Chilled to the bone

I met Lisa at the Diner in Kensal Rise and enjoyed a wonderful brunch, including the best milkshake I've ever tasted - pistachio flavour - yum!

We didn't leave ourselves much time to get to Kensal Green Cemetery for the 2pm tour, but through some fast power-walking and iPhone map navigation, we got there with minutes to spare. The tour lasted three hours and started down in the catacombs, which are a mix of modern and old internments. Much was made of the catafalque - the device for lowering the coffin from the chapel to the catacomb - since it is still in working order, although it takes at least four "gym bunnies" (muscle men) to work the levers to raise the catafalque back to the floor of the chapel. The terminology of our guide (see "gym bunnies") was greatly entertaining and worked well with the information she imparted.

Above ground were the graves of the Brunel family, the fearless tightrope walker Blondin, J. G. Ballard, Wilkie Collins, Dickens' best friend, Byron's best friend and three members of the royal family, among many others. I'd like to return in spring to see the wildflowers and explore further.

After three hours in the cold, the complimentary tea and biscuits were most welcome. It's been a great day with fabulous company.

Lisa drew my attention to this poem and the last line in particular: The Rolling English Road