’s garden and have a look at the Millennium Bridge, walk over it if you like and see the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe). After completing your squizzing there is a bus stop across from the Cathedral where I recommend hopping on the Number 23 bus. This bus takes you along Fleet Street, past the Inns of the Court and the former newspaper headquarters, onto the Strand, passing Aldwych, Kings College, Australia House, Somerset House, the Savoy eventually getting to Charing Cross. We move on from there passing Trafalgar Square around the Haymarket up to Piccadilly Circus and onto Regent Street turning into Oxford Street, out past Marble Arch and onto Paddington Station. It’s a great trip and for forty minutes you’ll see just about all you need to see to orientate yourself…and all for about three pounds! There’s even a chance of getting a front seat upstairs which is a bonus for photos and thrills (oh those dumb pedestrians playing chicken with the traffic).

Anyway I was back at the hotel around 12.45 and collected my bags for the Heathrow Connect to the airport. Another tip for you: Both the Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect run to Paddington. The Express runs direct and takes about 15 minutes and costs around 20 pound; the Connect stops at four or five stops on the way in , takes forty minutes and costs 9 pound 50p. You can also take a Tube District Line which is about an hour trip stopping at all stops and you have a selection of stations to get off at which might take you close to hotels or friend's/family BUT it's also likely this option will mean a change at Earl's Court where you'll need to negotiate stairs to get to the line you want. If you're changing to Piccadilly Line I'd suggest Hammersmith to changeover as it's the same platform, no stairs.

Check in all went ok and eventually I was on the fairly full Dreamliner and off to Brunei. Again good fortune gave me a seat in a three seat row and the middle one empty. The way to go, trust me. The Dubai stopover gave us a bit more time to explore this round but I was most surprised by how expensive the Duty Free shops were.

I was just on the point of being royally frustrated by the flight when we touched down at 5.00 local time in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam.

Home Stretch

The Banqueting House is somewhere I had never been to until my previous trip to London; it always seemed

to be closed on previous trips with repairs or functions. So I thought I'd go again this time and glad I am. It is a beautiful place with the lovely Reuben's murals on the ceiling and the history relating to Charles 1 etc. Only one other person in there this visit so had a good look around. They have rather stooped a bit with a few colorful bean bags on the floor for those who want to lie down and take in the beauty of the ceilings. Think something a bit more in keeping with the 17th Century might be worth seeking.

From one Westminster icon to another with a tour of the Houses of Parliament on Saturday. Oh my such splendor and magnificence. Quite a thrill to start off in Westminster Hall, the only remaining part of the original Palace and a place I'd always wanted to go into. Beautiful vaulted ceiling and the perfect entree into the Parliament building. The gold, the frescoes, the lush furnishings, the tiled and carpeted floorings, such splendor I have not seen before. I thought Versailles was probably the grandest place I'd ever seen but I do think this gobsmackingly awesome building tops it. A really good and informative hour and a half. It is interesting to note the differences between the British system and the Australian and yet we derive ours from the Westminster system.

A walk through lovely St James' Park up to Buckingham Palace and into the shop. I'd have liked to go into the Mews but the financially struggling monarch charges quite a lot to see her sights (and the shop was pretty heavily priced as well..a pretty tacky mug was ₤25 for instance) so I gave it a miss.

Changed over from the apartment back to the hotel in Paddington and was welcomed back like a regular which was nice. Also nice was the sun shining and I took myself for a walk in Hyde Park. A few more at Speakers Corner this time but still only about half a dozen speakers so not like previous times.

So it's the home stretch, only one full day and then it's airport time.

I did think at one point today while I was walking that this might be my last long trip to London. If I do come back it might be just fora few days on the way to somewhere else. Of course one shouldn't take for granted that one will ever come back. Not really sure how I'd feel if I never came back but I do feel mighty privileged to have ever been here in the first place let alone about ten times. Many people never get here at all for one reason or another so I am very thankful as this city has shown me many happy times and I've always felt at home here.

Wild Wednesday and On the BBC

So they didn't call it Wild Wednesday or Super Storm Wednesday for nothing. The wind was fearsome and the rain torrential as I spent the day in Birmingham.

A really lovely Chiltern train from Marylebone got me there in just under two hours arriving at Moor Street which is only a quick walk to the city centre. Drenching rain as I scramble into the Visitors booth...needless to say the city map I had grabbed struggled through the few hours I was in that pretty interesting city getting soggier by the minute.

Lunch at House of Fraser and a drop in at the terrific Art Gallery and Museum of Birmingham plus a few arcades and various streets passed the time nicely. I'd certainly like to see the city in finer weather as it looks like it has the best of a city and a decent history to learn about. The train was packed on return as I think many were making their escape to dryer ground before this area was cut off too.

