London

I write this on Tuesday morning, seven am-ish as the kids watch some cartoons. We are waiting for the boys to get up so we can breakfast together. Paul got home last night, so the kids are really looking forward to seeing their uncle for the first time in a couple of years. I doubt Eliza would have any real memories of him - so it is really special that they get to spend some time over the next four days. (On Saturday we head to Birmingham).
Sunday saw us having an 'at home' day which felt like an essential. A couple of loads of laundry. Some tv for the kids. A movie in the late afternoon. The kids played in the back yard. Lunch on the grass by the dock (three minutes walk from here). When we were in China we seemed to fall into a bit of a pattern, with busy day, quiet one. That worked well for everyone's energy levels. Since we arrived in England though, it has just been busy day, busy day. Not always early starts or anything, but a couple of places visited most days, with lots of driving and looking inbetween. There is a difficult pull on you when away like this - in that a day without activity feels like a day wasted...you have traveled a long way at great expense, and don't want to miss out on seeing or doing something just because you were tired. However, in order to keep things (read, people) on an even keel, a quiet day has great benefit. And it did.
Yesterday saw us catch the tube to Trafalgar Square, where we caught one of the jump-on-off bus tours around the city. The weather was ordinary, but that is why we brought raincoats with us. On the edge of Trafalgar Square, on a pillar, is a big glass bottle, containing Nelson's ship Victory. This actually meant something to the kids thanks to our time in Portsmouth Docks museum, er, and me. We saw all of the usual landmarks - missed the palace because we didn't get off the bus and I assumed we were going to go past the front, but didn't. So that is something we will do on foot over the next couple of days. The tour also incorporates a slow ferry down the Thames, from the Tower of London, down to Westminster. Most enjoyable. London really is a fascinating blend of ancient and modern. So many beautiful landmarks.
The other thing that Shane and I have really noticed, is the regular references to WWII where ever we visit. I guess because so many of the nation's old forts were put back into practice at the time, and then, going through the streets yesterday, there are still pock marks on the sides of some old buildings, from the blitz. Then there are the stories, like of the biggest toy shop in London - famous and on Regent Street (but I can't remember the name) - where the shop was bombed, but business went on with staff wearing metal helmets and standing in the street, running into the shop to retrieve things as needed, and then bringing them back out to the customers. Photos on tour maps, of the subway full of people, who slept there during the bombing. (including on the tracks) You are just made aware of how much more the war touched the people here, than it did at home.
We visited Saint Paul's Cathedral. Didn't do the full tour, but poked our noses in and saw what we could...which was impressive enough! The thing that impressed me as much as the architecture, was the announcement over the PA, welcoming all visitors, and saying that they hoped we enjoyed our visit to the Cathedral etc, but that they wanted to remind us what the purpose of the building was. That it was a place of prayer and worship. They then invited us all to pause in silence, and either quietly meditate or join in with the Lord's Prayer. Hundreds or tourists, most of them slowing and quietening, the Cathedral suddenly feeling atmospheric. It was hard to tell how many people joined in with the prayer, but I couldn't help feeling how inspiring it would have been if everyone could have. They make that announcement every hour. I am glad of it. Reminds us that there is a far greater purpose than to have created a beautiful building.
Today after brekky we are off to the Natural History Museum. I guess you will hear all about that; later!