I have finally started running on a regular basis again after discovering that English lager packs on weight, along with English breakfasts.
I got groped by a woman while singing at the Karaoke bar last night. She messed up my tail. It would have been better had she been cute :^)
Did visit a few cycle shops. I will give a report when I get home.
Also discovered that I CAN live without this forum for a few days.
Ta Ta for now.
Holy shit, forgot you were in the country! Are you still in England now?
Are you in London? I love London… One of my favorite cities. Super fun.
If you are in London be certain to see the MI6 Headquarters on Vauxhall near the Embankment by the Vauxhall Bridge. This is the home of the Secret Intelligence Service, the real unit to which the fictional character Jame Bond, Agent 007, was attached.
It is a breathtaking modern building that dominates the skyline inthat part of London and looks completely out of place with its angular modern architechture. i don’t think there are any public tours, but just getting near it and seeing some of the figures coming and going is facinating.
And obviously, a trip to London wouldn;t be complete without a shopping sojourn to Harrod’s and the (about a million) other awesome stores there. Great Indian resturants in the area too. There is a lot to do.
Tom, naturally there are no guided tours, but it was kind of funny when the SECRET service building was photographed in the national newspaper over the Stella Rimmington affair!
I was going to just post a couple of things to do, but this came up a couple of weeks ago in another forum I participate in, so I’ll just drop it in here what I suggested to someone who was looking for good things to do there.
Ever climbed to the top of St Pauls? You can walk around outside the little bit at the top. Great views of London, you can really see the mix of the old and the new. Imagine what it was like to be the lookout person there during the blitz.
Picnic at speakers corner. Take wine.
national gallery with cdrom tour. They ask for a 5 quid donation. It’s worth loads more. I know nothing about art and spent 2 hours just amazed at all the information it had (I wish I had more time), it’s like hiring your own private art expert to explain the painters, genres, techniques and reasoning. Did you know turner painted horses into the clouds on 2 of his paintings, You have to look really closely. Or that there’s a series of paintings that are a morality play starring all the major royals and mp’s of their day (18th century). Stunning. Way better than the regular audio guides that most museums have.
Watch the sun go down from the Greenwich observatory, and see the longitude 0 laser appear as it gets dark. It’s also another good place to visit the museum there, great info on the history of timekeeping. If you’ve read ‘longitude’ you owe it to yourself to see Harrisons clocks.
Definitely take a boat ride up the Thames and see a totally different view of the city.
Keep an eye out for the candelit tours of hampton court, I’ve never managed to be in the country when they’re on, but I’ve been told they’re fabulous.
Have coffee at the Bar Italia on Frith Street in Soho on a sunny Sunday afternoon, buy the sunday times and read it while watching the world go by.
If you’re on a bike, and it’s a nice afternoon, wait till sunset and park on the side of tower bridge, watch the city light up. (used to love doing that when I was dispatching)
Browse portabello market.
At christmas, keep an eye out for free carol concerts in some of the old churches. Lovely.
Go and sit in the middle of westminster abbey. Just sit there for a few minutes. Quietly. Contemplate what has passed since it was built.
If you’re short on adrenaline, cycle down to hyde park corner in the rush hour and see how many times you can go round it before you’re too scared to do it again.
Have tea at the ritz. It’s not cheap. Really, really not cheap. They have the best scones you have ever tasted. No, really they have. With Jam. And clotted cream. As many as you’d like (should be at that price). You’ll need a nice frock or suit, and guys you’re not allowed to take your jacket off while you’re there. Yes, that’s an excuse to go shopping.
Go to the ticket discount place in the west end one evening with a bunch of friends. Buy the cheapest tickets available for a play that night. See something you wouldn’t otherwise go to. Sometimes you’re surprised at how good something else can be, sometimes not.
There’s a few, I’ll think of a few more.
J.