Thankfully Thursday turned out to be not so dire although their had been a hell of a wind storm through the night. Headed in to Green Park for my second London Walks tour, this time around Mayfair. Great guide Richard told us about the Duchess of Devonshire, the Prince Regent, Beau Brummel, Primrose, Mary Robinson, Ian Fleming, the American Embassy and even the Beatles. Loved it. Even went to Shephard Market which is a gem of a spot and the square that Jeffrey Archer came unstuck.  

On the way to the walk I was a bit saddened to go past St James Church in Piccadilly and notice an old tree which used to stand in the courtyard had been removed. This tree had stood there for many years and was on the Heritage Register. It used to be known for inviting people to give it a hug and enjoy the tranquility one felt for that moment. Gone. Sad. 

The walk finished at Marble Arch so I dropped into M&S for lunch before heading up to the BBC (as you do) for a tour of Broadcasting House. Very entertaining and interesting to see, especially the incredible news centre  which has hundreds of people in it. If you've ever seen a BBC News Service with the shot of people at desks behind the readers that's where I was. Did you know the BBC News is seen by about 245 million people? Got to do a fake Radio drama in one studio and a real buzz to go into the theatre where the Goons broadcast from.

It was only about 3.30 when that finished so I hopped on a bus to Covent Garden for a wander, quite busy despite the chill returning. At last after all these years I finally got to see inside St Paul's Covent Garden, known as the actor's church. Gorgeous little church and nicely done up as it had been the funeral of  Roger Lloyd-Pack and a memorial for Simon McCorkindale. Seeing the plaques for so many actors on the walls was very touching.


I'm pretty weary and my feet give me a lot of grief by the end of the day which is concerning, maybe I'm just overdoing it. Sometimes I feel like I'm 67 not 57 and sometimes I would like to stop and go home. The weather is wearing and unpleasant and depressing and I don't even live in a flood prone area (yet).

Oh well...onwards

A View of the Floods

Some BBC coverage and shots from the train near Banbury

Going Up

So a little bit of a sleep in this morning and rather pleased the Tube Strike is not going ahead this week.

The flat is only a short walk to Cromwell Road so I set off in the damned, bloody nuisance of rain to the V&A, my absolute favorite museum. Just had a quick look through including the mesmerizing Cast Courts and I just had to have a refreshment in the gorgeous cafe.

Then onto the Tube for a short ride over to the British Museum and an hour or so in there looking at the Rosetta Stone, the King's Library, the various 'Hoards' and the Parthenon Sculptures (Elgin Marbles). I am on the side of either returning these to the Greeks or at least having a

sharing arrangement (ie permanent loan) but they are lovely to see and are displayed very well. Even George Clooney bought into the argument at his press conference here for the 'Monuments Men'. He did rather diminish his argument somewhat though referring to them as the 'Pantheon marbles'...oops. Lots of school groups around which was both great to see and very tiresome.

Next out to what is called 'Emirates Greenwich' for a ride on the cable car. It was a bit blowy and so the car had stopped temporarily but was up and running ten minutes later when I could see absolutely no change to the weather. Only £3.50 to go up and off I went in a cabin very similar to the one in Hong Kong without the glass floor. The view is pretty uninspiring but it does show off another part of London I guess. I can admit that about half way it got very blowy and the cabin was swaying a bit more than I felt confident in. I was debating if this was the way I

wanted to die but thought if it were to plummet I had no control over it so just managed my anxiety level as much as I could. Even the batteries in my camera carked it just as the ride ended - a bit ominous don't you think.

I had thought we'd probably end up somewhere near the Greenwich Park but we weren't so I sussed out the Docklands Light Rail Station a few minutes walk away and took it into Tower Hill and walked over to the Tube into Embankment. It was only about 3.00 so I dropped into the Cafe in the Crypt at St Martins in the Fields for a warming cuppa and rhubarb crumble with custard - oh yes.

Thusly revivified (bit of Dickens for you) I grabbed a bus around to Victoria and home. A couple hours rest and then frocked up to pop into the Wyndham's Theatre to see what was one of the best bits of theatre I've EVER seen, 'The Weir'. This Irish play with five actors was funny and moving and had great direction as well as very fine acting. It was a delight and a joy to see and a privilege. I had a great seat in the front row middle of the upper circle so perfect for viewing. I also appreciated it ran through without an interval (although a few audience members found it a challenge and were coming and going). So I was back in the flat around 9.40.

Watching the late news the flooding continues and spreading, even closing in on London although the Thames Barriers should help. It must be absolutely desperate for the people who have had weeks and weeks of rain without a break and are having to evacuate or endure. There isn't expected to be any respite either for a few weeks yet.

I must confess I am over the rain, the drizzle and the frigging wind that cuts into you no matter if you've got a hood or a cap or a scarf or gloves on. In those few moments when the sun comes out it is like a moments blessing and I just lap it up - I'd hate  to have my Vitamin D levels tested at the moment.I'm sure those of you who have been living through heat waves are probably thinking you wouldn't mind some of this weather but trust me, apart from the lovely low temps the rest of it is appalling.

