St. Pauls and the London Museum - February 10

This morning up early and Skyped my son and family back in NZ. Had breakfast later, at about eight. A bit of a mistake as the place was full and noisy, but still the buffet had plenty for everyone. After breakfast planned my day--my first trip on the underground and a visit to St. Pauls.

Left about ten for Marble Arch tube station, just around the corner--down two flights of stairs and the onto an escalator. Moving stairs, on a 45 degree slope, disappearing into the depths. At the bottom a series of  gates. Flashed my Oyster card and a set of gates opened and through I went. I knew I need to go westbound on the Central Line and I found on platform two a straight line map showing all the station to St. Paul and beyond. I was in tunnel with black hole to my left and right, a single rail track and a very narrow platform. Suddenly a roar followed by a strong wind then a train rushed out of the tunnel to my left and screeched to a stop in front of the me. The train and tunnel appeared to be the same size. The doors opened and everyone rushed in then doors quickly closed and we were off. I was hanging onto one of the poles trying desperately to keep my balance against the acceleration. The train was packed. This was 10 am, I would hate to see what rush hour was like. Off I went westward with a nice lady continually telling everyone the final destination and the next station--Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Holbourn, Chancery Lane, and St. Pauls where I got off. Again a narrow platform then the gates where with a wave your Oyster card they opened and let you through. Up two very steep and long escalators and I was in daylight again. What a way to travel, extremely fast and efficient.

Now across the road and around the corner I was at rear end of the cathedral. A bit of wind was blowing, the temperature was seven degrees and it was cold. I walked around to the front climbed the stairs and there it was--a notice saying no visitors today as it was Ash Wednesday. So I walked a couple hundred metres up the road to the London Museum

 

.A museum well worth the visit and like most museums over here, free. After seeing all about London from the year dot to the present and future I had sandwich and a drink of homemade lemonade in one of the cafes. The one encircled by a text screen providing all sorts of facts about London and the people that live there.

 Outside the museum was part of  the old Roman wall that was unknown until uncovered by the German bombs dropped during WW 11.

Now with time to spare I picked up a London Cab to the bottom of Charingcross Road to visit some second hand book shops. I didn't buy any thing but took a photograph some expensive books.

Nine of the books here added up to about 4000 pounds

From here I walked back to the hotel and clocked up a record of 9019 steps. At the hotel I had a large cider and some popcorn before going up to my room and having a bit of nap. I felt I deserved it as today I went on The Tube, ridden in a London Cab, visited books shops in Charingcross, saw part of the old London Wall, and nearly got into St. Pauls. Pretty good for one day!

Shopping in London - February 9

After a later breakfast this morning I headed down Oxford Street to Marks & Spencer for some shopping. I was after couple of jerseys and  a umbrella. After seeing some interesting  items I thought I would check out Selfridges, in the next block, before buying. What a silly idea. The men's floor was large open area with everything laid out by brand name. To look for jerseys for example you had to traverse all the brand name sections across the first floor--a floor that covered a whole city block. In the end I ask salesman where could I find a sleeveless jersey and he told me a particular section right across the other side of the building. So off I went got to the other side I couldn't find it. So I asked another sales person. They didn't know. I did eventually find it. Ask the sales person there and was told they only had summer clothes. To which I replied "Well as it 7 degrees outside and I think it's winter." Only to be told "It' summer in here."

So back to M&S where everything was laid out in clothing items. Ask a man with tape around his neck what was my size. To be told "Sad to say sir, but your are XXL."
"That's alright" I replied "I have been working on it for long time."

I tried on a XXL jersey and it fitted. So I picked out two jerseys, a sleeveless jumper, a scarf, and a small umbrella. Took them up to the counter and paid by Visa card. Put the card in the machine, it flashed up a message "Remove you card and give it to the cashier." The thought went through my head something was wrong with card and nice man behind the counter was going to chop it up. But no, here in England they do not use pin numbers the cashier needed to use the card to check my signature on the receipt.

Two jerseys,a scarf, and an umbrella

 To finish up with, here at the hotel I have a very new and modern bathroom, but the hole in the toilet seat is interesting. The phrase a round peg in square hole seems to spring to mind.

