Thursday, 1 November 2007
She's baaaaaack!!
Well, after my sabbatical from gainful employment, and a small technological glitch causing me to lose access to the internet, I am delighted to announce that I am back online! Thank you all for your concerned emails about the status of my heartbeat - yes, I am alive and well. I will now be able to return to the serious business of dazzling you all with my sparkling wit and repartee regarding my many and varied travelling adventures...lucky you! You can expect the first instalment in a day or two. No doubt you are already giddy with anticipation...
Friday, 24 August 2007
Young and vital?
Friday 24 August
Well, after my night on the floorboards on Saturday, and my afternoon of defiance sitting in the rain in Trafalgar Square on Tuesday, I've managed to get sick AGAIN. This is the third time in the nine weeks I've been here. This place is surely a cesspool of contagion. I'm considering popping in to the local hospital to ask them to check if I have The Plague. It's possible...I've seen the little tube mice scurrying around after all...filthy vermin.
Anyway, I've spent the last few days at home, inside, away from the miserable cold and rain (what the HELL happened to Summer???) for the purposes of a decent convalescence. I've started reading the latest (and last) Harry Potter, watched a few movies, and generally rested (with one or two power naps for good measure).
I'm planning to attend the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend (for approximately 10 minutes, which I expect will be about how long I'll be able to cope with the insane crowds) and if the weather permits, a BBQ on Monday (a public holiday here).
Well, after my night on the floorboards on Saturday, and my afternoon of defiance sitting in the rain in Trafalgar Square on Tuesday, I've managed to get sick AGAIN. This is the third time in the nine weeks I've been here. This place is surely a cesspool of contagion. I'm considering popping in to the local hospital to ask them to check if I have The Plague. It's possible...I've seen the little tube mice scurrying around after all...filthy vermin.
Anyway, I've spent the last few days at home, inside, away from the miserable cold and rain (what the HELL happened to Summer???) for the purposes of a decent convalescence. I've started reading the latest (and last) Harry Potter, watched a few movies, and generally rested (with one or two power naps for good measure).
I'm planning to attend the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend (for approximately 10 minutes, which I expect will be about how long I'll be able to cope with the insane crowds) and if the weather permits, a BBQ on Monday (a public holiday here).
Another Gallery...
Tuesday 21 August I finally made it to the National Portrait Gallery. I spent a few good hours perusing through the exhibitions, the most interesting ones being the Tudor Galleries and the other suitably old stuff. The special Princess of Wales exhibition was a bit of a let down - only about 10 photos showing her time as the Princess.
I had come fully prepared with sustenance for the day (and managed to remember my glasses too)...so when I sat down to eat my baguette and orange juice on the only seat I could find which wasn't located in the cafe (the wooden bench in the lift area was far more comfortable and atmospheric anyway), I got a conspirational smile from the geriatric couple who did exactly the same at the other end of the bench, with their poppers and packed sandwiches from home. Taking a closer look, I realised that'll be me in a few short decades...right down to the comfortable shoes and glasses!
After that somewhat confronting episode, I decided to have my afternoon yoghurt snack sitting in Trafalgar Square...in the spitting rain and bitingly cold wind...ah this is the life! Young and vital and what not...
I had come fully prepared with sustenance for the day (and managed to remember my glasses too)...so when I sat down to eat my baguette and orange juice on the only seat I could find which wasn't located in the cafe (the wooden bench in the lift area was far more comfortable and atmospheric anyway), I got a conspirational smile from the geriatric couple who did exactly the same at the other end of the bench, with their poppers and packed sandwiches from home. Taking a closer look, I realised that'll be me in a few short decades...right down to the comfortable shoes and glasses!
After that somewhat confronting episode, I decided to have my afternoon yoghurt snack sitting in Trafalgar Square...in the spitting rain and bitingly cold wind...ah this is the life! Young and vital and what not...
Flash Gordon's!
Sunday 19 August I went to the Royal Festival Hall to see the World Press Photo Exhibition, which was ok. There was the obligatory 'expert' present, sharing her wisdom with some poor sap, and to avoid the tedious drivel coming from her mouth, I had to change my route around the exhibition so as not to run into her again.
The highlight of the day was by far Gordon's Wine Bar, (said to be the oldest in London, dating back to 1890) in Villier's Street, near Charing Cross station. The building itself dates back to about 1237, and consists of a fabulous underground low ceilinged vaulted cellar, complete with rickety wooden furniture and only candles in empty wine bottles to light the area. Definitely a place to revisit (pictured).
