Other lovely London things

National Portrait Gallery
I love this place.  I could wander in and out to my heart's content here. So much to see and learn and it's free.
Emma has this knack of being able to "find things" just at the precise time we arrive at a place. When we trotted along to the Gallery - after J and I had a leisurely walk ( rather than bus or tube) from Holborn, had coffee ( of course), been on our surprise tour of ENO, we entered at precisely the time of the "talk of the day".  Emma immediately declared it would be "so interesting".  In my mind I was thinking "so boring" but we went along and it was fascinating.  The talk was about George Canning who has many distinctions ( and indiscretions) associated with his life but he was and remains, Britain's shortest serving PM.  

George's painting was surrounded by other paintings of his contemporaries (and foe) and the volunteer (yeh for volunteers!) who delivered the 20 minute talk made it very interesting and enjoyable.

(We also liked the collapsible seating provided for those of us who were listening to this "impart of knowledge".  Such a fascinating way to learn about people and the influences they had on others.)

After we went on our private wander - including, of course, seeing the Tudors- I declared "I could easily live in London".

There would be an ever so slight impediment to this. You need to have £ in the bank ( many) if you are just going to spend £ ( and not earn £).  Such tiresome trivialities always seem to get in the way of whims, don't they? 

 I am going to win Lotto though - even if it is Aussie $, I'll take it as "a sign"!

Westminster Abbey

I know in Europe you end up seeing so many Cathedrals and Churches and Castles etc that you end up being "cathedral- ed" out and almost cry if someone suggests going into yet another ornate, huge structure.  This however, is the start of our trip and I thought I may as well see Westminister Abbey.  J wasn't at all interested and even though I knew it was "the other mob" and "not my lot" who look after this, Emma and I booked on the tour.

Would you believe we had just entered, when eagle eyes Emma noted that for a little extra, a tour with a verger was starting in less than five minutes?

Even though we were "with the other mob", I'd say it was a "God's will" moment that we booked on this tour. This delightful ( I am sounding very English aren't I?) man made the tour one of the most enjoyable, entertaining and informative tours I have ever been on.  Not only this but calm and friendly manner in which he told people (either on his tour or not) 

1.to put the lens cap on their camera, turn off their mobile phone - because photos weren't allowed; or

2 while people ( hanger ons) might like to join the tour, this group was full but others were welcome to join another group by going and signing up; and

3 responded/ assisted others as required as "our group" weaved our way through the Abbey.

I left early as we had arranged to meet "the other J" and the tour was still going.  Emma stayed for the whole entertaining 90 minutes and at the end "suggested" to our delightful leader that she may have seen him before......... (I knew nothing!). 

Emma recalled that at the end of the last Royal Wedding after the official TV broadcast had finished, the cameras continued rolling and there they found a verger doing cartwheels down the aisle.  Was it our man?  "Yes!    Because everything had gone so perfectly "and he felt like showing how happy he was.

Fancy that!

The suit

For my wrap up of London this time, I've selected a photo with a sign that J quite liked.  ( I happen to like suits by the way!). The sign says  'The suit is dead"