Sunny Paul
(Looking up at the rotunda of St Paul’s Cathedral: London, UK)
If you were checking earlier for a post here, I’m afraid I made a very late decision to sleep instead of sitting, bleary eyed, tapping the computer keys into the morning’s early hours. Since arriving in London, I have found my waking hours have shifted to best accommodate my activities. Since many people I would like to meet are exclusively free on weekday evenings, I have been catching very late or the latest travel options back to my current base. In consequence, I usually write this when I return, so I can summarise elements of the day whilst it is still fresh in my mind. Unfortunately by last night, I simply couldn’t manage! At present, by the way, I am staying with Ying’s cousin in Belsize Park, only a fifteen-minute walk from my first London home three weeks ago.
Relying on a combination of word of mouth, Time Out magazine and various papers, yesterday involved a trip to see the cream of the British Wildlife Photography Awards in Hooper’s Gallery. It was in a part of London that I have never visited, but it was in walking distance of the Thames near St Paul’s Cathedral. I wandered from the arrestingly absorbing wildlife display, through smart Clerkenwell, past the now decidedly dilapidated Smithfield markets until I could catch the pale dome of St Paul’s peering from behind all the high rises. The day was another chilly, but bright one. When I left my cousin’s house in Farnborough early yesterday, the frost was hard, biting and altogether unexpected. It’s amazing how much temperatures vary between the city and the surrounding more rural areas. Since I left Glasgow in the late summer, I have found adapting the contents of my suitcase to these bitter conditions quite a challenge. Luckily my friend, Ellie brought me a warm jacket when she visited a week or so ago, much to my relief.
– Today Rosie may visit St Paul’s, but is certainly treating a friend to dinner in London, UK –
很好!