On The Move

 Riding on a train through the English countryside. 

Wish you were here.

A Busy Day

This morning, my travelling companions took off and left me here in London. They drove a hire car out to Stony Stratford, approximately in the direction of Liverpool. They will drive the rest of the way to Liverpool tomorrow and stay there for three nights.

I stayed here because there were more things in London that I wanted to see. I spent a lot of time on the tube today (I love the tube) visiting some popular landmarks.

First, I went to Aldgate. There is a town in the Adelaide hills called Aldgate, and one of my company's clients, the Aldgate Pump Hotel is there. Not many people in that part of South Australia would know that the original Aldgate Pump is a landmark in Aldgate in London that dates back to the 13th century. Its form has changed a bit over the centuries, and it no longer functions as a water pump, but it is still there.

Next, I went to Earls Court. Back in the 1980's and 90's, Earls Court was a very Australian part of London. There were lots of Aussies there, working as bartenders and baristas, while trying to become actors, musicians, or comedians. I don't know if it is still very Australian today, and that really had nothing to do with the reason why I went there. I went there to see a box. Not just any box. One specific, particular box. A blue box. A blue phone box, to be precise.

Finally, I went to the Hippodrome Casino, mostly just to see what it is like, but also to maybe play some poker. I decided against playing poker when I noticed that all of the players appeared to be professionals. Then, out of my own professional curiosity, I had a go at playing one of the fruities and picked up a small profit. So then I left. Quit while you are ahead, kids.

Tomorrow I will be catching a train to Wales, where I will stay for a couple of days before heading to Liverpool to rejoin my compadres. That should be a lot of fun.

Wish you were here.

A Grey Day

It is a grey and rainy day here on the streets, as you can see.

Wish you were here.

The Streets of London

What is the dumbest thing that you can do as a tourist in London? Is it sitting on an open-top tour bus for three hours in the middle of Winter? Maybe, but at least it wasn't raining. Actually it was pretty sunny for most of the day. Sunny and freezing. it was amazing though, and I would totally do it again, but definitely in the Summer next time.

Some highlights of the tour were Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, Nelson's Column, Piccadilly Circus, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London. It's a "hop on - hop off" tour and we actually hopped off half-way through the tour to have lunch at a very old pub called The Shipwrights Arms. Then we hopped back on and finished the tour.

Pleasingly, we got to ride the tube again today, (I love the tube) and this time we emerged in Waterloo Station, which was cool. We also rode on the London Eye and were amazed at how London stretches all the way to the horizon in all directions. In the evening we went to the Camden Markets, but disappointingly, most of the food vendors were closed.

Overall, it was a pretty surreal day, getting to see places and things that I have been hearing about my whole life. London has always been a mythical and mysterious place to me, and I feel glad to finally be paying it a visit.

Wish you were here.

Riding the Tube

Our First Beer in London

My Life Under Ground

We have been in London for nine hours, and it is freezing, and raining, and I am absolutely loving it. Not the cold and the rain, but London itself. After dropping our bags off at the hotel in Camden, we went across the street for a pint. Then Anne and I decided to get on the tube to go shopping at Marble Arch.

I cannot tell you how much I love the tube. I have heard about it for many years and could not wait to go on it, and it did not disappoint. I looooove the tube. Anne and I just kept grinning at each other and saying "We're on the tube! In London!" It was awesome. 

After shopping, we went to a queer bar in Marble Arch for a pint. We didn't notice it was a queer bar straight away, but we figured it out. It was nice. Then back on the tube to rejoin the others for dinner in Camden. I can't tell you how much I love the tube. And being in London is amazing.

We are all excited to be here. 

Wish you were here.