Lock

In preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games, the Lee Valley in London underwent a massive clean-up to transform it from a polluted industrial area into a world-class sporting venue. The project involved the removal of vast quantities of industrial waste, contaminated soil, and derelict buildings, followed by work to restore the river and surrounding habitats. All of this, new wetlands, and the planting of thousands of new trees resulted in a significant improvement to the area and an Olympic legacy for East London.

Last April, we planned to take a boat tour, but torrential rain meant flooding, and, somewhat ironically, the boats could not sail. Today, at 1:30 pm, we boarded a full boat to cruise the River Lee. Departing from the Olympic Park in front of the new waterfront cultural buildings (V&A, BBC, etc.), we sailed on a loop, looking at the revitalised waterways, the Olympic buildings, and the latest developments still taking place. We even passed Old Ford Lock, once home to the Big Breakfast TV show.

The boat was a little basic, but they served some drinks, the commentary was informative from a knowledgeable guide, and it was a lot of fun. When we’d completed the voyage, we had a coffee in Westfield, found the limited-edition Lulu Guinness Tote Bag that PY’s been trying to find as a present, and made our way to central London.

Dinner was a quick pizza in the Pizza Express on Haymarket, which was moderately busy for an early evening. And we were off to the Crazy Coqs for another Sunday night cabaret: Pride at The Musicals. The highlight for me was the group version of Seasons of Love (although YMCA, Vogue, and the I’m Coming Out finale were all crowd-pleasers).