In-Spires

Really I could have done with a day in the flat vegging but with so many places flooded the options are limited and I thought why not. I do like Oxford and if I return to the UK it would be a shame not too visit the lovely city again.

Amazingly all connections connected and I arrived at the Oxford tube bus stop (don't ask) just as the bus arrived and on I hopped. We passed through lovely countryside and a bit of water lying around. An hour and a half later, after seeing how high the Cherwell (or maybe the Thames) was, I alighted in Oxford to a bit of a windy cold day and proceeded to explore. I found time for a coffee and scone in Debenhams, a looksee through the wondrous Blackwell's bookstore and see a few sights. What excited me most was that Balliol College had its gardens, chapel and hall open, the first time any of the colleges have been open on any of my visits. Very beautiful although the Hall was smaller than I imagined. it was in post lunch mode so the smell of the meal was still wafting and one of the tables was still set up. Great portraits of a few pollies (and Prime Ministers) who had been alumni of Balliol.

Time passed quickly and I went the wrong way to the bus stop but eventually found it but it took forever to get on as people were asking questions, fumbling for money and just faffing about. It was nearly time for the next bus by the time I got on but eventually in and comfortable and back in London at 6.00. A very lovely day.

Mid Way

At the half way point of the journey and something I've been looking forward to, my day trip to Ghent and Brugges.

Picked up at the hotel around 8.45 and out into incredibly strong, cold wind and onto the bus. After several more pick ups the bus is practically full although I do have a seat to myself (wearing the same socks three days running paid off). Our guide is a Ghent local so he knows his stuff.

Ghent is a very compact pretty place about an hour and a bit from Brussels in the direction of Ostende and formerly a coastal town (the coast line disappeared over time but many of the industries still deliver and use Ghent to export from. This town was famous for Flemish cloth and tapestries and is fairy tale beautiful. Cobbled streets and cute buildings contrasted with the enormous cathedral and towers.  Van Eyck's altar

piece the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is kept at the Cathedral although it is one of the most stolen art works of Europe. In fact one panel is still missing after the whole thing was nicked by the Nazis and recovered in a salt mine in Austria (see 'The Monuments Men' movie). Stunning cathedral in a town about a thousand years old...ah yes.

Just a short ride onto Brugges and whereas Ghent is quite compact, Brugges is spread out takes a bit of getting around although mostly walkable. Well walk around the convent (monastery) area where the nuns started the Belgian lace tradition. Sadly this tradition has all but died off now and is mostly mass produced although there are one or two artisans still around and in the Brugges. area.

The magnificent old two square was worth seeing, albeit in the rain and cold wind. Even that passed at times and the light was beautiful on the stunning buildings and cobbles.Quite touristy which is a shame but we soldier on. What i think makes this town very amenable and attractive is the preponderance of chocolate shops and a fair few of them handmade. There are the chains (Godiva, Leonidas to name a couple) but I guess it's about what is unique rather than what is popular - of course they aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. They are rather fond of dark chocolate and it is of course the elite of chocolate but I'm afraid I'm a fan of the lighter creamier varieties. We had a nice stop at a shop and given a bit of a history of chocolate making in the area and then 'invited' to purchase. I am fond of popping into chocolatiers here because you are invariably offered a 'sample', very civilized greeting if you ask me.

I'd had lunch in a little cafe near where the horse drawn carriages set off (as delightful a tourist rip off as the venetian gondoliers apparently but by gee they were reeling those gullible tourists in this day)A very tasty ham and cheese omelet warmed me up and sustained me through the much walking we did for the rest of the stay. 

We also enjoyed a boat rip around the canals which was a good way of seeing large parts of Brugges in a short time and a good vantage point. The sun was out so not as cold as it might have been.

In the old square is the church tower that featured in the film 'In Brugges' and on the boat trip we saw the hotel also in the film (where he jumps out of the window if you saw it). The BBC series 'The White Queen' was also filmed in Brugges.

Time was getting on and so we set off back to Brussels. I wanted to see the Grand Markt at night and so I was dropped off not far. Beautiful sight to see, it really is a 'Grand Place'.

Walked back to the hotel, nearly being blown away by the incredible wind.

The next morning I didn't have to check out until midday so had a sleep in, a late breakfast and then went for a final walk around this most wonderful, intelligent and welcoming city. It has some dark and dodgy spots, rather too many beggars and it is a bit expensive. the people seem reserved but warm and I suspect they are

self deprecating in their humour which may or may not serve them well.

After checking out it's really only a five minute walk (even shorter if the incredible wind had been a tail wind) to Gare du Noord. Although a rather grand facade I have to say the interior was very dodgy. Anyway the Eurolines bus terminal is downstairs and the check in was pretty smooth. about a 45 minute wait for departure and a somewhat shambolic bus boarding, luggage storing, finding a seat etc. Nevertheless we set off heading for Calais.

