You'll see why soon enough.
There really is nothing like the feeling when you walk out of the office at the beginning of a week off. Even better when you are, in effect, you're own boss and so once the clock reached quarter past one, i had all my tasks finished, I sent myself home.
I drove out to Preston, to the butcher to get some stuff for the weekend; some rib-eyes, some venison and apricot yummy sausages, smoked bacon, pork loin wrapped in smoked bacon and stuffed with apricots and pork pies. Huge pork pies.
And then home, listening to Mayo and Kermode on the radio talking about films in front of a live audience in Newcastle. As ever, it was great fun and passed away a fine afternoon. I mowed the lawn; all exciting stuff, but that meant I could sit on one of the chairs outside sipping home-brew in the warm sunshine.
And so to Saturday; and we were up with the larks. No, before the larks, making sandwiches and cutting pork pies, as we were off to London town, to see some buildings. Inside some buildings, to take pictures and have our awe inspired.
We got the quarter to seven train out of Dover, and even had tome to grab a coffee from the station, along with a cheese scone; and as the sun rose above the channel, we slid on our way to Folkestone, Ashford and beyond, dunking scones in out coffee and marvelling at how lucky we were.
We got out at Stratford, because in a while there was to be a steam engine go through. and so we took the short ride down to Pudding Mill Lane, where there is a clear view of the line. And as time passed a few more men of a certain age arrived, laden with cameras, all of us waiting for the steam train. Just before ten to ten, it passed, roaring its way to East Anglia, where it would break down in Norwich, and have to be dragged back.
As it passed, a London-bound train pulled in, and we climbed on board, and made our way to Tower gateway, opposite the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. And it was to the bridge we walked, so to cross the river and then on to City Hall.
City Hall is a oval-ish building, with a huge atrium filling most of its space, with floors of offices around the side. and all the way down the atrium is a spiralling staircase that just looks wonderful. To our surprise, there was no queue, and after the security checks we walked in and rode in the lifts to the top floor.
There is a large space there, with fine views from HMS Belfast to away towards docklands in the east, with a stunning view of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London just below.
Then we went through the double doors and headed down the staircase; the views were amazing, and just got better. My wide angle lens ate it all up, and I took many, many shots so sure not to miss anything. At every floor a little more of the view opened up, with in front of us, a wonderful view over the river to the Tower. It was breathtaking.
Once at the bottom, I got some shots looking up and of the council chamber, before we went outside. Jools bought a couple of coffees and we shared a pork pie and a couple of sandwiches sitting on the grass looking out to Tower Bridge. There are worse places to have a picnic.
we walked beside the river a while; past new condos with bars and restaurants in their ground floors. we stopped for a pint at a pub overlooking the river, before moving on.
Down Southwark Road is a large building, The Blue Fin, full of offices and another huge atrium. We went inside and rode the lift to the top floor; walked through a very nice looking place to eat and onto a roof garden, 13 floors up with view over the Tate Modern Building to the City beyond to the north, and south all the way down to Crystal palace and beyond.
Inside we walked through a number of grand meeting rooms, each with power windows with views the same as from the garden. And all this for a company that prints magazines. It must pay well.
we went down, and then to the Stand to look for a camera shop to see about a replacement lens; but we really could find nothing better, for a reasonable price, than we have already. and so, my feet were aching, and Jools I know was tired; so we made our way to St Pancras, and walked on our train and slumped in the seats before being whisked back to deepest Kent and home.
Sunday, we went to pick up two kittens; both eight weeks old, brother and sister. She is black with white flashes on her chest and feet, and he is all black. And so we took them home and watched what would happen with four felines in the house.
What happened was they found a nook in the sofa, and apart from coming out for a bite to eat, stayed there for nearly 24 hours. But since getting up this morning, they have been tumbling, rolling, pouncing, chasing, doing kitten-like stuff. It's been magical.
Not that our two cats think the same; there has been hissing and spitting; much more to run on this story.
Today is a day for chores; cooking, jam-making and in a while will make our Christmas Cake. and tomorrow, when the sun will shine, we shall go to King's wood for a walk, pick some chestnuts to roast and generally do non-work related stuff.
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