London weekend

London weekend We had quite a full weekend in London last week, first off we went to the national Portrait Gallery to see the portrait newly identified as Catherine of Aragon. There she sits right next to a portrait of Henry painted at the same time and she couldn’t be anyone else. I don’t know why she wasn’t identified years ago. The NPG was a bit crowded so we didn’t linger too long but went off to see the Old Operating Theatre at St Thomas’ hospital near London Bridge. Really fascinating, was used up to about 1860 then got left bricked up and forgotten about for 100 years until someone climbed in through a window 15 feet above an adjacent roof in 1956. It in the top of a church tower and has a large glass roof and is set out just like a theatre with tiered standing rows in a horseshoe. There’s also a herb garret (attic) with old remedies & cures and lots of old operating instruments to see. Worth while going to see for an hour if you are passing by .For dinner we went to Bel Canto a splendid restaurant in Lancaster gate. Fine French cooking and every 15 minutes or so the waiting staff sing opera. NO really! they are trained opera singers and we had two females and three males singing some great opera. With some drinking songs for audience participation too. Sunday it was nice and sunny so a slow stroll along the Thames brought us to the Tate modern. Now try as I might, OK I’m a philistine! I did look with open mind and heart but I just don’t get nearly all of it. Take an example -- Square tube exhibit-- no its just some old ventilation duct rescued from a skip and leant against a wall, and as for the room full of dinosaur poo ….where’s the art I ask. There was one room of photos with an industry and architecture theme and yes some if the photos were brilliant, shadows and angles etc but for the most part it was just dull scribbling on the walls. All too soon we had to travel back to Sussex and home but a great weekend in London

Hampton Court palace in the snow

An out of the usual season visit to Hampton Court Palace for the day and snow lay all about crisp and even but not too deep. The snow had the advantage that most of the tourists stayed away so we had a great time wandering around with not too many people getting in the way. The gardens were closed off due to the ice and snow but the warm inside of the palace made up for that. The day at court series of play-lets was about King Henry VIII trying to woo Jane Seymour. With her brothers help, he set about trying to convince her of his love whilst plotting to get rid of Anne Boleyn. He gave her some money (taken from the brother of course. Which she refused playing the long game. The characters are really great and in the setting that the events actually took place makes the whole palace come alive and for the kids it's a brilliant way to learn and observe history. One youngster was given the task of presenting the gift on behalf of the King to Jane Seymour. We didn't see the end of the series as we had a thoroughly entertaining, informative and interesting two hours at the Royal school of Needlework. The school has it's base at the Palace and it is the 140th year anniversary of it's founding this year. We saw some excellent craft from bygone years and there were some students sewing in the studio so we were able to chat about their work. It was quite incredible to see a person working with gold thread, yes actual gold thread! triple wound for strength and sewn without the aid of a magnifying glass. Under great secrecy in 2011, The ladies there were the people who sewed the wedding dress for Kate Middleton yes that dress! but shhhh! I can't tell you any more about it. We finished the day off with a splendid three course dinner and an excellent bottle of wine at the Mitre Hotel just opposite the Palace finishing off with coffee and tea in the minstrels library before donning our overcoats for the journey back to central London. Areallt great day all round and thanks to the ladies at The RSN