HOMEWARD BOUND

A couple of days before my home flight I heard that Lufthansa pilots were going on strike. Of course that was scheduled for the day I flew to Shanghai. I checked my flight details and it still said my flight would be on time so I figured I would just go to the airport anyway and find out when I was there.

After all my careful planning the trip to Heathrow airport at peak hour went relatively smoothly. Was able to cash in my Oyster Card and organise my tax refund for goods bought in Denmark. Then to find out if my flight had been cancelled. There was a very large list of cancellations – including a flight to Shanghai – later that evening. My flight was on schedule! I still had three hours to spare after checking in. Much prefer sitting at an airport for three hours than wondering if I will make it on time.

First stop was Frankfurt. There was only about an hour between flights and the gate for my next flight was a long distance away. I walked for about 15 minutes then got a train to another terminal. Walked along about 6 travelators and another 15 minutes to the right gate. No time for sightseeing! Tried to find something to show I was there!

When I arrived at Shanghai my driver was waiting with my name on his sign. It took an hour to get to the hotel. It was lovely to be staying in a nice hotel. A Howard Johnson hotel. My body clock was all mixed up. I arrived in Shanghai at 10am but that was 3am in London. Decided I needed a nap before venturing out.

Luckily there was a large pedestrian shopping street just around the corner from the hotel. There wasn't enough time to go on any tour so I just walked around the shops. They were fascinating. One shop just for children. A whole floor for childrens shoes. 

Another store was just puffer jackets.

I resisted buying any chocolates at the M&M shop.

Just across the road Huawei had some kind of show going. Couldn't figure out what that was all about.

I knew I had better not stray too far. The signs gave such a lot of information – if you could read them!

This was the biggest Apple store I have seen. Right across the road from Gap.

Unfortunately the food smells made me lose my appetite. I looked at numerous restaurants to see where I might eat but nothing appealed. There were too many unfamiliar objects.

The next morning I needed to be ready about 9.30 for my ride back to the airport. There were plenty of restaurants to choose from at the airport so I didn't starve for long.

I got a photo of my plane. When you have been away from home for so long, such familiar sites are really precious.

What a joyous sight – arriving home!

MY LAST LONDON SIGHTS

The phone boxes seem to be used more for tourist photos than phoning.

I think this guy was proving how versatile plastic drink bottles are.

The Natural History Museum was fascinating. To enter you go past this dinosaur then up an elevator into the belly of a flaming hot earth.

The volcano display lists Lake Taupo as one of the supervolcanoes.

There had been a documentary on TV about brides flying to London from the Middle East to choose their wedding gowns at Caroline Castigliano. I walked pass the store in Knightsbridge one day – hence the photo.

Of course I had to go to Harrods. Bought some pens – boosting their profits no doubt.

Nelsons column at Trafalgar Square.

Many times in family history research I have come across people who were baptised at the Lying-in Hospital. I walked past it one day. This maternity hospital was established in 1767 and took both married and unmarried mothers.

I decided to go by boat from Greenwich to visit Shakespeare's Globe theatre. We went under Tower Bridge where I saw the entrance to the Traitors Gate.

That was not the original Globe theatre so I chose not to pay money to go inside. Just looked in the shop.

From there I walked across the Millenium bridge to go past St Pauls Cathedral.

At the Guildhall Library I was fascinated by the display relating to the Great Plague of London. In 1665, it killed about 100,000 people. That was around a quarter of the population at that time.

It was lovely to be in London and find some healthy food options. There are quite a few different shops with super healthy salads and hot dishes.

LAST SUNDAY IN LONDON

I decided that after church in Catford Ward I would go to St Paul's Cathedral for the 3.15pm Choral Evensong Service. Train to Charing Cross and bus to St Pauls. 

On Sundays they don't take tours through. On entering the cathedral I was given a programme for the service. Because I was early I sat in the front row so I could see clearly.

A lot of pomp and ceremony for this service.

They started with a lady dressed in a robe with red trimmings called the virger carrying a ceremonial rod – a virge. She lead the ministers and the choir to their places. The choir was male with one female. Whenever a minister needed to move somewhere she preceded them. All the ministers were female.

Lucky there was a lot of standing up and then sitting to keep me alert. The seats actually were not that comfortable They were wooden chairs that could be moved to create different seating arrangements.

The man sitting next to me obviously knew what it was all about. He recited the Apostles creed and sang all the songs. The only familiar thing to me was the Lords Prayer. All the scriptures they used did not come from the King James version of the bible.I found that strange as it was King James who established the church.

An hour later it was over and we stood as the virger led the choir and the ministers out. Two of the lady ministers went to the door to greet us as we left.

SATURDAY IN LONDON WITH AILEEN

Had a lovely day with Aileen Phillips [Piripi]. We have known each other over 45 years. We arranged to meet at Waterloo station by WH Smith.

Off we walked towards the London Eye. Along from there we saw The London Dungeon. In we went. They took photos at the beginning – always trying to get more money out of you. It is expensive to go to these activities. £25.95 to get in. We both chose a photo so that cost us £10 each as well. It was not as scary I thought it might be. We both opted out of the last bit. There was to be a 10ft plunge several times in darkness. Figured our bodies didn't need that kind of torture. I am wondering if Aileen is still my friend - she tried to chop my head off!

After that we walked across Westminster Bridge, up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square where we stopped and had an Italian lunch. Then back down to The Horse Guards, through to St James Park, back out to Whitehall and along to Downing Street. There we saw many black cabs tooting their horns and blocking the road and people with placards about Save our Black Cabs. 

