I woke reasonably early - 8.15am? And was stirring, when all of a sudden there was a loud knock on the door, the light was turned on, I heard the sound of small feet running, I was rudely shoved, and the small feet beat a hasty retreat. I pretended to be asleep, but got up around 8.45. I showered and dressed, and left around 9.45.
I headed straight to Waterloo, as the weather was again very nice, but found out that the Eye was booked out for the whole day, and the same for Sunday. There were only late night tickets for Saturday left, so I ummed and ahhed for a while, but ended up giving up - I wasn't going to get on the thing.
I walked across the bridge and found Westminster Abbey. I went in to behold the sights, and to see memorials/burial sites of Jane Austen, the Brontes, Chaucer, Handel, Keats, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, and others. (Shakespeare too.)
I wandered down to Whitehall and saw 10 Downing Street (behind large fences), kept walking and I was at Trafalgar Square. I found a sandwich shop and had a smoked salmon and tomato sandwich - it was heavenly - must remember to go back to that Whitehall sandwich shop. I had to hotfoot it to the Palace now for my 2pm appointment.
I marched through St James Park (very nice) and got to the Ambassador Gate in plenty of time. The palace is amazing. I thought I wanted to live in Lyme Park - this is something different. I took my time in each room - imagining genteel life there, balls and dancing and so forth. I also imagined Prince William being there, which he no doubt has been, as we were told that the State Rooms are in constant use by the Queen.
The room that I particularly love - my favourite - is the Music Room. It's used for official receptions, but I think it's just perfect for me to practice in - beautiful wooden floor, high domed ceiling, chandelier, nice and light and airy, with a round bay window configuration out onto the lawn with beautiful afternoon sun. Perfect. Made for me. I don't ask much. . .
Anyway - I bought a guidebook and a really nice pen, and departed. I walked back through St James Park, got a cappuccino, and sat down to think. The park is beautiful - and there are real grey squirrels there - I saw about four of them, they're so gorgeous. I made my plan.
I went back to Waterloo from St James Park tube and got a ticket for a boat ride. I'd really wanted to go to the Dome on the boat, but it takes 2 1/4 hours, making it late and dark by the time I had to go. I settled for a ride to the Tower pier, getting chatted up by a guy at the henna tattoo stall nearby in the process.
The ride was good, I saw a couple of new things. The guy doing the commentary was a scream - he said that one of the rail bridges we went under had the sole purpose of stopping the trains falling into the river. He made some cracks about Queen Victoria, the 'wibbly-wobbly bridge' and the Tate Modern - saying that it's lucky it's free, otherwise no one would go.
I got off at the Tower, deciding to boycott the return journey. I had a look at the Tower from the outside, as it was closed. From Tower tube station, I made the arduous trek out to North Greenwich, to have a look at the Dome after all. I walked a fair way away from it, but still couldn't get a photo I was happy with. Anyway, I can say I've seen it now.
I tubed back to Covent Garden to get some dinner and have a look. I got a crispy bacon and egg (boiled) roll, which was pretty nice. I walked through the Friday night party crowds, through the closed markets, and decided to call it a night.
On the way back, at Finsbury Park station, I assumed my connecting train would be on the platform opposite to the one I got off, as it had always been up until then. It soon became apparent that this wasn't the case, and I started from scratch, looking for the right platform. They all seemed to say Moorgate or King's Cross, which was the opposite direction to the one I wanted. I went to the ticket/waiting room area to ask for help, but I found no one except unsavoury locals. I got back on the tube (it felt safer anyway) and went back to Highbury and Islington, where after first going wrong, was set straight by a staff member, and was pretty bloody lucky to fluke the last train for the night (it was by now 8.30).
I got back to Sarah's and everyone was in bed. I had a shower, crashed and wrote/read. Went to sleep 11.30.
I headed straight to Waterloo, as the weather was again very nice, but found out that the Eye was booked out for the whole day, and the same for Sunday. There were only late night tickets for Saturday left, so I ummed and ahhed for a while, but ended up giving up - I wasn't going to get on the thing.
I walked across the bridge and found Westminster Abbey. I went in to behold the sights, and to see memorials/burial sites of Jane Austen, the Brontes, Chaucer, Handel, Keats, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, and others. (Shakespeare too.)
I wandered down to Whitehall and saw 10 Downing Street (behind large fences), kept walking and I was at Trafalgar Square. I found a sandwich shop and had a smoked salmon and tomato sandwich - it was heavenly - must remember to go back to that Whitehall sandwich shop. I had to hotfoot it to the Palace now for my 2pm appointment.
I marched through St James Park (very nice) and got to the Ambassador Gate in plenty of time. The palace is amazing. I thought I wanted to live in Lyme Park - this is something different. I took my time in each room - imagining genteel life there, balls and dancing and so forth. I also imagined Prince William being there, which he no doubt has been, as we were told that the State Rooms are in constant use by the Queen.
The room that I particularly love - my favourite - is the Music Room. It's used for official receptions, but I think it's just perfect for me to practice in - beautiful wooden floor, high domed ceiling, chandelier, nice and light and airy, with a round bay window configuration out onto the lawn with beautiful afternoon sun. Perfect. Made for me. I don't ask much. . .
Anyway - I bought a guidebook and a really nice pen, and departed. I walked back through St James Park, got a cappuccino, and sat down to think. The park is beautiful - and there are real grey squirrels there - I saw about four of them, they're so gorgeous. I made my plan.
I went back to Waterloo from St James Park tube and got a ticket for a boat ride. I'd really wanted to go to the Dome on the boat, but it takes 2 1/4 hours, making it late and dark by the time I had to go. I settled for a ride to the Tower pier, getting chatted up by a guy at the henna tattoo stall nearby in the process.
The ride was good, I saw a couple of new things. The guy doing the commentary was a scream - he said that one of the rail bridges we went under had the sole purpose of stopping the trains falling into the river. He made some cracks about Queen Victoria, the 'wibbly-wobbly bridge' and the Tate Modern - saying that it's lucky it's free, otherwise no one would go.
I got off at the Tower, deciding to boycott the return journey. I had a look at the Tower from the outside, as it was closed. From Tower tube station, I made the arduous trek out to North Greenwich, to have a look at the Dome after all. I walked a fair way away from it, but still couldn't get a photo I was happy with. Anyway, I can say I've seen it now.
I tubed back to Covent Garden to get some dinner and have a look. I got a crispy bacon and egg (boiled) roll, which was pretty nice. I walked through the Friday night party crowds, through the closed markets, and decided to call it a night.
On the way back, at Finsbury Park station, I assumed my connecting train would be on the platform opposite to the one I got off, as it had always been up until then. It soon became apparent that this wasn't the case, and I started from scratch, looking for the right platform. They all seemed to say Moorgate or King's Cross, which was the opposite direction to the one I wanted. I went to the ticket/waiting room area to ask for help, but I found no one except unsavoury locals. I got back on the tube (it felt safer anyway) and went back to Highbury and Islington, where after first going wrong, was set straight by a staff member, and was pretty bloody lucky to fluke the last train for the night (it was by now 8.30).
I got back to Sarah's and everyone was in bed. I had a shower, crashed and wrote/read. Went to sleep 11.30.
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