Losing time in Greenwich
Saturday 18 August I met up with the girls in Greenwich for dinner. Unfortunately, time got away from us (as it seems to do, whether we are at the origin of time or not) and I missed the last DLR home. I spent the night on Lex's bedroom floor (floorboards no less!), but the three of us had a great night and I was up nice and early the next morning to get home in order to be in the city by 10 am. Unfortunately, the universe was against me that day, and due to signalling problems on the DLR, and maintenance on the tube, it took me 1.5 hours to get home...I could have walked it in that time. London's efficient transport system at its finest.
Ye olde London
Wednesday 15 & Thursday 16 August
After a few lazy days of not completing any tourist obligations, I set off to the Museum of London. I spent 5 solid hours in the museum on Wednesday and 6 hours on Thursday. I went on a tour of part of the London Wall ruins (including a section which is under the modern road), a demonstration of a Roman water well, and a Bollywood Brass Band demonstration.
It was an extremely entertaining 2 days (for me) so I'm glad I didn't torture anyone else by making them sit (or stand as the case may be) through the entire 2 days while I read every single exhibit explanation in the museum. The exhibitions included "London Before London" - which showed artefacts from 450,000 BC to 50 AD, "Roman London" from 50 AD to 410 AD, then "Medieval London" from 410 to 1558 and a special exhibition "London Burning - the Great Fire of London 1666".
After a few lazy days of not completing any tourist obligations, I set off to the Museum of London. I spent 5 solid hours in the museum on Wednesday and 6 hours on Thursday. I went on a tour of part of the London Wall ruins (including a section which is under the modern road), a demonstration of a Roman water well, and a Bollywood Brass Band demonstration.
It was an extremely entertaining 2 days (for me) so I'm glad I didn't torture anyone else by making them sit (or stand as the case may be) through the entire 2 days while I read every single exhibit explanation in the museum. The exhibitions included "London Before London" - which showed artefacts from 450,000 BC to 50 AD, "Roman London" from 50 AD to 410 AD, then "Medieval London" from 410 to 1558 and a special exhibition "London Burning - the Great Fire of London 1666".
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Kew Gardens
Sunday 12 August
After the glorious warm, sunny weather on Saturday (which I missed a sizeable chunk of being inside the gallery), I was anticipating another beautiful day on Sunday for our visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, in Kew, South West of London. Alas, the sun was a little shy, and the weather not quite as good as it could have been. However, it did not detract from the beautiful gardens...all 300 acres of them!
We went on a free guided walking tour (considering the £12.25 admission fee, we were going to get something out of it!) for an hour which was a great introduction to the gardens, and a few pieces of interesting information we otherwise would not have known.
We visited the Temperate House, the Pagoda (a 10 storey octagonal building with each storey reducing in height and diameter), walked through the Ruined Arch (built to look ruinous...but now a little more ruinous than when it was built in 1759), past the Palm House (which closed before we could go in...ditto for the Princess of Wales Conservatory), through the Duke's Garden, past the Wollemi Pine in its cage, completely missed the Secluded Garden (perhaps not easily seen?) and into the Queen's Garden - the highlight of the day!
The Queen's Garden is a 17th century style garden situated behind Kew Palace. The plants are those exclusively grown before the 17th century, primarily for their medicinal qualities. The plants were labelled with their traditional uses, as outlined in 17th century herbals. An example: Blue Comfrey - 'the slimie substance of the root made in a posset of ale, and given to drinke against the pain in the backe, gotten by any violent motion, as wrestling, or overmuch use of women'. A handy one to note...
After the glorious warm, sunny weather on Saturday (which I missed a sizeable chunk of being inside the gallery), I was anticipating another beautiful day on Sunday for our visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, in Kew, South West of London. Alas, the sun was a little shy, and the weather not quite as good as it could have been. However, it did not detract from the beautiful gardens...all 300 acres of them!
We went on a free guided walking tour (considering the £12.25 admission fee, we were going to get something out of it!) for an hour which was a great introduction to the gardens, and a few pieces of interesting information we otherwise would not have known.
We visited the Temperate House, the Pagoda (a 10 storey octagonal building with each storey reducing in height and diameter), walked through the Ruined Arch (built to look ruinous...but now a little more ruinous than when it was built in 1759), past the Palm House (which closed before we could go in...ditto for the Princess of Wales Conservatory), through the Duke's Garden, past the Wollemi Pine in its cage, completely missed the Secluded Garden (perhaps not easily seen?) and into the Queen's Garden - the highlight of the day!
The Queen's Garden is a 17th century style garden situated behind Kew Palace. The plants are those exclusively grown before the 17th century, primarily for their medicinal qualities. The plants were labelled with their traditional uses, as outlined in 17th century herbals. An example: Blue Comfrey - 'the slimie substance of the root made in a posset of ale, and given to drinke against the pain in the backe, gotten by any violent motion, as wrestling, or overmuch use of women'. A handy one to note...
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