Monday, 24 December 2007
staying on your feet...
Ice skating is not really the most natural of things for the average Australian...
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Somerset House on the Strand is currently home to one of a number of temporary rinks across the city, and it provides a most picturesque backdrop...
but... I managed to stay on my feet!
That ice is cold and rather hard upon the back side when one falls upon it!
Somerset House on the Strand is currently home to one of a number of temporary rinks across the city, and it provides a most picturesque backdrop...A couple of weeks ago I spent a delightful hour or so with my new work colleagues on the ice as part of our Christmas party. Thankfully I maintained my dignity and stayed on my feet... despite a couple of very close calls... none of which were caught on film...
Ice skating seems to be a very popular Christmas pastime, and there are rinks at the Natural History Museum, The Tower and various other landmarks.
The Somerset House rink (pictured) sits in a neoclassical courtyard a few feet from the busy Strand. However, stepping through the arches into the court you move away from the bustle of the West End and into a serene space with piped classical music, the rink and most importantly a bar!
Friday, 21 December 2007
school's out
Today was the last day of work for me for the year... and it dawned on me when I got home that it's been a while since I wrote here... almost 2 weeks...
I guess that shows that life has gotten busy... or at least that my days are taken up with work now, which gives me a lot less time to write (and things to write about)
Although I have managed to get out and about a little bit over the last fortnight and will endeavour to complete a new post or two this weekend... since I am on holidays for a few days!
I guess that shows that life has gotten busy... or at least that my days are taken up with work now, which gives me a lot less time to write (and things to write about)
Although I have managed to get out and about a little bit over the last fortnight and will endeavour to complete a new post or two this weekend... since I am on holidays for a few days!
Sunday, 9 December 2007
3 or 59???
Ramblings from Friday 7th December…
The last few days, and Tuesday in particular I have felt a tad homesick...
Up until now I guess I have been busy travelling, seeing sights and generally just taking everything around me.
But this week I have been at work (which in itself is fine) but it has given me more time to think about home, warm weather, beaches and family.
Thankfully there are mornings like today. I got up, had breakfast and shuffled down the stairs to go to the bus stop...
Outside though, the sun was shining, the strong breeze that had been blowing all night had gone and even Waterloo looked a lovely place.
My first big decision loomed...
The No. 3 or the No. 59 bus?
The 59 heads past Waterloo Station and over Waterloo bridge (with its sensational views of the City to the right and the Houses of Parliament to the left) and drops me on the Strand next to Somerset House; I then have a pleasant 3 block stroll to the office. It is probably the quicker of the 2 options.... but as fate would have it... the number 3 came first.
The Number 3 crosses Lambeth Bridge which, I think, gets a bum steer to the favour of Waterloo. True, you look to the left down to Vauxhall - which is nothing spectacular, but to the right you have the Houses of Parliament from the west - which is apparently not the purists preferred view, but for my money is infinitely better ...and, it is a nicer bridge!
The view in not dominated by Big Ben - don't get me wrong Big Ben is very impressive, but it seems that everyone looks at it and forgets the rest of the building... The view from the west puts Victoria Tower (the Sovereigns Entrance to the Parliament) into the foreground - if you look at your standard pic of Parliament, it is the tall bit in the background with the union Jack flying on top; and even gives you a little bit of green in the form of a park along Millbank (the name of which alludes me right now) and the joy of a Rodan's sculpture 'The Burghers of Calais' a copy of which resides in Canberra.
But that is not the real reason the No. 3 cheered me up this morning as I was on the bus as I passed these things and didn't get to stop and look... it was when I got off that I was glad it had come first. After rattling up Whitehall the No.3 drops me off at Trafalgar Square. This morning the sun was shining on Nelson, casting shadows on the enormous Lions at his feet and glinting off the freshly applied gilt on the weather vein on the steeply of St Martin's in the Field (most of which is still hidden under plastic as it undergoes restoration) Everything seemed right with world.
The Square was deserted except for some cleaners - London at 8:15 am is a rather quiet place!. I had the place to myself as I walk across it toward the Charing Cross Station and the Strand. To have Trafalgar Square surrounded by its grand buildings, pretty much to yourself at anytime, let alone in broad daylight on is a rare thing indeed!
...and with the weather forecast for the weekend showing rain wind and cold sunny mornings are to be savoured.
The last few days, and Tuesday in particular I have felt a tad homesick...
