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.

CATFORD WARD

I attended this ward three times. The people there are really lovely. I actually remembered some names after the first visit. Janice, Dionne, Georgia, Jordan, Charlotte.

In Relief Society the first week there were nine black sisters, two English, one American, one Australian and one Kiwi – me. I asked one of the black ladies if they all had the same origins. She was from Jamaica, another from Granada and another from Nigeria. They all descended from African slaves though. They are excited that there are now Jamaican family history records available on FamilySearch.

The Australian girl, Charlotte Hawkins and her husband had come recently. He is a paramedic and England called for paramedics from New Zealand and Australia to come over. He has a two year contract. What a wonderful opportunity to live in England and see all they can of Europe. Too bad he has to work! The second week a couple was visiting from Switzerland.

This chapel is very old and is going to be closed down for complete renovation. Only one ward meet in it. It is a two storey building.

The Sunday School teacher was also the Stake Patriarch. During the lesson on Galatians he asked me to read Galatians 2:20-21. I was extremely moved by this scripture. Even though the me referred to is Paul when you read it yourself the me is yourself. Very powerful.

A couple of the sisters gave me a big hug when I left. Felt like I was leaving my friends behind.

LEWISHAM

I had in mind that Lewisham was in Kent and therefore a long way from London. My mistake.It is a London Borough and in Zone 2 for travel. Waterloo Station in Central London is about 12 minutes away by train. I could walk to Greenwich – if I felt like a long walk. Otherwise that was only 7 minutes on the light rail.

I stayed in an AirBnB property owned by Moira Tait. There were four of us in the house. Moira, myself, Anthony a young Frenchman looking for a place to buy near here and Betty the cat. Moira runs art festivals and takes people on tours to places like Cambodia and the Dordognes. Had lots of chats with Anthony. Suggested NZ would be a good place for him to visit and gave him my email address. Another young man who gave me a big hug before he left. No shortage of hugs on this trip. Even from young men!

The house is joined on to others – the way they all are here. I measured the width of the houses one day. I just needed to take six regular size steps and I was at the next house. Moira has extended the back of her house and done some renovations so it has a bit more space than originally.

My room is the small window above the rear of the car

I have a small bedroom with a TV. Such a shame TV here. They keep playing repeats. So many channels and the only things I have watched have been Miss Marple, Lewis, Murder She Wrote, Midsommer Murders, Renovation Man and Location, Location. And they are all old shows! I heard the final season of Downton Abbey is starting this month. Wish I was here for that.

From the door - it is about the width of two single beds.

One day the squirrel Moira feeds came down for a visit. It was so cute. Loved seeing it close up.

Took some photos in the neighbourhood.

The local posty – who wished they had letterboxes and bicycles like we do in NZ. He didn't enjoy lugging that big thing around the streets.

The curry shop where I got two meals for £11.40. It costs me that or more for one meal most places. The good thing at this shop was they keep the food cold so you can take it home and heat it up when you are ready.

The Saturday market in the High Street. Much like Pukekohe markets except it runs along the footpath. Actually I don't think there was anything second hand there.The shopping centre is right next to it.

This tiny baby mouse was on the footpath. It was alive but looked as if it was cold. I had no idea what I should do for it so I left it and hoped it could find its mummy.

These police on horses looked fantastic. I have hardly seen any police on my travels so these were a treat. I did ask permission to photograph them – didn't want to break any laws.

The view from my bedroom window. The rain didn't affect my travels much at all. This lot caused me to get a taxi home from the shopping centre one day though.