London Life #3

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What a great day! Perfect weather; lovely temperature, perfect lighting for photographs, good company in a fellow photographer… a great day to have a last trip up to London!

Today I walked from SW7 to W1 which for any of you who know me personally will know that is quite a big thing! G coped really well too. We drove into London to take advantage of free parking on a Sunday. G has wanted to go to Speakers Corner so that worked out really well. A great walk from Queens Gate, past the Royal Albert Hall, through Hyde Park, down Oxford Street and then through some unknown streets to us – into Hanover Square (the columns are of St George Church), then walked the length of Savile Row. We were heading for Rupert Street in the West End to dine at an Italian Restaurant but discovered it has gone out of business! There you go. Bella Italia did us a great meal instead.

Walked up Carnaby Street after lunch. G wanted me to see it. It had some interesting things (figures of the Queen) the best of which is that it starts off near Liberty. That was more exciting; so we popped in there mainly to have a look at their Outdoor Living section. Liberty’s is SUCH an interesting store – just for its architecture if not its content. [There are a four pictures in my collage.]

Walked down Regent Street for a bit before jumping on a Number 3 bus to Trafalgar Square. Enough walking already. ;) It was nice to see it in the sun… not too many people to negotiate thankfully. We popped into the Portrait Gallery and looked at the 2013 BP Awards; then dashed into St. Martin’s in the Field but er, missed their last service and the opportunity to have a cup of tea in the Crypt. Walked to the Strand, briefly into the Savoy and then caught a Number 9 bus towards Kensington.

We’d already decided to go to the evening service at Holy Trinity Brompton and you would not believe this, but sitting right behind us on this very packed bus, was another lady doing just the same! So we got off on the stop she did and walked with her. A 2 hour service which finished at 9pm; the lady next to G chatted a lot with her and even prayed with her, so we didn’t leave till much later. Short walk back to the car past the V&A and Natural History Museum (pictured in the night) and then, we had a drive through in London in the night! That was exciting!

We headed towards the Shard as G said she wanted to see it. The route from Kensington took us to the A4 through Knightsbridge, on Constitution Hill, along the Mall, back to Trafalgar Square and then down Victoria Embankment to . . . London Bridge(!!!) - which on the GPS is actually the A3 – just the road we needed to bring us right back to Guildford. SO COOL!

Got back around 11:30 to find the park in complete darkness. Entered the Lodge and there was actually a power cut so called the 24 hour Helpline to discover they were not aware of it and we were the first people to report the incident!!! Now, I know the British don’t like to complain, but not alerting the Maintenance team about a power cut?? Apparently, our water doesn’t work if there is no electricity. I should think someone would miss not having it!

Downloaded my pics – over 200 of them. I could have stayed up to do my blip but decided to go to bed instead! My last two days here before heading back to Dubai. Taking pictures here has been an absolute pleasure. You just can’t go wrong with the clear days and (often) gorgeous lighting. I shall REALLY miss it!

Sorry this has been a rather long journal entry!