I find it depressing that there have been so many British casualties as a result of 'accidents' and 'friendly fire'. But I won't say more because I don't have any knowledge to make any sensible comments.
Today was our second attempt to spend a day in Richmond. We got up at a reasonable time and were on a bus to London well before twelve. It was pretty hairy walking across Westminster Bridge. Bloody tourists.
We went to Westminster Pier but realised to our disappointment that there are no boat trips to Richmond in the winter. Winter? This is spring. I tried the Tfl wap site for information but it was useless on boats. I really need to get my mobile internetting sorted.
I suggested we went to Waterloo Station to get a train to Richmond; Jimmy suggested checking out the boats at Waterloo Pier. We strolled along Victoria Embankment, which was surprisingly deserted. We crossed by Hungerford Bridge, which I haven't been across since it was rebuilt. Being a blogger I stopped from time to time to take photos which may turn out really arty or really crap.
We found that there were no boats to Richmond from Waterloo, either, so we kind of abandoned the idea and went for a walk instead.
We strolled along the South Bank, something we haven't done since last year. It was a lovely day for a riverside stroll. Around the London Eye is very touristy, with a lot of people from overseas and out of town, but from Hungerford to Blackfriars is mainly Londoners. We lunched in the Doggett by Blackfriars Bridge, then onwards to the Millennium Bridge. We agreed that on one rainy Sunday we'll do Tate Modern.
We crossed the Millennium Bridge pausing to admire the architecture developing there - with the new bridges, and Ken's Palace, and the Gherkin (which I recently discovered is visible from Brixton Hill) - it brings an exciting contrast with the splendid classical form of St Pauls.
We went in St Pauls - neither of us has ever been in our life. Being a Sunday, it wasn't great for site-seeing, but we stayed for a bit of Evensong. As we sat on the steps outside I reflected on the numbers of people down the centuries who had come to this church, or its predecessors, to pray for peace in time of war.
When we were bored with Evensong we strolled through the deserted streets of the City to Postman's Park. I am trying to recall which blogger drew this to my attention just before the Blogmeet. I will post photos in due course, hopefully before the end of the month.
We travelled back from Barbican via Moorgate and change at Aldgate East for a District Line train, bound for...Richmond. But we got off at Embankment for coffee, and went home. We will get to Richmond this year, I promise. Or die trying.