We hadn't realized it was outside the entrance to Downing Street which was blocked by police. Aileen was sure the entrance to no. 10 Downing Street was down a side street so we walked down the next street to see where that was. We couldn't find one. Each end of the street had armed police.

More walking until we got back to Waterloo station just before 5pm. Time to catch our trains back home.

ANOTHER DAY IN LONDON

Caught the DLR to Limehouse and then walked and walked until I came to the Ragged School Museum. I had planned to go there on Thursday and didn't check that it was open on Friday. Lucky for me a young lady who was working there answered the door and let me in. The Ragged Schools were originally set up by Dr Barnardo in 1867.

Ragged School Museum

Victorian Class room

Dr Barbardos brolly and specs

When I  left there I started walking to Mile End station and saw this graffiti by a skate board park. There hadn't been much graffiti around so this really stood out.

A bus came along so I figured that would save my feet a bit. Got a tube from Mile End to Holborn on the Central Line then changed to the Piccadilly Line to Green Park. Not straightforward trips around here!

At Green Park I walked through the park and saw lots of people coming toward me. Figured they had all been to the Changing of the Guard as it was nearly midday and that was at 11.30am. There should be less people at Buckingham Palace was my thought. Wrong! Seems the changing was still happening and I caught the band and soldiers marching back to their barracks.

After watching them I walked down the Mall. Looks like autumn has arrived as there were so many dead leaves on the ground. It was a lot fun swishing through the leaves. Think I might be in my second childhood.

Along the way I visited the Tribal Art Gallery. It seemed as if it was a place where collectors brought their tribal art pieces for people to buy. Saw a few Polynesian pieces. Mostly they seemed to be of African origin.

Continued on to Trafalgar Square and looked for somewhere to get some food. So many people it was hard to find a place with a table.

After eating I caught a bus to Hyde park and visited the Diana Memorial fountain.

There were brown pathways through the park. On my way out I got close enough to see they were bridal paths for horses.

From Hyde Park I discovered a  Travel Photography display on my way to the National History Museum. There was a world map on the wall where you could put a pin to say which country you are from. New Zealand was totally covered. I put a pin somewhere in the Tasman Sea though.

Then I wanted to get to a Marks and Spencers to change my money for Shanghai. Put M&S in my phone and started walking to the nearest store. Got there to discover that was just a food hall. The security guy there gave me directions to the nearest large store. It was now late afternoon and that sounded like too much walking so I gave up on that idea. Instead I got a bus to Charing Cross Station and the train back to Lewisham.

No wonder I was feeling worn out by the time I got home. That last 10 minute walk uphill is always a struggle..

MORE LONDON ADVENTURES

I had a plan to walk from Waterloo Station along Southbank, past Shakespeares Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern art gallery, Millenium Bridge through to London Bridge. A wonderful idea if the weather cooperated.

Instead at Waterloo I caught a bus to Russell Square which sounded familiar. It was close to where I stayed before I came to Lewisham. Still raining so I stopped to have some lunch. Because most of the shops here are in old buildings they do not have awnings outside them. That means no shelter from the rain.

After lunch I decided to walk towards a more populated area. Thought I was walking towards the centre of town but soon found myself near St Pancras and Euston stations. Totally the wrong direction!

Then found a bus that said Victoria Station on it so I caught that. Every place we went past I had been to before so I could not be bothered going there again. It was just shops, shops shops. When I got to Victoria station I discovered I could get a train from there directly back to Lewisham. Best plan. No point in tripping around London to places I have already seen. It was still too wet to go walking far.

This was seen on London buses, advertising the Book of Mormon musical.

Saw my second London show. The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie. It has been running for 62 years. I really enjoyed it. Although I think I missed a few seconds in the first half. I got a front row seat near the centre. A lady and her husband sat next to me. They were from Perth. At half time we all moved back a couple of rows so we could see a bit more of the stage. From there it was a ten minute walk to Charing Cross station to catch a train that went straight to Lewisham. 

I got into trouble taking photos in the theatre. I knew not to take photos during a performance but I hadn't read the signs that said no photography. Just as i was taking one of the theatre seating I was told to stop so that photo was all blurry. Oh well - I got the stage curtains.

MY PLAN FOR LEAVING LONDON

I will be leaving Lewisham to go to Heathrow during the morning peak hour so I wanted to be sure of the trains I will take. I MUST have lifts. It is too difficult handling two suitcases and a bag on stairs or escalators. I will need to walk about 10 minutes downhill to Lewisham station.

The plan was to go to Canary Wharf by DLR (Docklands Light Rail) and then go on the Jubilee line to Green Park and from there on the Piccadilly line to Heathrow. The first step was to figure out how to get from DLR [A] to Jubilee [B] at Canary Wharf. These stations are part of a very large indoor shopping centre. After an hour of walking past many shops, going up and down escalators and finding lifts I decided to ask for help. I could get from A to B but not with a lift for each floor. The kind gentleman who helped me suggested I not attempt to do that at Canary Wharf but to get off at Heron Quays which he said is closer to the Jubilee line. Shucks!

On another trip to London I got off at Heron Quays and discovered it was a much shorter route with lifts to the Jubilee line. I wrote my route down so I could manage it confidently when there will be hundreds of people around me scurrying off to their jobs.

All this will probably take me about two hours.