London Sun

hat a difference the sun makes – in London

Victoria Circle - Outside Buckingham Palace - through grills on Australia Gate

ow much can you fit into a day? Don’t ask Eddy unless you have unlimited ‘go’ in you. And to think he had a hip replacement only six weeks ago!

Frank made the pilgrimage from Berlin for the day to see me before I take off back to Australia, but after today’s epic exertion, he may think twice about doing so again.

After collecting Frank at Heathrow at 8 am, Eddy’s unusual plan commences with a traditional English Breakfast. He’s chosen that ever so English hotel, The Goring, ‘a bastion of quality and individuality’ around the corner from Buckingham Palace, where ‘the Middletons’ accommodated their friends visiting London for the wedding of Kate and William.

I have grilled kidneys on my mind, and they are so good I don’t mind having to wear a jacket (as ‘instructed’ by my Swiss friend!)

A Touch of English Tradition - with breakfast at the Goring

The walk in St James Park is shared with half of London out enjoying the sunshine after cheering on Marathon runners, who are finishing along the Mall. During our walk in the sun, I also come across the Ceremonial gate presented by Australia to the United Kingdom as a tribute to Queen Victoria. The gate’s two portals guard the sidewalks along Spur Road in St. James Park on the southern approach to Victoria Memorial Circle in front of the Palace. Further up the Mall, there’s Captain Cook on a pedestal.

But it’s a long time between breakfast and Eddy’s planned Afternoon Tea ‘in lieu of Lunch’ at the Corinthia, a new hotel in the totally refurbished old Department of Defence building on Whitehall Place. And pollen is rife on the wind from the late-greening of the trees, and right up my nose.

So we leave the park and head off down the River Thames with the tourist throng on an open deck cruiser to Tower Bridge and back, taking in all the sights of The City, and the new buildings (including Europe’s tallest, The Shard) on the other bank.