Day out in London - the London Eye and other sights.

Hello again.

A shortish one this time. I have been on a good day out - at last, in London. Tonight my son Tom comes out of the acute mental health hospital he has been attending for nearly 4 weeks (with 2 breaks) - we shall see now how he gets on outside, with what we hope is better support. Today was a glorious sunny day - the only problem was my aching feet as we tramped about London (I and my friend J. are both the other side of 50).

Today I had a planned day out in London with J.. She has always wanted to go on the London Eye (as I have) - this is the giant ferris wheel in Central London ont he Thames - so we booked it for 2 pm. The Eye is the biggest such wheel in the world. It turns round at a stately pace - not swiftly and jerkily like the one that we in Paris (I went on that one in 2001, by night. It was moved from Paris about a year ago and is now at a British site). Anyway - we met at Waterloo station at 11.30 am, and first of all went by bus across Waterloo Bridge to Covent Garden. There we browsed around the stalls and shops, looked at the sideshows and bought some cards. I showed J. the Africa Centre, a fascinating gift shop and African information centre where my church, the MJA, has its Sunday meetings it is never open then! We looked at the display and I bought 3 cards. We also called in at the Lyceum Theatre, and bought the cheapest matinee tickets to see The Lion King on a future Wednesday - both of us have always wanted to see this musical play about a young lion cub.

The high point of the day was going on the London Eye. I had pre-booked 2 tickets over the internet the day before - this gave us a 5% discount. It was very easy to collect the tickets; then we had to wait until our time to go off - the queueing was quick, we were loaded into a capsule, and off we glided. The sun was brilliant - it glittered on the River Thames below, on which tourist boats steamed up and down. and we gradually ascended higher - and higher... I felt a bit nervous at first, but we felt very secure. The views over London were fantastic. In different directions you could see the hills far away, then all the well known London landmarks - St. Paul's Cathedral (which we visited briefly later on), The "Gherkin" (the new cone-shaped City business tower), the GPO Tower, Buckingham Palace, and much nearer, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, plus Westminster Abbey. These looked wonderful. We could see a clear blue lake in a park - I think, the Serpentine in Hyde Park. Immediately below, one could see "tiny" people in groups, like ants or dots, sitting on the green grass area beside the Eye - this gave us slight vertigo - it is best not to look down.

I had my digital camera, and we got people to take 3 pictures of J. and me together up in the capsule. I took several shots of the views and the structure of the Eye, with the water showing below. Other people in our capsule were quite pleasant, and there was a bench to sit on. It was air conditioned, so we felt comfortable. The trip round only took 30 minutes, but it is a good, even great experience - one that I am glad to have done. I may go again with Tom if he wants - but D. says he does not wish to go, as he is afraid of terrorism and other dangers. It would be good to try it by night - one can go on it up to 8 pm in the winter seaason, and up to 9 pm in summer months. My mind was calmed by the experience - it certainly was not frightening, and we both enjoyed the whole trip. Pity it only lasted 30 minutes maximum! It will be something to remember and look back on with real pleasure.

For the rest of our day out, we walked along the South Bank (and sat for short rests), and looked at the 2nd hand bookstalls under Waterloo Bridge. We also walked across the Millennium bridge near the Tate Modern art gallery - I have done this 2 years ago, but J. had not. It was very breezy, like going along the sea front. We then went on to St. Paul's Cathedral - disappointing, as there was builders' scaffolding and sheets over much of it, and you couldn't get in without paying £7 or so. At 4.15 pm they let you in to see a little, but we could not go far in - there was to be a service. Again there was scaffolding inside. J. said it was not much to look at. But I had seen it before in its full glory, and had enjoyed it - I even sung there with a choir, once (2 years ago). That was all we did, as our feet ached - we got a bus back to Waterloo station, and then a crowded rush hour train home. But the effort was worth it. We are hoping to have 2 more days out, and are going to see The Lion King at the Lyceum in 10 days' time.

Now I must prepare to welcome my son Tom home, and cook a meal. This week is the last of the fine weather in the UK for 2004, I think... Best wishes and thanks for reading this - again.

Love, Tigey.