Shard view

Very belated backblipping....

Mum and I packed up and checked out of the hotel this morning, then wandered over to the Shard - and then around the block because we were early (unheard of!)  Went up to the viewing deck after that though, and it was the perfect day for it (for the views at least, not so much for photos) - blue skies and sunshine.  Spent ages up there, and then remembered our tickets also covered the open-air viewing deck - but when we got up there we were told it wasn't open.  We weren't really too worried as we felt like we'd already got our money's worth - but when we got out of the first set of elevators on the way down, a member of staff told us to go to the ticket desk and we would be given return tickets.  So we did and they did!  Now we/I can go back again for free in the next three months - ace!

Had some lunch at Borough Market after that, and then headed back to the car to start the drive back to Somerset.  I thought we'd be ok setting off around 3pm on a Tuesday, but West London had other ideas.  We got stuck for aaages around Sloane Square and it took us a couple of hours to get out of London.  There was some sort of incident on the M4, too - which we'd been heading for - so then we had to change track and head for the M3 instead.  For the last hour or two of the journey, the weather was atrocious, and of course it was pitch black, so it was hard-going.  Eventually got back to Mum's 6 hours after setting out.  Had a quick - and much needed - brandy, unpacked the car and headed off to bed.