A "Gruesome" Weekend !!
The weekend before last my sister and youngest nephew, Inigo, came to stay with us for a couple of nights to see us, and do a little sight-seeing and museum visiting.... the schools were on half-term holiday for the week.
On the Sunday I met them at the train station and off we went to the Spitalfields area of London, my sister has long wanted to visit Dennis Severs house but as it's normally open for a fairly short time only on Sunday afternoons and Monday lunchtimes we'd never managed it previously. As I've been twice I baby-sat their bags and had a hot chocolate at a local Carluccio's cafe, I sat outside and people-watched and this bicycle get a sticker from the area's security "team" (!!), turns out the owner was having lunch inside with his boyfriend.......
and then we met up after and went to have a look around Spitalfields market. One of the stall-holders had reall got into the Halloween spirit................ even the soup was orange-coloured...my guess pumpkin !
I say "gruesome" because on the Monday we went to the Museum of London, spent quite a time looking around but in particular visited the special exhibition Inigo was keen on seeing.....................
It was fascinating whilst disturbing at the same time, but he loved it ! There is a big perspex wall with a marker to add your comments at the end.... mine was "need a large brandy now!"
A old lead coffin featuring a special bolt mechanism which locked from inside ! which apparently meant the lid couldn't be levered off by body-snatchers
A replica fireman's helmet and bucket from the time of the Great Fire of London....... both were really, really heavy and we would not have liked to have had to wear and use them in any situation let alone the heat of a fire ! .....and a bouncing nephew in front of a lovely clock.
Then it was off to find the relics of a medieval monastery "Magpie Alley Crypt" off Fleet Street....... Turns out to be visible through a window in the basement of a modern office block... a tiny (fake) candle burns night and day.... it was disappointing to say the least, but as we turned to walk back up the stairs to street level a back light switched on, so we did see the remains a little more clearly.
From there we walked down to the river in search of a cup of tea....... but ended up taking one of the fast river boats to Greenwich as although it was almost dark, and wet, the lights were coming on and everything looked very atmospheric....we got a bit wetter, then treated ourselves to hot chocolate near the Cutty Sark before taking the DLR then a bus home.
More "Gruesome-ness to follow.....................
On the Sunday I met them at the train station and off we went to the Spitalfields area of London, my sister has long wanted to visit Dennis Severs house but as it's normally open for a fairly short time only on Sunday afternoons and Monday lunchtimes we'd never managed it previously. As I've been twice I baby-sat their bags and had a hot chocolate at a local Carluccio's cafe, I sat outside and people-watched and this bicycle get a sticker from the area's security "team" (!!), turns out the owner was having lunch inside with his boyfriend.......
and then we met up after and went to have a look around Spitalfields market. One of the stall-holders had reall got into the Halloween spirit................ even the soup was orange-coloured...my guess pumpkin !
I say "gruesome" because on the Monday we went to the Museum of London, spent quite a time looking around but in particular visited the special exhibition Inigo was keen on seeing.....................
It was fascinating whilst disturbing at the same time, but he loved it ! There is a big perspex wall with a marker to add your comments at the end.... mine was "need a large brandy now!"
A old lead coffin featuring a special bolt mechanism which locked from inside ! which apparently meant the lid couldn't be levered off by body-snatchers
A replica fireman's helmet and bucket from the time of the Great Fire of London....... both were really, really heavy and we would not have liked to have had to wear and use them in any situation let alone the heat of a fire ! .....and a bouncing nephew in front of a lovely clock.
Then it was off to find the relics of a medieval monastery "Magpie Alley Crypt" off Fleet Street....... Turns out to be visible through a window in the basement of a modern office block... a tiny (fake) candle burns night and day.... it was disappointing to say the least, but as we turned to walk back up the stairs to street level a back light switched on, so we did see the remains a little more clearly.
From there we walked down to the river in search of a cup of tea....... but ended up taking one of the fast river boats to Greenwich as although it was almost dark, and wet, the lights were coming on and everything looked very atmospheric....we got a bit wetter, then treated ourselves to hot chocolate near the Cutty Sark before taking the DLR then a bus home.
More "Gruesome-ness to follow.....................