All went well until we arrived at Calais to find the eurotunnel was delayed with boardings by up to two hours. We would apparently normally just have a half hour delay while boarding but we ended up there for an hour and a half and even allowed to get off the bus and partake in the high quality, well priced goods and food items in the building attached.

Earlier we had been through the rather comical procedure of French passport control...off the bus, queue up, back on the bus then drive ten metres and get off the bus for British passport control. I always have a tiresome moment with the Brits which I NEVER have with any other country. Anyway after answering banal questions it was through there and back on the bus.

The driver added to the humour at one point. After being parked for an hour or so he drives off and then just basically does a circuit to get back to the same spot we drove away from...odd.

Reminds me of something that happened when I checked into the Hotel Siru in Brussels. I mentioned there were three hotels in one with one reception desk BUT a separate queue for each. When I arrived there was a guy at the Hotel Colonies desk and he acknowledged me but said he couldn't check me in, that I had to wait for the Siru receptionist. So I waited for her to check the guy in front of me in and stepped forward...only for her to move away and,yep you guessed it, the guy from the Colonies desk steps across and serves me. Hilarious.

A warm welcome back to London with the bus stopping at what currently passes for the coach station...it's all under reconstruction so you walk out of a garage into a back street. If this was your first arrival in London I'm not sure it would thrill you.

Underground to Gloucester Road and I found my way easily to the apartment office for my next seven night stay. Seeing as I last stayed at these apartments about 20 years ago I was quite impressed with finding them. The check in was easy and the apartment is lovely. I was supposed to be in a studio apartment but, as luck would have it, they are all being painted and I am 'upgraded' to a double room. Nice and most acceptable. I could have  been quite satisfied if it hadn't been up four flights of stairs but hey my heart and lungs needed a work out. Isn't sweating on a cold night an interesting phenomena?

Tomorrow Oxford.

 

Where's The Sprouts Brussels?

If you like wind and rain you really should have been with me the last couple of days. Bloody cold wind and relentless drizzle and rain were the order of day one but I was not to be deterred by the turd of weather (see what I did there? Gold) and walked into the centre of Brussels via cobbled and quaint streets, diverting

through glorious arcades and occasional wrong turns (who'd've thought).

Such a gorgeous place with surprisingly lots to church, interesting churches, a range of museums and history along the streets. The Royal Palace is one of the most beautiful I've seen and I enjoyed seeing the remains of the original palace underneath.

After quite a bit of territory covered I finished the day at the Parlimentarium an exhibition at the Brussels location of the European Parliament.What I particularly liked about this informative place was that it was free entry! Looking at the price of 'souvenirs' though I suspect I know where they make up for it.

Making the mistake of having what was allegedly a burger at 'Quick' (probably alludes  more to the rapid onset of nausea rather than the speed of the meal) I retreated to my dry, warm hotel room for a nice night in watching the opening of the Sochi 'being gay is not OK' Games, spectacular, even at times ironically camp.

Strike Me

A Tube strike in London is a special kind of hell.

I needed to be at Kings Cross Station by 9.30 for the train to Lincoln, it was a non refundable fare so I couldn't just take my time and get on the next train. I had expected Paddington tube to be open as it wasn't one of those listed to be closed during the strike. Well of course it was closed. Very surprising, it's the same as Southern Cross or Central suburban lines in Sydney being closed. Anyway it meant taking a bus...along with the hundreds who would normally go  by train added to those who ordinarily take a bus. I had the choice of two buses but one hadn't been seen for some time and of course the other one seemed to vanish after I let one go. Eventually the unseen one arrived and the line moved, pushing and squashing to get in and I do mean squashing. A bloke flew from the back at one point and just forced his way through - unbelievable. I was the last one allowed on as we were supposedly 'full'. Two stops on the driver stopped to let more people on and yet no one had alighted...odd.

After that horror I arrived at Kings Cross with about 8 minutes to spare and jumped on the train, asking a woman in my seat to move and she did. Silly woman, later on I worked out I was in the wrong carriage because the printing on the ticket looked like a 'D' when it fact it was a 'B'.

Not quite two hours and we pulled into Newark Newgate and then a jump over to the one carriage shuttle into the gorgeous town of Lincoln.

It was very cold and windy and eventually wet as I walked along the canal onto the High Street, cobbled street with the familiar High Street shops and nice architecture. A stop in at Waterstones and on up to the Cathedral. Lovely buildings, very villagey as I climbed up to the church...and I do mean climb. The hill one mounts is called 'Steep Hill' and I am willing to cast my vote for it being the most aptly named street ever. I'm sure my chin touched my knees at one stage.

Towards the end of the ascent I dropped into a little tea house for a bacon butty and a cuppa. Most reviving and got me those last metres up to the old gate that revealed the magnificent cathedral behind it.

This cathedral was the tallest building in the world at the time it was built and it is simply breathtaking, beautiful arches and dome, stained glass, choir and chapter house. Spent a good hour in there and then had a look around the town after happily demounting the hill.

