Thursday, April 30/2026

 A serendipitous afternoon. The original plan was to go down to the Saatchi Gallery, one of our favourites, but as with any plan involving the London Underground, changes can happen. Jubilee line to Westminster fine but the Central line going west clearly in difficulty. Eventually struggle one stop on to St James’s Park, but it transpires that the problem is a fire on the tracks at Kensington High Street so we bail out.

Lovely sunny day as we walk down to Parliament Square. Lots of sightseers including a large group of Muslim schoolchildren, aged about eight or nine. A passing pedicab decorated with hearts asks if we want to hop on. Do we actually look like tourists I ask J. But of course we do - who but tourists would be taking leisurely strolls round the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey on a sunny afternoon. 

J points out the bronze statue of Churchill wearing a naval greatcoat and leaning on his walking stick. The sculptor was Ivor Roberts-Jones and the image was based on a photograph of Churchill inspecting the bombed out chamber of the House of Commons in May 1941.

Think it’s the first time we’ve actually looked at Big Ben since its renovation was completed in 2022, though we’ve been in London many times since. It really sparkles - and so it should after £80 million ($147,835,460 CAD) worth of cleaning and repairs.