Oh dear, I've done it again, haven't I!
Yet again, I've failed miserably at updating here. Sorry! I really do start off with good intentions, but then I think that everything that's happening around these 'ere parts would just be completely boring to everyone else and I end up not bothering...
So, what has been going on Chez Ronnie then? Well, I've had another little holiday in the Smoke! Just a few days to mark the birthday of 'im indoors, but very enjoyable although overshadowed somewhat by the fact that I had a funeral to attend while I was there. My cousin died unexpectedly a few days before our holiday - she was just two years older than me but had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers about five years ago. It was lucky in a way that I'd planned on being in London on the day of the funeral anyway as I don't think I could have afforded the train fare down there if I'd needed to book a ticket at short notice - approximately £200 for a return ticket! Crazy!
We were staying in an apartment just a few minutes walk from the Tower of London so our first port of call once we'd unpacked was a visit to see the display of poppies at the Tower. For those of you who don't know about it, this is an art installation commemorating the British military victims of the First World War. The Tower of London moat is gradually being filled with 888,246 ceramic poppies, one for every life lost. The last poppy will be placed in the moat on 11th November, Armistice Day.
The following day we decided to walk part of the Thames Path, taking in some of the Tall Ships Festival on the way. I also got my first ever close-up view of the Thames Barrier! It seems incredible that the Barrier has been there for over 30 years and yet this was the first time I'd ever got a good look at it!
We decided to take the Thames Clipper back into Central London and as luck would have it our journey coincided exactly with the Tall Ships leaving Greenwich on their seaward journey - we ended up going right through the middle of them and it was stunning!
So, that was more or less my brief London trip. Next one to look forward to is CI5mas at the Great Northern Railway Tavern at the end of November - can't wait!
Oh, and there may be plans in the offing for substantially longer stay in the Smoke in the not-too-distant future. Too soon to say much more about it, but watch this space!
So, what has been going on Chez Ronnie then? Well, I've had another little holiday in the Smoke! Just a few days to mark the birthday of 'im indoors, but very enjoyable although overshadowed somewhat by the fact that I had a funeral to attend while I was there. My cousin died unexpectedly a few days before our holiday - she was just two years older than me but had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers about five years ago. It was lucky in a way that I'd planned on being in London on the day of the funeral anyway as I don't think I could have afforded the train fare down there if I'd needed to book a ticket at short notice - approximately £200 for a return ticket! Crazy!
We were staying in an apartment just a few minutes walk from the Tower of London so our first port of call once we'd unpacked was a visit to see the display of poppies at the Tower. For those of you who don't know about it, this is an art installation commemorating the British military victims of the First World War. The Tower of London moat is gradually being filled with 888,246 ceramic poppies, one for every life lost. The last poppy will be placed in the moat on 11th November, Armistice Day.
The following day we decided to walk part of the Thames Path, taking in some of the Tall Ships Festival on the way. I also got my first ever close-up view of the Thames Barrier! It seems incredible that the Barrier has been there for over 30 years and yet this was the first time I'd ever got a good look at it!
We decided to take the Thames Clipper back into Central London and as luck would have it our journey coincided exactly with the Tall Ships leaving Greenwich on their seaward journey - we ended up going right through the middle of them and it was stunning!
So, that was more or less my brief London trip. Next one to look forward to is CI5mas at the Great Northern Railway Tavern at the end of November - can't wait!
Oh, and there may be plans in the offing for substantially longer stay in the Smoke in the not-too-distant future. Too soon to say much more about it, but watch this space!