I had a bit of time to fill in before the train left so I picked up a cappuccino and it was barely warm and tasted 'unique'.

Nice trip back although the connection from Newgate was late which meant a bit of a wait in the station.

The horror returned in London with a wait of 40 minutes for a bus even though the crowds at the stop didn't seem quite as horrendous. After a couple of stops I actually got a seat which was a bonus, especially as the trip took AN HOUR, horrendous traffic and of course lots of people getting on and off at each stop.And, as is the way with bus drivers everywhere, the bus terminated, without warning, a few stops short of the destination. No bother for me as it was still only a short walk back to the hotel.

What a day of contrasts and I was hoping the second day of the strike might be called off to save me having to struggle to St Pancras for the Eurostar on the bus.

Thankfully I didn't have to be up too early so had a leisurely breakfast and checked out of the hotel around nine. Decided I'd skip the bus trip and walk to St P even though it is quite a distance from Paddington. Glad I did because the buses passing me were all packed and although the queues were noticeably smaller there was still a crowd trying to force their way in.

It took a bit over an hour to get there but I had a bit of a rest stop at Baker St to stop the sweat and just rest my feet.

No problems going through customs and getting on the train, which was quite full. The two and a bit hour ride passed quickly enough and int Brussels Midi. Worked out the Metro and bought a 5 journey ticket and caught the tram/metro out to Rogier. Of course couldn't work out which exit (the directions were in the abbreviated manner of the locals rather than the full names on my map oh and the map in the station incidentally)but took a punt and surprise surprise it was the right one - I could actually see my hotel from the where I emerged.

Hotel Siru is very nice and a bit quirky and is one of three hotels which occupy the one city block. I like my room (with some whinges)and it's GOT A BATH!!!!!

Ventured out for a look see walk but the rain and wind was too tiresome so just found a supermarket and bought a couple of supplies and returned to the warmth and dryness of my room.

I don't know what goes on around this area but I have never heard so many sirens in one night in my life so combined with the howling wind it was a 'bumpy' night.

Diversion - I'm Not Expressly Self Serving

The other day I popped into WH Smith’s at Charing Cross having the need for a spot of chocolate, a sip of Fanta lemon and a quick squiz through the Times. By the time I left the store a few minutes later my mind was racing with thoughts about ‘express’ lanes and self serve ‘tills’. Oh trust me, you pop into a shop with me and you’ll leave a different person (maybe even with a different person).  

The situation was that the service till was out of action so you could only use the self serve number. This was clearly signposted, not at each entrance (of which there are three), not even at the entrance to the ‘race’ where you choose to queue for the robots or the real person (the one what offers ‘service’) but on the till itself. That is to say (and say it I shall) the revelation isn’t revealed until you get to the front of the queue and are on the border of service and self service.

Now I’m not one, although it seems quite fashionable, to walk into a museum, or sit down at a restaurant or get to the front of a queue and then ask questions like ‘are you open’, ‘is this the way in’ etc etc. So, I turned to the young lady in the WH Smith uniform before entering the ‘race’, waited a few polite seconds whilst she caught up on her workmates life and then charged in with ‘is the service till open?’. Well, apparently it had been a day of storm offs, heavy sighs and maybe a few terse words. The corners of her eyes tightened, a slight puff of air came out, she fixed me squarely in the eye and said ‘you’ll have to use the self serve’. Taking a breath myself (inwardly though) I offered ‘I don’t want to use them’. Emergency, emergency, old git alert. ‘You have to go there and use them, the till is out of order’. I moved to replace my items on the shelves as she rather sharply, as if I’d arked up in some way, offered ‘there is a sign’, ‘oh where?’ She pointed vaguely in the general direction but I spotted it ‘pity I came in the other way and not right to the till isn’t it?’ And thusly I left.

It was really no big deal, I probably wouldn’t have minded a less sharp tone and even an apology for it being a nuisance (I’m sure it was one for her)but in the end it was only a drink and a paper PLUS a choccy so who gives a?

So now we are helpless when our computers lock up or shutdown, our internet connection slows down to dial up days speed or altogether, our mobile phone isn’t ‘in range’, our digital TV ‘sticks’ or we can’t afford to pay the exorbitant amount to get a new key for our car. Add to the list the service till not being able to service us and we are coltishly shamed into using the self serves.

I actually don’t mind a sultry self serve. It makes sense at a petrol station, although I quite like finding a ‘driveway service’ outlet so I can request ‘can you check theoil and water for me please?’ I’m not even averse to it at supermarkets although I don’t like the consequences. It is seldom any faster than queuing up at the 12 items or less (not MY grammar error readers) line, an ‘unexpected bag error’ or ‘call for assistance’ moment will always hold you up whereas Nelly as the express line just scans it all through, bags it for you and away you go. I don’t like that there are less staffed checkouts now, you don’t like it? Go self serve or get behind the shopper who is doing the groceries for herself and all her relatives plus the old people’s home up the road and every second item is not’reading’. I get really annoyed if the express queue isn’t open, that’s just tardy.

