Woodcut

annejohn and I spent a happy few hours exploring the area round the Barbican and Clerkenwell.  We listened to the organist practicing Bach (Wachet auf, I think) in St Giles Cripplegate, and admired the Michael Ayrton sculpture of the Minotaur in St Alphage Garden in front of the Roman wall. The Guildhall Art Gallery has some rather worthy paintings, but it also had a wonderful exhibition of work by wood engraver Anne Desmet RA, free and well worth a visit.  The Roman Amphitheatre underneath the Guildhall was full of children in costume re-enacting Roman life. Great St Barts looked as ancient and magnificent as ever, and we glimpsed the other monasteries of Charterhouse, St John's and St Mary's. We wandered round Clerkenwell Green and Close ending up in Exmouth Market.  The excellent Italian where I thought we could have lunch was full of Christmas parties and too noisy to hear yourself think.  So we had a lighter lunch sitting outside a cafe, amazingly it was mild enough to sit out!  annejohn, still full of energy, headed off to the British Museum (the subject of the woodcut) and I came back to the flat to get organised for my Christmas.