The Westminster Walk

Tonight, back with the much-neglected London Literary Walks (LLW)! Well, if he will hold walks on a Wednesday.. This one was The Westminster Walk, meeting in St. Stephen's Tavern. 

They do food, but I hadn't been able to book - headed out in good time to eat though. Google Maps, again, was rather delirious, telling me that, to get to the pub about 6, the only bus I could take was the #381, which I should catch - on Tuesday morning?! Happily, the departures board made more sense, and I did get there without too much delay. Where I found - sure enough - a waiting list for the dining room, and not a table free in the rest of the establishment. So I got a sandwich from the adjacent Tesco - cheese and onion, specifically. And a packet of crisps - salt n vinegar, rather than cheese n onion. Ate them outside. The sandwich was fine - very soft cheese, mind. I should have known better with the crisps - they were too salty for me.

Took myself over to the pub again, went to the loo - they were in a bit of a state - got myself a drink, which I took out into the alley, to get a bit of breathing room. Things improved mightily when I saw a pair vacate a table, which I grabbed..

It was a gorgeous evening, mild and sunny - if a bit breezy. Perfect for sitting outside, though! And I had great fun eavesdropping on the tourist couple at the next table, who'd been urged to sit by the English bloke who was standing there, finishing his pint, and with whom they got chatting. They were from South Carolina, and just loved everything they'd seen! They were keen on seeing Knightsbridge - specifically Harrods, with its connection to the late Princess Diana. Highlight of the conversation, however, had to be when they told the Englishman about their Deliveroo order to their hotel.. for a small pizza.. that cost £60! As he said to them.. "You've been done!"

All the group joined me out there in due course - and we were so busy chatting that we were a little late leaving. Never mind! As ever, we were to uncover some truly interesting tidbits. For instance:

Imagine - Parliament Square was home to the world's first traffic lights. 

And so, across the square to St. Margaret's Church:

..which is, of course, rather overshadowed by its more prestigious neighbour, Westminster Abbey (apparently England's first cruciform church):

I never realised - I think - that this was the Supreme Court. Or if I did, I'd forgotten:

Turning our attention back to the Abbey, we spent some time considering the 20th Century martyrs, depicted above the West Door:

And I never realised that the area just in front of that door is known as Sanctuary! After the ancient right of sanctuary given to those who wished to escape their pursuers within holy ground - such as Elizabeth Woodville, who claimed sanctuary in the Abbey twice, during the Wars of the Roses, when she was afraid for her life, and the life of her children..

Now, we were to see a lot of barriers being put up, round abouts - from standard barriers, as used to line routes, running all through the square, to massive road barriers being erected as we passed on the approach roads, complete with closable gates. All evening, we wondered about that, but could find no answer..

Instead, we heard about how the Methodist Hall held the first meeting of the League of Nations!

We saw where the British Union of Fascists had their office:

And the library that now houses the Cinnamon Club!

As promised, Lawrence of Arabia's house..

And we had fun with stories of Lord Reith, first DG of the BBC, who wouldn't have "sinful" jazz on air!

And there was the late, great Sir John Gielgud!

Once upon a time, Westminster Abbey was actually known as St. Peter's Cathedral.. there's some evidence of that, still:

We wandered a lot of attractive backstreets:

..the whole time accompanied by the sound of Big Ben, which chimes tunefully on the quarter hour. 

The European Parliament building seems to indicate they are standing loyally with Ukraine:

And there's no missing 55 Tufton Street, where, it seems, all the non-woke organisations meet! Pro-Brexit, pro-fossil fuels, climate change deniers..

We passed the Mothers' Union..

And from the first traffic light - to the first public gas supply! Quite an achievement:

We also passed St. John's Smith Square, where a concert was just letting out - wow, it's years since I was last at a concert there! But it wasn't until we were nearly ready to part for the night that we finally came across a mention of Thorney Island, which was the original name for this area, cut off by water:

Trust Stephen to dig out the interesting facts for us! A really engaging walk - and it was lovely to see some familiar faces.

Interestingly, my bus home was diverted - so I had to think of a Plan B. Google Maps, behaving itself by now, suggested the C10 from Bermondsey Street - where I discovered just a temporary bus stop! With a rather nervous young man - American-sounding accent - at it, who asked whether I was also waiting for the C10.. he wanted to get back to his hotel, but had no more confidence in this stop than I did. Happily, Buses Due was more confident, predicting its arrival in 1 minute. And so it proved.

Tomorrow, heading with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) again, for Tambo & Bones, at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. And damnit, I would be in the office, which is in the other direction. Then off to Ireland for the bank holiday weekend - and again, no films to speak of that I can watch while I'm there. Ah well..

On Tuesday, back - after too long - with North London Friends! We're headed to House of Games, in Hampstead Theatre. And what a tragedy it is that Ye Olde Swiss Cottage seems to have closed..! It was my go-to, there, and they served excellent food..

Next Wednesday, back with LLW for the 101 Dalmatians walk! We're meeting in The Globe - I've booked to eat there beforehand. 

On the 8th.. flamenco!! Which I love. Found a group, Flamenco Events in London, and have requested to join - no word yet, and there probably isn't going to be! Anyway, have booked for this concert in St. John's Church Hoxton. Tickets from Eventbrite - free after-show party, but I'm passing- have work next day, of course. Have booked with Schnitzel Heaven for beforehand. 

On the 9th, back at Sadler's Wells with UITCS again, for Oona Doherty-Specky Clark. Which sounds.. curious, being an interpretation in dance of a family history involving a family of butchers and, on the other side, working in an abattoir.. Anyway, eating at The Wilmington again.

On the 10th, I was to be back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies.. this time, for The Wallace Collection. But sadly, he's now postponed it till June. Never mind, it isn't a complete loss - Helen is coming to town! We have a rough plan to have lunch at The Archduke, then follow our noses for the afternoon..

I was leaving the 11th free in case my ex-colleagues could come to a consensus to meet that day! But as it happens, Ivan can't make it that day, and with the sudden news of a cousin visiting, James isn't sure what he's doing for the whole month. So, for that day, I spotted an event from London Museums A-Z: for Gen Xers and Millennials (LoMAZ). I never heard of them before, but they're already up to T - for Tutenkhamun: The Immersive Exhibition, which apparently uses VR to put you right back in Ancient Egypt. Booked through an outlet called Fever, which I'd never heard of - also available on Eventim. Sounds interesting - and I do love VR. No problem in joining straight away, either..

And on the 12th, heading with my companion from the Swiss trip to a classical concert in St. John's Waterloo - booked with Eventbrite. We're eating at The Archduke beforehand.