But what really sticks in my craw about self serve is that I am doing the work, bagging, scanning, weighing my heart off and it isn’t any cheaper than if I line up. How can that be? Why is there no discount for self serve? Maybe $1 off would suffice or a few bonus reward points. Otherwise is showing how clever I can be enough of a benefit?

So all these little time saving ‘efficient’ (probably known as ‘economies of scale cost efficient time minimizing spends’) are delightful but I just see them as me doing the work someone who is far better trained used to get paid to do and I pay the same as I did when they did it and when something goes wrong they are no longer around or able to ‘go manual’.

And, again, we call it progress and think we are so clever.    

The Journey Continues

Thankfully the rain some of the country has been copping has kept clear from London, the poor things in Somerset haven't had a break from rain and/or flooding for FIVE WEEKS.


Yesterday into Tower Tube where I was disappointed to see Tower Bridge is now pretty much obscured by a new office building. I went on my first London Walk, a company that I'm very fond of as they have terrific guides who tell wonderful stories, spread fascinating facts and just make for a fun two hours. So it was with Shaughan who took us around St Paul's, Ludgate and the St Brides' area. We learnt about the various Guilds, saw where the first printing press was, some lovely churches including St Brides and the church where Dick Whittington attended (and his cat). Stopped at St Clements for a rendition of 'Oranges and Lemons' and even saw a piece of the original London Bridge (now residing in the Arizona Desert). Great tour and a lot of

fun.  We started at Monument and finished at Blackfriars which  covered a bit of territory. Funniest thing was that the tour included a stop at the London Stone so I could have saved myself a bit of frustration in my looking for it.

Popped in for lunch at the Earl of Sandwich and then basically wandered around a bit, including the Royal Opera House Arcade and around Haymarket.Grabbed a warming cuppa before hopping on the bus back to the hotel for a bit of a relax before heading out for the night.

Hopped on the tube at 6.30, quite busy, and into Temple station. The show started at 7.30 and I breezed out of the station at 7.10 and went in the wrong direction! Well there was one sign at the station to direct me but then nothing once you get to the end of the street so I guessed and it was the wrong guess. Not to worry, a few minutes of high anxiety and at 7.25 I walked into the theatre. No one in the lobby which was weird but I was upgraded from a dodgy cheap seat into the fourth row of the stalls - sweeeeet. This was for the new Lloyd Weber musical 'Stephen Ward' based around the Profumo/Christine Keeler scandal of the 60's. Some of the songs are really lovely and the acting pretty good (the lead actor has a huge role, hardly ever off stage) and some clever staging. I felt it needed a bit of work still particularly at the start where it is a bit lacking in oomph for the first five or ten minutes.An interesting spin on the well worn story which I'll be interested in seeing how long it runs as the theatre was only about a quarter full. To be fair though Monday is a slow night in London theatre and not many shows run a Monday performance.

Bus home and in my room by 10.30. Watched 'Newsnight' and crashed for the night.

Not too bad a sleep (yay).

Into Westminster and over the Bridge to go for my traditional ride on the London Eye. Not only is it a great view and experience but you get to see the changes in the city each time. For instance last trip the Gherkin was new, this time it's the Shard. There's also a fun 4D film that you get included in the price, very good.

Next I planned to go into the Film Museum which is in the County Hall next to the Eye BUT it closed last week! Very disappointing and how a country that has such a proud film history can't support a museum to it baffles me.

Walked down along Southbank to the National Theatre and into the bookshop. Sun shining and very pleasant along the Thames as I walk over Westminster Bridge and into the Somerset House Courtyard, unfortunately covered in temporary buildings for a function. Found remains of a Roman bath off the Strand but the light switch that was supposed to allow one to see it didn't work...between closed places, reconstructions and non working light switches, I'm thinking I'm a jinx.

A bit of a hike over to the Guildhall for the remains of the Roman Ampitheatre that was uncovered during construction work. Quite fantastic find and a good exhibition. Just imagine standing next to stones from 1AD, oh this city.

Time was getting on and frankly I had earnt cream tea so onto a bus to Trafalgar Square and into the Crypt Cafe at St Martins in the Fields I go. So delicious and satisfying. Hmmm hmmmmmmmmm.

Can't believe it was 5.00 when I got back into the hotel but the bus does tend to be quite a bit slower than the train but there are advantages.

Tomorrow a day trip to Lincoln but we are facing a Tube strike so getting to Kings Cross for the train will be challenging.

It's Sunday, But Who's Speaking Please?

Traditionally (well for me) if I'm in London for at one Sunday I make my way to Speakers' Corner at Hyde Park and take in the many folk who delight in expressing an opinion or philosophy or view of some sort. A usually lively exchange ensues with the crowds who come to watch, listen or just be pains in the proverbial.

And so it was this sunny, chilly Sunday morning that I took the short walk to the Park, stopping at the gorgeous(and for me significant but that's a whole other story) Italianate Fountains which looked wonderful today.