Up until now I guess I have been busy travelling, seeing sights and generally just taking everything around me.
But this week I have been at work (which in itself is fine) but it has given me more time to think about home, warm weather, beaches and family.
Thankfully there are mornings like today. I got up, had breakfast and shuffled down the stairs to go to the bus stop...
Outside though, the sun was shining, the strong breeze that had been blowing all night had gone and even Waterloo looked a lovely place.
My first big decision loomed...
The No. 3 or the No. 59 bus?
The 59 heads past Waterloo Station and over Waterloo bridge (with its sensational views of the City to the right and the Houses of Parliament to the left) and drops me on the Strand next to Somerset House; I then have a pleasant 3 block stroll to the office. It is probably the quicker of the 2 options.... but as fate would have it... the number 3 came first.
The Number 3 crosses Lambeth Bridge which, I think, gets a bum steer to the favour of Waterloo. True, you look to the left down to Vauxhall - which is nothing spectacular, but to the right you have the Houses of Parliament from the west - which is apparently not the purists preferred view, but for my money is infinitely better ...and, it is a nicer bridge!
The view in not dominated by Big Ben - don't get me wrong Big Ben is very impressive, but it seems that everyone looks at it and forgets the rest of the building... The view from the west puts Victoria Tower (the Sovereigns Entrance to the Parliament) into the foreground - if you look at your standard pic of Parliament, it is the tall bit in the background with the union Jack flying on top; and even gives you a little bit of green in the form of a park along Millbank (the name of which alludes me right now) and the joy of a Rodan's sculpture 'The Burghers of Calais' a copy of which resides in Canberra.
But that is not the real reason the No. 3 cheered me up this morning as I was on the bus as I passed these things and didn't get to stop and look... it was when I got off that I was glad it had come first. After rattling up Whitehall the No.3 drops me off at Trafalgar Square. This morning the sun was shining on Nelson, casting shadows on the enormous Lions at his feet and glinting off the freshly applied gilt on the weather vein on the steeply of St Martin's in the Field (most of which is still hidden under plastic as it undergoes restoration) Everything seemed right with world.
The Square was deserted except for some cleaners - London at 8:15 am is a rather quiet place!. I had the place to myself as I walk across it toward the Charing Cross Station and the Strand. To have Trafalgar Square surrounded by its grand buildings, pretty much to yourself at anytime, let alone in broad daylight on is a rare thing indeed!
...and with the weather forecast for the weekend showing rain wind and cold sunny mornings are to be savoured.
Monday, 26 November 2007
Back to the grind...
Well... it seems my tourist days are over for the time being.
Today I returned to work.
When it isn't raining and windy the walk to work is rather pleasant... across Waterloo Bridge with its great views up river to the Houses pf Parliament and down toward the City. Plus you get to see the people gawping from the London Eye... there's something I haven't done yet!
Today I returned to work.
When it isn't raining and windy the walk to work is rather pleasant... across Waterloo Bridge with its great views up river to the Houses pf Parliament and down toward the City. Plus you get to see the people gawping from the London Eye... there's something I haven't done yet!
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Wall-to-wall marble and stone
While the sun shone and the new job was still a few days away, I thought it best to continue being tourist and walked to Westminster to tour the Abbey.
If St Paul's is to be admired for its relative unadorned simplicity the first thing that hits you upon entering Westminster Abbey is the shear number of memorials and tombs that line its walls, columns and floors. There does not appear to be spare space for anything... and if the number of new interments (and only if you are cremated) and memorials have slowed to a mere trickle in recent years it is understandable ...the place is full! Even the Kings and Queens of England are now buried at Windsor as there is no more room for them at the Abbey.
I decided that the guided tour was the best option here... there is just too much to do on your own... but at 5GBP (on top of the 10GBP entry!) it is no bargain! But, it does go for 1.5 hours (actually almost 2 hours as our guide was very thorough) and it does take you into the Quire, the Screen and St Edward's Shrine which you can't do unless you do the tour ...andwho wants to miss out on being able to touch the tomb of a Saint! Apparently the only one still in one piece in Europe (the Saint that is...)
St Paul's has some rather special people in its Crypt... but Westminster Abbey can top it...
At the top of the hierarchy are the Royal burial. Besides St Edward the Confessor, there is Edward I (a different Edward) Henry III, Edward III, Richard II, Elizabeth I, her half-sister Mary I and basically all English Kings and Queens up to the end of the 18th century and strangely, buried in amongst them all, is Oliver Cromwell...
