Sunny Saturday

Went for a free tour around the famed Somerset House, a large Neoclassical building from the 1700s in central London.

Originally a mansion overlooking the salmon-rich waters of the Thames (no, really), it passed through various Royal hands over the years, and also a number of renovations. In 1771, massive work was undertaken to turn the site into public offices for (variously) the Navy, the Salt Office, the Stamp Office, the Publick Lottery Office, the Hawkers and Pedlar Office, the Hackney Coach Office, etc etc, and the IRD.

Thames entrace...

Impressively structured on a number of levels, the final building incorporates reclaimed land and a vast courtyard. The main government department in the early days was the Admiralty, leading to the legend that Nelson worked in the building for a time.

Old Catholic graves left over from the original mansion church...

There is an array of fountains the central courtyard, which fire vertical jets of water to random heights. Great fun on a blistering hot summer's day!

Walked to St James park (via the Strand and Trafalgar Square) afterward to chill out with Connor and Jimmy Gunson.

In the evening we had a house warming party at my boss' house. We had to catch an overland train, the Underground, and the DLR to get there.

It was great big Australian-style apartment complex in Pontoon Dock, overlooking the Thmaes Barrier. This is a flood control structure (the second largest movable flood barrier in the wolrd), spanning 523 metres.

Cath's rabbits were about, but not feeling too approachable. (That's Anna's hand with a basil leaf, and even this tasty treat couldn't tempt Pootle to come closer...)

Dave and Cath's ice tray. Where can I get one?

The boss at the BBQ. Just like home!

A wonderfully orange moon over the city, as seen from the apartment deck. Must be the smog that gives it that colour, because I've never seend anything like it - yet, to the English, it was a perfectly common sight!

Hampstead

Finally some sun! We went for a nice walk around the shops in Hampstead, and stopped by the heath to sit next to the ponds.

Weekend in Paris

We just had a nice weekend away in Paris for Anna's birthday. We were invited to stay with our friend Selina, who is a nanny. Her family was away, so we got to stay in her apartment, adjacent to the main house which - apart from being amazing - was formerly Marcel Pagnol's home! Having grown up with the Jean de Florette movies, as well as Pagnol's biopics, this was pretty exciting. I made sure to take a lot of photos for Mum and Dad...

Selina had some friends over that night, and we had a little soiree in the backyard. I drank a couple of bottles of Norman cider (yum!) and played with the cat.

Anyhoo, it was Anna's birthday on Saturday, so Selina made pancakes for breakfast, with champagne and strawberries. Mum had sent me over some birthday candles, which I had brought to Paris (along with Anna's pressie), and I stuck them in a pancake so we could sing Happy Birthday.

After our yummy brekkie, we set off to Versailles. Sel lives very centrally, by Parc Monceau, and we could see the Arc de Triomph on our way to the train.

We arrived to massive queues outside the palace gates, sparing dim memories of visiting Disneyland. There was one queue to buy tickets, and another for entry. Fortunately we had bought a transport and entry package at the train station, so after a quarter of an hour or so, we were in! "All for the glory of France."

At first glance, it was like being in a popular part of the Louvre. Marbled walls and scads of annoying tourists. (Yes, including us.) I crowd-surfed over to the info booth to grab some maps and then, while trying to get outside to the gardens first (it was sunny) we ended up inside instead.

Apparently parts of the Opera were closed, but we dutifully made our way through the sumptuous private chapel...

The opulent, yet kind of ugly, private apartments...

The bedrooms of the various Louises (assuming that's the plural of Louis?)...

And the famous Hall of Mirrors, which was pretty impressive, despite the mirrors looking like they needed a good do-over with Mr Muscle.

Current restoration work:

We finally made it outside, where we met up with Selina's friend Catharine. The weather was fantastic, if rather fierce, as we wandered about the vast and somewhat featureless grounds. I have to admit that I found the sheer scale a little unwelcoming.

Nice flowers, though!

The 'other' palace, the Grand Trianon:

Marie Antoinette's gardens:

Recovering afterward

And finding our way home on the labyrinthine Metro system

That night we went out to a number of Parisienne bars and nightclubs, and didn't get home until 4! After a bit of a sleep in, we did manage to have a walkabout on Sunday - eat a nutella crepe - and look in the shops. I bought a fancy coffee plunger from Bodum.

This is the first place Anna and I came to in Paris:

More ambling:

Memorial for the deportation of Parisienne Jews:

Bookshop from Before Sunset:

I've decided I like Paris a lot when there's no pressure to do anything except wander about aimlessly, drinking espresso and eating. Farewell!