A stroll along the Serpentine to the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain an odd,twisted and rather baffling construction (well thinking about it that makes it rather apropos for the memory of that strange creature)Have to report the water is now murky and smelly, there was much more water foul around than people and it was all somewhat sad.. Rather fascinated though that the water changes direction at some point, neat.

Onward and it seemed a long walk to my destination and reliable disappointment. It seems, yes, they're 'doing it up a bit, so only one 'speaker' and about five people 'engaging'. Oh dear.

I'd stayed near High Street Kensington a few times but never managed to get to Holland Park so I descended into the Underground and trained around to Notting Hill Gate and the quick walk down the road and into said park. Very lush and well laid out with a rather nice mansion (or remains thereof) in the middle. The sports ground getting a good work out and dogs everywhere plus those cute little squirrels bobbing around.After the hugeness of Hyde Park it did seem rather tiny but it's pretty impressive.

Now my familiar High Street and a drop into my all too familiar favorite Waterstones Book Shop, oh oh 20% off all books. Can't resist I'm afraid I bought a couple of books and was best pleased.

Many happy memories came back walking along 'High Street Ken'and on back to Kensington Gardens (really the 'other half' of the area that includes Hyde Park on one side). Kensington Palace looked lovely in the sun but they have done something a bit odd with the entrance gates (you'll remember the gates where all those flowers were left when Di died). They have taken down the fence which was the same height as the gates and put in a railing of about a metre height and so the gates sort of just sit there looking a tadd odd...just sayin'.

Well I had been doing quite a bit of walking and time was now getting on. My new shoes were reminding me they hadn't quite been worn in yet so I grabbed the number 10 bus over to Kings Cross. This trip was a nice break although I hadn't quite reckoned on it being nearly an HOUR such was the traffic and pace. Kings Cross looks simply spectacular these days and a worthy neighbour to the recently upgraded St Pancras next door. I had oped to get my ticket for the day trip to Lincoln but stupidly hadn't brought the wrong bit of paper with me - dumb. Anyhoo it was a bit of a trip 'away' as they say - apparently travelling form the other side of the earth isn't enough!

Down onto the Underground again and into Picadilly to suss out details of another trip I want to do. Walked down to Trafalgar Square and the thousands of people there celebrating Chinese New Year, fantastic and lots of happy people. Popped into the Visitors Centre and really no progress on getting to Leeds Castle without spending what could be a healthy deposit on purchasing my own castle. Anyway the guy was very helpful and candid about the options but encouraging on going if I can get there. I did get my London Eye ticket so all not lost.

Finished up at Garfunkles in Northumberland Avenue and a refreshing bangers and mash which went down a treat.

It's suddenly 3.30 and I carry my weary, stodge filled bod back to Paddington and my refuge.

Lordy this place tires me out.

PS: In the previous post I posed a question about the oddity of the buildings in one picture. Well a couple of creative guesses (no, not homes of the famous) BUT no cigar so far. I did find out today though that they feature in an episode of the new season of 'Sherlock' which might give you a hand (not sure if the episodes have started screening yet over there so hopefully it gives you an avenue for more creativity).

Back off Jet Lag

After checking into my hotel and having a bit of a sit down it was back to the Underground and into Victoria Station to centre myself and help me feel I was truly finally back in London.

I decided to get off at Westminster and walk around via Scotland Yard. Quite busy with lots of tourists taking photos of Parliament and over at Parliament Square plus a queue at Westminster Abbey, It was getting drizzly and the wind had quite a bite to it, poor brolly was having trouble staying up – maybe it had jet lag!

Bit of reconstruction work along Victoria Street, a couple of buildings gone altogether and not sure what they’re putting in or fixing near the Station but Little Ben wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

Similarly a couple of things gone from inside the station, including Garfunkels and even Wetherspoons is being renovated. Oh well. Popped into WH Smiths and bought a couple of books n snacks before returning to Paddington and crashing for the night. Watched a very sad episode of Coronation Street which didn’t exactly lift my lagged spirits. Fought the good fight with sleep through the night but got through until about 7.30.

After breakfast today it was time to get on with things and it was into Westminster again. It was as if a fleet of buses had landed depositing people everywhere and in groups. The hoards had descended and there was me in the middle of them. Cameras and phones out as thought the populace had growths on their faces, amazing.

Walking over Wesrminster Bridge was lovely with people enthused by the sights they were seeing and the sun shining down on all of us, we won’t mention the biting wind. Only a short way over to St Thomas’ Hospital

and into the fascinating Florence Nightingale Museum. Interesting to see her history and lots of her artifacts from the Crimea and beyond. A bit of controversy over the years about Florence but my reading of her today is that she was a pretty remarkable human being. She even wrote to the mothers of boys/men who died in her care and they were lovely kind letters.

