The three days before Christmas……..

Thursday – we were scheduled to go to the matinee of Rent inthe afternoon. So a tube over to Green Park, a walk towards Buckingham Palace where we arrived in time for the march off at the end of the Changing of the Guard. Noted the royal standard as still flying over the Palace so obviously E&P had still not yet headed to Sandringham. later did hear a helicopter overhead – the one which flew them to Sandringham. Why spend two and a half hours on a train when you can fly it much more quickly, especially if you’re feeling poorly and probably not looking your best. Still there is concern…..

Invesigated the shop at the Queens Gallery and contributed to the upkeep of the royal palaces. Then a wander around before lunch at a nearby pub. When we got to the theatre we were told that five of the leads and some of the chorus were down sick so the performance would be “semi-staged”. In other words all the songs would be sung – but no choreography etc. Given the option of a full refund we took that and made our way home.

Friday – headed over to Aldwych then a walk to Lincoln’s Inn Fields. All part of the legal set-up of London. But purpose of the visit was to Visit Sir John Soan’s Museum. A fascinating collection of paintings, sculptures, ancient gravestones, one Egyptian sarcophagus- 53,00o objects in all. All collected by Sir John Soane who lived 1753 – 1837. He was an architect who designed a number of buildings around London and died an extremely wealthy man and left his eclectic collection to the nation with funding for its maintenance. Weren’t allowed to take photos…..Could spend hours in there.

Then over to Somerset House, skaters in action on the ice rink – weren’t tempted – and the Fortnum and Mason Christmas arcade. Then walked up to St Paul’s to look at a video installation but the Cathedral was closed for the carol service which was coming up. We went to it last time. But we did get the benefit of the glorious bell ringing.

From here over to Smithfield. Once the great market and befor then a place where “justice” was meted out – eg William Wallace was hung dean and quartered here and martyrs of both Catholic and Protestant persuasion where burned alive.

A quiet beer in a nearby pub (with other members of the congregation it later turned out) before going to a “Dickensian” carol service at St Bartholomew the Great. Visited this church for the first time last time we were here and it quickly shot onto my favourites list. Its been in continuous use since 1143 nad has great sturdy Norman construction. Much smaller that it used to be as half was demolished in the reformation.

Service was fantastic with great, well read readings from Dickens and Victorian carols. The choir sang unfamiliar ones themselves while we got to join in with the familiar ones – although some of the wording was different. Totally wonderfully in the surrounding.

Then a tube over to Euston to catch up with Sarah and Geoff. Sadly Geoff was sick and wisely stayed in their hotel and while it was as delightful as ever to to catch up with Sarah it wasn’t quite the same as having Geoff there (and now I will see who really reads this….

Today some final shopping and gift wrapping and a bit of a laze around. Off at 10:00 p.m. To Westminster Abbey……Excited!!