London sight seeing - Feburary 8

Up early this morning for a 7.55am pickup. Down to the Victoria Bus Station and by 9 am we were of on a morning tour of London. A tour around central London seeing The Palace, Westminster  Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament and lots of other places. Walking up to the front of Buckingham Palace and seeing the guards being changed. Guards not in bright red uniforms, but in more suitable grey winter coats--it was 10 degrees with a cold wind blowing.

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palce

Later the bus stopped and we  walked across the Mall to see the changing of the Horse Guards. Two sets of guards mounted on horses sat facing each other,without moving, for thirty minutes. Then the old guard returned to barracks and the new guard stayed on to guard a castle that no longer exists.. As our guide said "Not very interesting", but it was colourful and worth a few pictures.

Changing of the Horse Guards on the parade ground used for Trooping the Colour

Later walking down the Mall, on the way back to the bus, one of our group took my photo so I could prove I have been to London

In front of statues of George 6 and Elizabeth,the queen mother to be.

Finally two modes transport, possibly miles apart in there speed capability?

I arrive in London - February 7

A little after seven in the morning we touched down at Heathrow to a temperature of seven degrees. This wouldn't have mattered as I expected I would walk off the plane through the connecting tunnel into a warm airport. Pass through immigration, collect my bag then take my coat and scarf out of the outside pocket and be ready to head outside.  No way!  The plane stopped somewhere miles from the terminal. We had to descend to the ground via some steep steps mounted on top of a ute and get into one of the fleet of buses waiting on the tarmac. All this in my shirt sleeves!  The we drove for miles through tunnels and narrow roads. I started to think we must have landed in Southampton.

Anyway I got into the terminal, passed through customs, got my bag, put on my coat and met up with my lift to the Hotel Amba at Marble Arch.  An extremely modern hotel with friendly staff that made you feel welcomed. Made an appointment with the Insight tour for 3 pm and then went up to my room unpacked and grabbed a couple hours sleep. At three kept my appointment with the tour director and learnt about the bus tour on Monday over a glass of beer. Later I had a meal and was in bed by 5.30 pm and slept through to six the next morning

Transit Hong Kong - February 6

It is 11.30 here in Hong Kong and still two hours to go before I lift off for London. That is 4.30 am tomorrow NZ time. I know this because although I have set my mobile to HK time my watch is still on NZ time. I am using my watch to track my pill taking and mobile for my calendar and alarm to make sure I don't miss my plane. 

I am spending my transit time in a paid lounge here at the airport. Started of with a shower and then a light meal and a drink. At moment I am sitting in a tub chair in cosy lounge area looking out into the dark, through glass wall, to some parked planes. The roof above me and extending behind me can also be seen reflected in the glass.

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I leave for London - February 6

Early this morning I flew from my home town,Palmerston North, to Auckland. Here to board a two stage  Cathy Pacific flight to London. A flight with a four hour stopover in Hong Kong and a change of planes.

The weather had cooled bit from the 32 degrees on Wednesday to around  22. Blair and Jessie picked me up just after eight and dropped me off at the airport. As I was early, as usual, they waited around to see me checked in and left me to it. Checkin or self checking was interesting especially when I discovered I was checked all the way to London. Something I didn't expect seeing I was travelling on two different airlines.

Cafe at Palmerston North Airport

Good flight Auckland--misty rain and 22 degrees. Looking at the departure board for my gate number and all I see is "Relax"

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I am Travelling Again

Just a few months ago I found that Probus had a new travel insurance that relied on your doctor's say so, rather than a computer-based medical questionnaire that I always failed.  Now I have Travel Insurance and a booked trip to England. Not only am I traveling but I have restarted my research on Scott's Northern Party. Research I stopped because I could not travel to Cambridge to access the original diaries I needed.

Now back to the trip; I am heading to England in just 11 days. Spending a week in London sightseeing, then two weeks in Cambridge at Scott Polar Research Institute, SPRI, continuing my research. Ten, seven hour days going through diaries and photographs. Hope I can cope. I have been retired for sixteen years and a full day's work, day after day, is something I only remember from my distant past.  After Cambridge, and on the way home, I will be having four days in Hong Kong.

I know it is winter in England with temperatures around twelve degrees, but for two weeks in Cambridge, I will be indoors. Hong Kong looks better at twenty degrees--better than the 38+ the last time I was there.  This time, I won't need to walk from one air-conditioned shop to the next just to keep cool.

London weather for the next week