After that I caught a bus into Oxford Circus. I’d managed to split the sole of my shoes and needed to get a replacement pair so thought Debenhams would be a good shot and as luck would have it I picked up a nice pair on special – 40% off thank you nicely. Rewarded myself with a cuppa in the café – I’ll stick to tea next time I think.

Back on another train to St Paul’s Station and a bit of wander past the great Cathedral and onto one of my favorite London places Leadenhall Market which is too having some work done. Still enough on view to remind me how gorgeous it is. Out past Lloyds also amazing building and looking for the London Stone.

After a lot of walking it eluded me and I made my way back only to find I had walked past the bloody thing as it is a bit innocuous. I was very thrilled to find it as it is a remnant of ancient London, well the 1500s at least.and fromed from the original rock base of the area.

Then to the Museum of London, past Postman’s Park and a nice look around, great place. A most moving section on London in the Blitz and people telling stories of being around at the time, kids seeing parents killed, going home to rubble, walking familiar streets with buildings destroyed etc. Also amused to see the Lord Mayor has his own 'regal carriage', amazement!

I was proper pooped and took a wrong turn or two making it an even longer walk before getting back on the train and to Queensway. Unfortunately only one lift working so dumbly climbed123 steps on the spiral stairs to the top – it was almost goodnight nurse I tell ya. Anyway through the spots in my eyes and the deafening sound of ….my heavy breathing I emerged onto Queensway and memories of where I stayed on my first trip in 1980.

Found a remarkable quirky building in Leinster Gardens (look at the photo and see if  you can see any clues) and was back in my room by 4.30 barely able to walk.

And we're off

And so the journey begins. After the disappointment of not traveling to Britain because of the broken foot episode last year I have been looking forward to finally getting there and the day has come.

The flight is the thing I have been looking forward to the least, it is such a long flight and being cooped up for over 24 hours just seems a  waste of time frankly and a form of first world torture. I’m flying Royal Brunei Airlines and so we go via Brunei (stop for two and a half hours and change planes) then Dubai (hour and fifteen minutes refuel) and into London at 6.00 am.

The first leg was relatively painless with the plane not heavily booked. There was me and a young guy in three seats and I benevolently pointed out to him an empty row which he moved  to once we were mid air. Nice to have the three seats to myself. Service was friendly and attentive and first meal came within about an hour of us setting off. 

Amazing, breathtaking scenery of the red centre and north of Australia, red and flat and seemingly endless, wonderful to see.

Into Bandar Seri Begwin early which means sitting around in the airport lounge even longer. Plus the airport is ‘under renovation’ so only a few dull shops and one coffee shop which of course had a long queue, oh fun for nearly four hours!  Plus quell horreur the toilets are the squat type. I am anatomically and psychologically in capable of using such things (not to mention barely able to breathe in them) so one had to be creative in ways to use them and or make do/hold on. Not a great first impression of the place frankly but time dragged and eventually passed before we were herded through security and onto the plane leaving nearly an hour late.

New plane is bright and comfortable and again just two of us in the row so we can spread out a little. We were treated to a lovely bit of theatre with a large group of Indonesians who took quite a bit of time finding their seats,changing them, getting confused, realizing they had to put things in the overheads, changing seats again and generally causing mayhem and much mirth. Never seen anything like it, both hilarious and frustrating. It was clear many of them had never flown before so even a bit cute. They were all off to an Islamic conference in Dubai. With the musical chairs one just wonders if disaster had befallen us how they’d identify anyone by where they were sitting…

Dubai looks lovely at night with the lights and spread out ‘city’, fascinated by the eight (ie 16) lane highways. The airport also amazing and would have loved to look around but because we were running late we had 15 minutes after getting off to then get back into the boarding gate and go through a tiresome security check. This is if course because they obviously doubt their own ability to prevent security issues in their airport from the time one gets off a plane to go and reboard the same plane…am I the only one who thinks that odd?

So by now I'd been 'on the road' for 19 hours and still had seven to go but at least the greatest part of the trip was behind us all. Geez I was tired though!

It's those long stretches when you just can't watch another movie, or can't hear the soundtrack of the one you would quite like to watch, the food has taken a pause (while, in my case, the wind kicks in), You can't focus well enough to read anymore of your book and those micro naps are just putting your neck out rather than relaxing you. And each time you look at the time the time seems to be going the slowest its gone since you were counting the hours until Santa came.

At 7.00 am we touched down at Heathrow in heavy fog and TWO degrees. The queue at immigration was terrifyingly long but it took a mere fifteen minutes to get through. The baggage claim was another matter, being one of the first to check in of course dictates your bags will be the last and thus it was but out through the green line with barely a glance.

I checked into the Yotel cabin hotel at Terminal 4 to freshen up and relax before it was time to head into Paddington and check into my real hotel. Call it a cabin? That's what it was. The bed was up so high you needed a step to climb up (and I would not have liked to have been much heavier as the step was pretty flimsy).

Happy to be back in London, to be where it's cold and to be waiting for the adventure to come.