London

Sunday 8th May 2011

We stayed with Jane and Harry her son, a budding West End producer. Jane and the late afternoon sun welcomed us.

A warm welcome

By the next morning we were walking blissfully around Westminster.

Westminster Abbey

London bus

Big Ben

We explored the Embankment where Ben was working as a young man in Kipling House as a structural engineer's assistant.

Kipling House

And marvelled at the height of the London Eye.

London Eye


Tuesday 10th May 2011

We were lucky enough to catch Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre. It was an amazing contrast of grubby, angry coal miners and delicate ballet dancers, sometimes all dancing together.





Wednesday 11th May 2011

Ben then went to visit Pete and Jen, catching up with Graham, a friend from his wild youth. He wrote:

"The time with Pete and Jen went very fast and they surprised me with Graham Moon at a jazz night in a Kent Pub.

We chatted like old times.  The years rolled back and we decided we hadn't changed. We hadn’t seriously caught up for maybe 25 years."

Graham, Ben, Pete, Jen and Brian

Meanwhile I was with Richard, Margaret and Oli in Oxford.

Margaret and Oli

Preparing for a very special event.....