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So we’ve moved, not without incident (more on that later), away from St Pauls 
But I still have one more blog to write!! So lets pretend it hasn’t happened yet…
My morning jog is so spectacular I think I could sell it. Seriously. It’s called the “Jogging Tour of London” and it’s for all those health freaks who go on holidays and still want to be healthy (yes, I agree, almost not worth the holidays isn’t it?). Or for those people who need to see all the sites in a hurry. So come join me…
We would meet, bright and early at 6am (only in summer if we want bright) at the steps of St Pauls (where else?). From there we jog down to the Thames at Millennium Bridge. Continue along past Temple, Embankment – you have to go round Big Ben which forces you past Westminster Abbey – all the way down to the Tate before crossing the Thames at Vauxhall Bridge. Then jog all the way back on the south side; past The London Eye, Southbank, the Tate Modern, Shakespeare Globe, into Borough Markets and past London Bridge, sail past the HMS Belfast before crossing the Thames again over the magnificent Tower Bridge. Descend down the bridge on the north side again and jog along past the Tower of London before plunging into the wonderful little walkways that make up this section of the Thames Path. They have equally great only-could-have-been-named-by-an-Englishman names: Allhallows lane, Petty Wales, Fish Wharf, Waterman’s Walk, Sugar Quay Wharf, Angel Passage, Queenhithe. Finally pop out under Millennium Bridge again from Pauls Walk, up the stairs, crossing the finish lines and to victory though the HSBC gates. Cool down walk back to the steps of St Pauls.
Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but all those sites in an hour and a half has GOOD DEAL written all over it. I could be like Forest Gump, except it’s me not Forest, and jogging around London not the USA, and people PAY me to run with me! Yes, I like it. But small disclaimer must follow: I can only do 1 lap and I can’t talk during the tour; so read up and don’t be late.
It was raining a couple of days ago and two separate colleagues in two separate elevator trips both looked at me and sighed… “Well, that’s the end of summer then I guess”… WHAT!?! It’s still July!! I hope beyond hope that these uncannily similar prophecies are merely that well loved English pessimism we all know and love…? Less certainly I will descend into a state of morbid depression until someone convincingly reassures me that the sun will in fact be back.
A dummy’s titbit today: this may seem silly, but its true. All my memories of Mary Poppins has St Peters in Rome as the location of the “Feed the Birds” song. It wasn’t until I was standing outside St Peters Bascilica that I realised it didn’t look the same… and come to think of it, Mary Poppins is set in London… could it be my beloved St Pauls? OF COURSE, you idiot! They even mention it in the song lyrics!!!
For some childhood nostalgia, watch the clip from the movie on YouTube here. Watching it again now I cant help thinking how dirty pigeons are and how I would avoid any woman feeding pigeons like the plague. Oh well.
The fact is, that despite all the regrets I have about leaving my wonderful St Pauls, the City is a ghost town on the weekends (see a very early post I wrote about sunglasses to truly understand the tribal nature of this place). In winter especially, it was almost like being in the movie 28 Days Later - without the whole virus thing (luckily)… just eerily quiet. Weird, yes.
BUT, I will say this much. It’s the ultimate in convenience. I don’t think we could be positioned anywhere else that allows us such flexibility and access to downtown London. Having the central line as a base is a good start – I’ve heard it said this line is the best line and I have to agree – do YOU??. Beyond that, we are also within 10 minutes of the Circle, District, Northern and DLR lines. We can walk to Covent Garden, Borough, Farringdon, Shoreditch and Southbank inside of 15 minutes. We are nearly always on a direct tube line to anywhere our friends may be congregating for an evening of festivities. And yes, I know EVERYONE says that, but for us, it’s actually true!
At home, I’ve always had a commute; I’ve always had a bit of trek into the city for a night out… I cannot believe how awesome it is to realistically be able to walk to work. Ok, you caught me, I don’t actually walk – but why would I when a tube means I am literally 20 minutes door to door? I think I am gaining 2 hours a day compared to home as a result. Can this even be called a commute?? (Yes, yes, I know I could move closer to work in Sydney, but what would I do if I lived in Botany?!?!)
I guess also that this is possibly as East London as we’ll ever live. I think that places like Farringdon and Shoreditch… and even Aldgate (anther great Tayyabs dinner tonight btw) have so much to offer, I’m worried our move West won’t take us back there often enough.
Oh dear, what a ridiculous dilemma… how lucky we are.
The view from our flat
Well folks, it’s hard to believe that 10 months have elapsed since hubby-to-be and I landed down in London town – and in the spirit of trying to get the most out of the place we are MOVING! That’s right; in less than 2 weeks we are packing up our tiny flat and moving to a slightly less tiny flat. So of course now I can do nothing but lament the neighbourhood we are leaving.
There are many iconic landmarks in London; Big Ben, the London Eye, Hyde Park… but there is one landmark that I think will forever remain “London” to me and that’s the beautiful, big, bulbous dome structure that is St Pauls Cathedral.
Our flat-for-not-much-longer might not be much, but being on Ludgate Hill, it affords a spectacular view of St Pauls. I watch it out my window, I walk past it to and from work, and it’s been my beacon of light on some long walks home after a night on the town (because you can see it from all over London – law states no buildings in The City can be higher than it’s dome). I have not spent a day in London without encountering this building.
And it’s not bad to look at either! Rebuilt after the Fire of London in 1666, it is the piece de la resistance of architect Christopher Wren (there has been a cathedral on the site since 604). With more points of note than can be mentioned here, I’ll have to pick out the best; it’s dome is second in size only to St Peters in Rome (the inspiration for the design), Christopher Wren is actually buried in the Crypt (his memorial reads “Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you” – but in Latin), the back half of the interior is stark in its white Baroque style emptiness, the front richly decorated in the ornamental Victorian style (apparently Queen Vic was not a fan) but for me, it’s the contrast of the two designs that make it interesting. You can walk up through the Whispering gallery, the inner dome – right out to the very top of the dome for spectacular views of London. You can sit and listen to signing, or organs or watch concerts, dance… even mass!
Oh… and the bells. Just in case you don’t notice it when you walk past (!?!) the bells of St Pauls chime on the hour, every hour and go absolutely nuts at about 10:30am on a Sunday. Contrary to what you might be thinking, these bells are music to my ears. Not loud enough to wake me up (thank God – can you imagine?) just enough to make you smile when you wake up and realise it is Sunday.
AND I got my one and only glimpse of the Queen after she paid a visit one Sunday.
TIP: It is one of the few landmarks you have to pay to enter, but for people staying in London more permanently, you can donate your entry fee and get a years membership. The £3 guided tour will tell you all this and more (in fact, the guide loves this place more than me!)
Yes, I’ll miss you St Pauls. Mew.
louashton
