We
had intended to have a quiet day in, notice that I said ‘had’ and did we stick
to the plan.
Of
course we didn’t.
It
was such a beautiful day that we scrapped plan A, and after breakfast closed
the door behind us and went out.
We bought
coffees from the little café at Crystal Palace Station and caught the train
into the city.
Big Ben
chimed the three quarter hour as we walked across London Bridge. It was hardly
a walk in a straight line, more of a dodge around tourists taking pictures,
folks lugging suitcases and a general throng of babbling excited people.
Along
past The Eye we surged with the chattering swarm, past the whistle blowing street
magician and a Charlie Chaplin look alike. A bit further on we spotted one a
group of our favourite street performers. A quartet of young men from Nigeria (I
think) The Man and I stopped to watch them do one of their classic stunts. One
of their number is so loose-limbed that he can rest one foot and then the other
behind his head…yes you have read that correctly…behind his head. One of his
mates then picks him up and puts him into a large shallow bowl and hoists him
up onto his head and carries him about.
It is
a real crowd pleaser when a child from the audience volunteers to be a part of
the routine and follows the dance moves. This part of the act culminates in a
human tower with the child lifted and carried around as part as well.
‘Look
at that’ The Man said pointing to a mass of bubbles floating past. We soon found
the origin of the huge rainbow coloured globules that were floating amongst the
trees. We watched entranced, both of us grinning from ear to ear as a young man
surrounded himself with a multitude of them. He soon attracted a crowd of delighted
children who were as captivated as we were. We laughed alongside them as they
ran about jumping and shrieking with pleasure.
There’s
a carousel a bit further along and today we didn’t resits it. Well OK I have to
put up my and it was me actually. I just love these things, and my wonderful man
mounted the coloured pony next to mine and we were off on a magical ride. I
think the smile on my face was as wide as the little girl’s riding along behind
us.
The
Man and I had been having such fun that we hadn’t noticed the black clouds
building up until they were nearly overhead.’ Uh oh, better make for the nearest
train station or we will get wet’
Too
late.
The
rain had passed and the sun was shining again by the time we got back to
Crystal palace, but it had turned rather cool and we were pleased to get back inside
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