Those not quite so royal, but just as interesting, include Charles Darwin (Origin of the Species and place in Westminster Abbey, quite the double act! - but he only got into the Abbey at the insistence of Queen Victoria!), Isaac Newton, Dr Livingston I presume?; all in the Science Corner. Nearby in Poet's Corner is Chaucer, Dryden, Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling, and these are just some of the burials... the memorials cover just about everyone who is anyone and cover the walls. There is also an area dedicated to musicians and composers and several Prime Ministers including a large round plaque on the floor near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, stating "Remember Winston Churchill". It was installed by the current Queen and is the last thing you read before you leave the through the Great West Doors.
When you get a moment to look beyond the statues, shields, monuments and carvings, there is quite a remarkable building. The church has been in place a lot longer than St Paul's. It was begun in the 13th century and 700 years has left its mark on the stone. In places it is chipped, broken, scared and worn smooth by continual use over those years. It is stained dark from hands and feet.
The Abbey lacks the shear awe inspiring space of St Paul's, but the Nave ceiling is higher and the pointed Gothic architecture gives the illusion of even more height... the sun pouring in through the clear glass windows (the original stained glass was mostly destroyed by bombing in WWII) casts dramatic light and shadow on the fluted columns and ornate stonework. Down the centre of the Nave hangs a double row of modern chandeliers (a gift, in 1965, from the Guinness company!) they are made of Waterford Crystal and are 10 feet tall but are dwarfed by the height of the Nave.
But! Westminster Abbey does not have a cafeteria! I was somewhat disappointed by that...
If St Paul's is to be admired for its relative unadorned simplicity the first thing that hits you upon entering Westminster Abbey is the shear number of memorials and tombs that line its walls, columns and floors. There does not appear to be spare space for anything... and if the number of new interments (and only if you are cremated) and memorials have slowed to a mere trickle in recent years it is understandable ...the place is full! Even the Kings and Queens of England are now buried at Windsor as there is no more room for them at the Abbey.I decided that the guided tour was the best option here... there is just too much to do on your own... but at 5GBP (on top of the 10GBP entry!) it is no bargain! But, it does go for 1.5 hours (actually almost 2 hours as our guide was very thorough) and it does take you into the Quire, the Screen and St Edward's Shrine which you can't do unless you do the tour ...andwho wants to miss out on being able to touch the tomb of a Saint! Apparently the only one still in one piece in Europe (the Saint that is...)
St Paul's has some rather special people in its Crypt... but Westminster Abbey can top it...
At the top of the hierarchy are the Royal burial. Besides St Edward the Confessor, there is Edward I (a different Edward) Henry III, Edward III, Richard II, Elizabeth I, her half-sister Mary I and basically all English Kings and Queens up to the end of the 18th century and strangely, buried in amongst them all, is Oliver Cromwell...
Those not quite so royal, but just as interesting, include Charles Darwin (Origin of the Species and place in Westminster Abbey, quite the double act! - but he only got into the Abbey at the insistence of Queen Victoria!), Isaac Newton, Dr Livingston I presume?; all in the Science Corner. Nearby in Poet's Corner is Chaucer, Dryden, Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling, and these are just some of the burials... the memorials cover just about everyone who is anyone and cover the walls. There is also an area dedicated to musicians and composers and several Prime Ministers including a large round plaque on the floor near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, stating "Remember Winston Churchill". It was installed by the current Queen and is the last thing you read before you leave the through the Great West Doors.
When you get a moment to look beyond the statues, shields, monuments and carvings, there is quite a remarkable building. The church has been in place a lot longer than St Paul's. It was begun in the 13th century and 700 years has left its mark on the stone. In places it is chipped, broken, scared and worn smooth by continual use over those years. It is stained dark from hands and feet.
The Abbey lacks the shear awe inspiring space of St Paul's, but the Nave ceiling is higher and the pointed Gothic architecture gives the illusion of even more height... the sun pouring in through the clear glass windows (the original stained glass was mostly destroyed by bombing in WWII) casts dramatic light and shadow on the fluted columns and ornate stonework. Down the centre of the Nave hangs a double row of modern chandeliers (a gift, in 1965, from the Guinness company!) they are made of Waterford Crystal and are 10 feet tall but are dwarfed by the height of the Nave.
But! Westminster Abbey does not have a cafeteria! I was somewhat disappointed by that...
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