J asks what we're going to do today, and I don't know either. But as we're having morning coffee at Starbucks Laura Clarke messages to say that she and the children, off school for their Easter break are going to Southbank. Are we interested? It's a lovely shirtsleeves day and we meet up with Laura, her cousin Olivia, Jenny's au pair Jonathan, and seven assorted children at the little park underneath (almost literally) the London Eye. Lovely holiday feeling with tons of children, ice cream and candy floss, street performers, and the Thames full of boats of sightseers.
Cross on the Hungerford footbridge and pick up bits for a picnic. Minor complaints from the oldest of the kids re distance walked, so we stop ay Somerset House - royal palace if you go back 500 years or so but now civil service offices mostly - to picnic. Spot well chosen, Sam and Kai, as there's filming going on for a period TV program. J asks: Suspicions of Mr Pritchard. The building is good period background, though they're clearly avoiding including the arch that gives onto the Strand and passing red buses. A fair number of short takes with horses and carriages, crinolined women, top-hatted men and fetching children. And in between the sight of 19th century characters drinking from polystyrene cups and checking their cell phones.
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