Pic of the week 15/8/21
Yesterday, Becky and I went to London. It was up with the sparrows to catch the 0749 train from Castle Cary, and before we knew it we were stepping onto the platform at Paddington.
First up was a visit to the National Covid Memorial Wall on the South Bank. It was peaceful, respectful, reverential and a sobering, moving and dignified memorial to the thousands who have lost their life. I think that it is all the more powerful that it evolved organically, an outpouring of emotion from the people and a reminder to those sat across the river in the House of Parliament that, through their inaction and corruption, there are more hearts on the wall – more lives needlessly lost – than their should be.
We then walked east, along the South Bank, enjoying the buzz of a city coming back to life after an 18 month tragedy, crossing the river on the Millennium Bridge. We ambled past Trafalgar Square, arriving in Covent Garden for brunch of coffee and filled croissants. Delicious.
Then a dash West, to Kensington Gardens to enjoy the Van Gough experience. I am glad that Becky enjoyed this show more than I did!
More coffee & cake followed and then a schlep back across the city to the Sky Garden, at the top of the Walkie-Talki building, 35 stories high.
It was brilliant. To be able to look out across London was awe inspiring, humbling and a chance to try and spot a few haunts from my youth!
We were due to finish the day with a meal at the Real Greek, but an email telling us our train had been cancelled saw us hot-footing it back to Paddington to catch the earlier train – our only chance to make it back to sleepy Somerset before Sunday!
So instead of delicious Greek delights, we dined on shop bought sandwiches and crisps on the station concourse before getting a noisy (too many drunks!) train back to Castle Cary.
A great day.
