A day in the City

Today we were up early to catch a train to London, so we could visit my late Aunty's very oldest friend, B. They first met at infants' school, and B  has lived in the Barbican for the past 52 years. We hadn't seen her since my Aunty's funeral, a year ago, and had never been to her flat. This is the view from her lounge window, looking towards Guildhall  School of Music and Drama, and a residents' private garden, across the lake, where today there were a number of mallard ducks and one cormorant. B was pleased to see us and we enjoyed seeing her. I had always wanted to see inside the residential part of the Barbican. It feels  very quiet and safe there, with the lake always providing interest. Sadly, B's  husband has recently had to go into a care home, so it's a worrying  time for her.
After coffee and a chat with her, we went on to the nearby Ironmongers'  Hall where we were joining about 30 other members of our livery company for lunch. See first extra for a view of the Banqueting Hall as people were beginning to gather. (There were two other groups also dining there today as it is the Monday Luncheon Club.) The hall was rebuilt in1925 in "Tudor style" with wood panelling. There are discreet representations throughout  the building, of salamanders, which in legend are supposed to be able  to endure fire, and have been chosen as the symbol of the Ironmongers' Company.
After a most convivial lunch, with some old, very good,  friends, we  walked back to Waterloo, to catch our train home. The second extra shows the view from the South  Bank looking downstream with the Millennium bridge in the foreground.