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Published: August 8th 2008
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Pub Sign
From a pub in Leadenhall Market. Yet another reason I love this country. My friend Natalie from Sydney has arrived to spend a week with me and to reacquaint herself with London. She arrived safely last night into Terminal Five, Heathrow's new terminal. To say that this place has had its growing pains is putting it mildly, but it is a beautiful building and I was glad to finally be able to see it for myself.
Nat and I have been travelling together since we spent a weekend in Paris together during the summer of 2001. We love to do the same things and, whenever I go to Sydney, she takes very good care of me as we wander around the city. I am so glad that I now have the opportunity to repay some of her hospitality over the years. The biggest thing we have in common is our love of photography. Nat's camera and the accompanying equipment puts me to shame, but we are perfectly content to spend a day walking and taking photos. Which is what we did today.
Nat worked at ZPro during the summer of 2001, so she wanted to head into the City to re-discover some of her old haunts. We started the day with the
traditional coffee and toast at my local deli, then hopped on the tube down to the Monument. It was very odd for me to walk around the City today in jeans, watching the rest of the world carry on with their jobs. I have been back since I left, but only in the evening to meet people for drinks, never during the day. I must admit to feeling a certain amount of glee that I was no longer walking around in a suit in the August heat. It was also fun to be in the City with my camera. It made me look at things that I have looked at every day for eight years in a whole new light.
We began the day by walking over to Leadenhall Market, one of the City landmarks. It is a beautiful old place that is very often used in films to represent all kinds of things. We wandered around, looking at the stalls. Nat is looking for a dress to wear to a wedding, so we spent a lot of time today in and out of shops while she tried on clothes. No luck yet, but it's still early days.
Lloyd's of London
Not the most beautiful of buildings, but it holds a fond place in my heart. We then walked over to the London Underwriting Centre, my home until very recently. Of course, we ran into some ZPro people who were outside for a smoke, so we stopped for a quick chat and catch-up before heading over towards Bank.
OK -- this is actually really embarrassing. Bank tube station is one of those ones that I use all the time. A lot of lines come through, so I have been in that part of the world more times than I can count. Right in front of the station is a beautiful old building that I have always assumed is the Bank of England. I learned today that what I have always thought was the Bank is, in fact, the Royal Exchange. The Bank is across the street. Oh well, one is never too old to learn new things!
We began to wander down towards St. Paul's and decided that perhaps it was time for some lunch. We found a place that serves dim sum. I have had this food in the past, but this was something else entirely. Very fresh and very good. The perfect lunch when one is going to walking all afternoon.
London Underwriting Centre
My home away from home for eight years. We spent the afternoon walking. We went from St. Paul's down Fleet Street to Samuel Johnson's House. From there, we wandered through the Inns of Court looking at the beautiful gardens and taking loads of photos. We stopped for a beer at The Southerner Pub. They sold NZ beer, so Nat and I thought it was an appropriate place to stop.
From there, we wandered through the Middle and Inner Temples, finally making our way back to the river. We walked all the way along the river back into the City. We were more than ready for a proper drink now, so we went over to the Emperor for old time's sake. Jeremy, Zarina and Rich came to meet us and we spent a couple of hours laughing and catching up. I ran into two people I used to do business with and was reminded again how lucky I am not to have to work this summer. The conversation was all about the market and what is happening. I feigned interest I did not feel.
As all visitors to London do, Nat wanted a curry for dinner. She, Jeremy and I headed out to our local curry house
The Royal Exchange
And not, as I thought for so long, the Bank. and feasted until we were full. We came back to the flat, full of good food and wine and feeling that really good tired when one has been outside walking all day. And then what a treat! As we walked through my front door, there was not one but TWO bunches of flowers that friends of mine had sent as a thank you. Absolutely gorgeous and they have really brightened up my living room. The perfect end to a great day.
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