Saturday, April 17/2010

The volcano is still erupting and the flight ban continues to be extended. So we go over to the Welby where one of the co-owners assures us there will be no problem extending our stay should our flight not go on Monday. In fact we're not the first to present the same problem. Ahead of us is a young man whose Air India fight to Toronto has already been cancelled who now appears to be paying a day at a time to extend his stay.

The day is sunny and warm and the sky, ironically considering the volcanic ash problem, is blue and cloudless. So we decide to go to see Dr. Johnson's house as we've always intended to and have a 2 for 1 voucher. It's jjuust off Fleet St. near Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub (rebuilt in 1666 after the Great Fire of London!) A four story house containing (despite some war-time damage to the garret) some original panelling and floorboards and quite a few paintings and engravings of Johnson and his associates. The front door is remarkable for its security devices - security clearly as much a problem in the 18th century as in the 21st. There's a small glass fanlight window above the door with a metal rod across it to prevent the lowering in of a child thief through the small opening. The door itself is crossed by a massive chain, its links bigger in diameter than a man's thumb. To prevent anyone from lowering a hook through the fanlight to life the chain rom the hooks on which it rests, the hooks themselves are corkscrew shaped.

Hop a bus on fleet St, a number 11. It's a stunning day so we get the greand tour from the top deck - past Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey and Victoria Station and along King's Road in Chelsea. At the end of King's Road is World's End pub, recommended by Shirley, but it proves to be closed for renovations so we head home.

By evening there are stories of people taking extraordinary means to get back to the UK despite the flight ban. Thus one man, on being told that there is room on the channel ferry for vehicle but no more foot passengers, buys a second hand bike in France, pedals it up the ramp as required, suitcases in hand, and is home. And John Clese spends £3000 to take a taxi from Oslo to the UK - all right if you have the £3000 and if your mourney doesn't involve crossing the Atlantic. By the time we go to sleep the flight ban has been extended to 1 pm tomorrow.