Well, the 24th anniversary of my 29th birthday passed without international incident, although there was that one moment in Harrod’s when I tried to hold up the ladies wear department (finding myself just a little short of the $3,200 they wanted for the blouse I tried on). Dave isn’t going to deny this, I think, when I tell you he spent much, much longer in Harrod’s than I did. Megan you are going to be sooo excited when you see the tiara!

What was really WAY more interesting than an afternoon in Harrod’s was the morning at the Westminster Abbey. They got stuff over here that is old. I mean really old. Kings and Queens that fill the history pages also fill the chapels in Westminster. Poets, playwrights, scientists and soldiers. Remarkable. But the architecture just makes your heart soar. No doubt you are right Dr. No, we really should find the cheapest possible way to build everything in Calgary, because, who will care about art and beauty and holiness and Calgary in a thousand years? Imagination should be banished because investing in grace and awe just throws good money after bad. And you are totally correct, future generations will continue to pay for what we build today. But here’s the thing, Londoners and Parisians, and Romans and Viennese have always believed they lived in eternal cities. And they have always known there is a price for that. In Calgary, we just believe we are herefor today to make a buck – and that privilege, apparently, should come for free.

Hey, that soapbox reminds me, I also saw Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park.

Photos posted come from three different millennia – all constructions found in London:
Cleopatra’s Needle; Westminster Abbey; Millennium Eye.

Body still not on London time. Wake most of night and slept ‘til mid morning, so missed valuable sight-seeing time! Ah, well. A lovely day in every other way. After a somewhat dazed and confused morning, we got some food in us before lunch and boarded a city tour that included St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. St. Paul’s was very beautiful, as I expected it would be – the double pleasure came in discovering it is the home of one of my favourite liturgical paintings - Light of the World by William Holman Hunt. It was just so awesome to be able to see the original. Stunning architecture. Overwhelming history ... and not too many pigeons. Where is the lady who feeds the birds, tuppence a bag?

The Tower was spectacular and I haven’t climbed that many stairs in a long time – sorry Mr. Stairmaster. Can’t wait to see the next season of The Tudors, having just seen from whence Anne and Katherine were dispatched. More walking – more bridges. Tower, London, Millennium. Also saw the Thames flowing in two directions at the same time – out to sea and in with the tide. Remarkable.

Glorious weather. And beautiful English gardens. Happy.

Landed in London

Landed safe and sound in London as scheduled on Sunday morning. So unusual for flighing these days, it was actually an OK experience. Quarters were cramped but I'm a small person. Left on time, arrived on time, no food poisoning. What's not to like about Thomas Cook? As we are just, just passed the summer solstice and we flew a course that went over the Arctic Circle, we were in daylight all the way. Left Calgary at 2:45 in the afternoon and arrived London at 7:00 am with no dark along the way. Is my circadian rhythm confused? Yes it is. Awake at all the wrong times. Writing this just after midnight.

East transport from Gatwick into central London via train! Dang, why didn’t Calgary think of that ... bring millions of people to town each year and give them a means of actually arriving instead of leaving them stranded at the airport?

London is wonderful! The weather here is hot and the sky is blue – perfect touristing weather. I believe all of Europe is on vacation and London was the destination of choice. On Sunday, Dave and I walked for hours and it was a rare thing to hear English spoken. Different on Monday when the workers returned to the city. So many visitors – must have something to do with those iconic pedestrian bridges. Wait until Council hears about this.

On Sunday we made the circuit of the major landmarks and just looked and looked and looked as we criss-crossed the Thames. Love the easy flow of architecture from ancient to modern; classic to space age. Hard not to be overwhelmed by the sheer size and number of those historic constructions that are such a part of Canada’s story too – they are, well, monumental!

After a full day on foot through London we ate dinner at a lovely little restaurant by the Thames – wouldn’t you guess our first meal would be fish and chips – yum!

Every good trip starts with a send-off party

Thanks to Shelly and Michelle, I had the appropriate send off - Indian food at Moti Mahal, and lots of laughs. I am trying to get myself packed but I figure the less I bring from here, the more room I'll have for shopping there. I don't have to worry about what to wear when I go to visit Buckingham Palace because Liz will be in Ottawa when I'm in London. Coincidence? I think not!

Ready for departure; attendants check your cross-hatch.

Departure date is set for Saturday, June 26: Calgary to Gatwick. God willin', the river don't rise, and the volcano don't blow. Dave and I are ready to flee this continent. My first trip to the British Isles - a return visit for Dave, whose Mother was a British War Bride. The Aunties are still living and this will be an opportunity for him to connect with this side of his family. And, he is attending an IB conference in Oxford. For me, it is just an adventure. God made this world to be sooo amazing, want to see as much of it as I can.