The Shard

We all had better nights last night, even though it is still very hot. …….That’s it, the last time I will methion the weather.

Scrambled eggs today to set us up for our trek back to the Shard. I’ve booked tickets this time, so all good. We arrived early but as there were very few people about, we went straight in and didn’t have to wait for our 11am booking time.

It is high, very high. Up top it is open to the elements, but protected so that it would be impossible for someone to jump. It is a small viewing area right at the very top where it comes to a point. Great views, although the day was hazy.

There was no rush for us to leave, so it was cocktail hour for the girls. It was great fun to just sit and watch London from such a high vantage point. We were the drone.

Next we headed to Covent Garden, which although it is mostly a tourist trap, is still great fun to have a look around. It is always bustling and busy. Kirsty had read about a place we could try for lunch. It is basically a sushi train, but with cheese. You sit at a bench and the various cheeses and a side accompaniment circulate on the “train” under glass covers and you pick off what you want. Like a sushi train you are charged by the plate.

Some lovely cheeses were had. There is a menu that describes each offering, so you are not picking blind. A nice glass of Riesling topped things off perfectly.

Kate then went off shopping and Kirsty and I headed for the National Portrait Gallery…..it was air conditioned. A lot of people seemed to have the same idea as us and it was busy. We went to a special exhibition about a photographer, Yevonde, a British women from the early 20th Century who pioneered colour photography in London. Never heard of her, but it was a very interesting journey through her life and photos.

Then home for a cool down, shower and our next outing to catch up with John and his girlfriend/partner, Maggie (who were only recently with us in Aus) and John’s sister Dani (they are the children of Kirsty’s cousin Bill who lives in Portugal). We had a terrific night out, which Kirsty and I left before Kate, and the others kicked on untill late !!