Pugsworth in London 2

Wow! so much to write about, having such a good time.

I'm getting used to road system here now, although the quality of the actual pavements is very poor and I'm still breaking a few rules as usual. I've done most of the Monopoly board now, Fleet St, The Strand, Trafalgar Square, Oxford St, Regent St, Picadilly, Bond St (old + new), and Pall Mall - ah the Union Jacks. My favourite spots in the city though would have to be Soho Sqr and St Katherine's Dock. Soho is just this cool little sqr in the middle of a block of old narrow winding streets, so it's away from the traffic. But it's popular with young set and is probably the closest thing to Brunswick St - except it's just the cafe's no shops and a grass square in the middle. St Katherine's dock is just west of Tower Bridge and is more up market but a beautiful setting. The old docks are now a marina set in amoungst old buildings and brick pavements meander around the edge and across a couple of bridges that rise up to let boats through as needed. The best thing was the way I discovered these spot, Soho, completely by accident while trying to take a short cut through the city and St Katerines Dock when I heard a local on Tower Bridge explaining to his visiting friend that it was a nice spot for lunch. Then I just happned to have time to kill on my way home and decided to check out, I must have spen almost half an hour riding around and stopping to take in the scene of returning yachts.

I've now done a few of the museum's - and there's heaps to see just in the free ones! I've been through Tate Britain, half of Tate Modern, the Victoria and Albert (an amazingly numerous and diverse collection) a bit of the Science Museum (mostly child oriented), and the British Museum. Still want to do the Museum of London, the Natural History Musuem and the other half of Tate Modern. My favourite so far would be Tate Britian (maybe because it's the first one I did, but) it was great to get a sense of the history of Britain through it's art from 1600 until now, particularly 1600-1900 which I new less about. My favourite room featured work by George Frederisk Watts whose art reflected his concerns about materialism, gambling and promiscuity. His foresight (on the first two at least) is remarkable for a man painting in the 19th century! The best peace featured people worshiping Mamon - the god of money and Watts plan was to erect a statue of him in Hyde Park so that those who worshiped him could at least be honest enough to bow down in public worship! The other piece I liked was by a 20th century young female artist whose name I've forgotten. It was simply two statements written in pink neon lighting - "Is anal sex legal?" "Is legal sex anal?"

I've now also visited the Tower of London, Windsor Castle and the Abby. The Tower was fun to explore, a big castle with lots of interesting history, not sure why we're still proud of all the weapons though. I was dissappointed that not everywhere was open to the public, ie. the northern battlements which I would have loved to walk. I asked a Yeoman Gaurd why not and he said "Security Reasons" "What do you mean?" I asked, "That's as far as it goes", he replied cutting the conversation of abruptly. - Bloody excuse for anything these days I reckon. Windsor Castle was also cool but a bit less of an exploration adventure becuase it's still in use. The funnies thing was exploring this castle that goes back centuries and still having planes flying overhead every minute to land at Heathrow. Queen Mary's Doll's house was cool but it was surpassed the following day when on returning from Henley (a town so classy it has people spruiking for charities on street corners, but absolutely no fast food joints and only one take away food place) I (again completely accidently while riding down a narrow path in the back of nowhere) discovered someone's private miniture railway including a miniture three storey railway station, three times the size of the dolls house, although not with quite the same detail of ornaments and furniture etc.

Anyway travelling's exhausting, and not just the riding bit, taking everything in and constantly meeting new people is quite tiring. I had three nights with Taryn, which was great, fairly relaxed, two more nights in a youth hostel (brining my total to five so far) including one where there actually wasn't another Aussie in the room - a couple of cool American's though one of whom gave me some great tips on Ireland and has just gone to Spain so more tips to come there. Then I've had the last four nights at Wokingham with my third cousin Jo Beck and her daughter Waverly who were also really relaxed and rode to Windsor and henley from there (on different days).

Had dinner with Dave and Teigan last night so cool catch up with them while we're all over here, they're well enjoying themselves, off to Italy for a week shortly. Tonight I'm back to a hostel and then tomorrow I'm off to Kent for a week. The following week I'm back in London for my PBI conference, then a I have a few free days here including hopefully one at Wimbledon and then I fly to Sweden for a week before returning to head up the east coast.

Some of the little but best things so far:
My gel seat cover - the only bike soreness I've had so far has been for about the first 30 seconds on the bike each morning - so practically nothing. Recommend it to anyone who does any sort of regular cycling - $15 I got mine from Rebel Sport.
The Holeproof rain jacket I bought - is great against wind but also completely wind proof which is very handy but also quite comfy - I have no fear of the elements - thanks for the tip Mum.
Flapjacks - the english version of Muesly bars, shorter and thicker in shape but so much more tasty and a great texture, not so chrunchy or chewy.

Enough for now, more to come including a whinge about whinging British buskers.

yours in permanent excitment (damn it's exhausting)
James