17-JUN-2013
Got to get value from those senior rail passes!
A class 153 to Wakefield c/o Northern.....once again no faults with the train, on time reasonably comfy for the short trip.
Calls first at Kirkgate that has been smartened up then onto Westgate for the East Coast main line.
Why isn't there a link straight into Westgate from the west would save a lot a phaffing around???
17-JUN-2013
East Coast get a bit of stick..
.. but this service only failing was the lack of reservations for the seats...not enough time to do them. So it was free seating but quiet at the front so not really a problem.
On time arrival at Kings Cross despite some delays en-route south of Doncaster.
17-JUN-2013
The catering was Ok as well.
Pie was filling and tasty. Plenty of red to wash it down as well. No complaints with the service..attentive without being intrusive...fine by me.
Just missing the chips!
17-JUN-2013
The apartments used were in the Borough area of London...
...Think Apartments London Bridge
10 mins walk from the Borough tube....clean, tidy, quiet enough, not convinced of the "American Twin" design of layout....seems a bit pointless as neither bed had privacy yet both had a bathroom.
Kitchen had everything needed though the cutlery took some finding......designers what is wrong with a drawer, why hide then under the cooker housing??
.
A simple redesign of this could make it a very usable two (en suite) bedroom apartment and could be used by two couples but as it stands everybody needs to be good friends! As there was only the two of us this was not an issue.
Handy for the River, Tower Bridge and Tower of London etc.
23-JUN-2013
The apartment face onto Long lane, ours was round the back away from the traffic noise and apart from bin men at 6am one morning no noise at all.
Image courtesy of street view as I never got round to taking one! (Ignore the date stamp.)
23-JUN-2013
Evening meal was at Del Aziz a Moroccan style establishment
Image c/o Streetview. Monday night is 50% off tagine night and as such the meal was excellent and about rightly priced....full price would have been a touch expensive.
I do recommend the lamb tagine though extremely tasty.
The group on the table next to us didn't look as if they were long out of school.....or am I just getting old! Even the manager asked for ID before serving alcohol as they looked 16 years old .....it is with regret he didn't feel the need to challenge my age.
18-JUN-2013
Tuesday morning and a walk to London Bridge to get a river trip.
Passed the Shard which was having some of the windows cleaned....bit like the Forth Bridge...finish just in time to start again.
No amount of money would entice me into the job of window cleaner on this building!
In this day and age there must be a simpler/safer way of cleaning windows from inside the building surely.
That's the pair of blokes in the blue square.
£30 a pop for a trip up the Shard if booked in advance rising to £100 a go if you turn up and go...I now understand why there were no queues......
18-JUN-2013
River trip upstream to Embankment before returning east to North Greenwich
This is a section from the RAF War Memorial at Embankment.
18-JUN-2013
At the Dome there is now a gondola system over the river "Emirates Air Line"
Emirates seem to sponsor everything these days.
Weather not at its best but on a clear day the views would be impressive.
18-JUN-2013
Looking east the Thames Barrage can be seen spanning the river
18-JUN-2013
Looking west gives a view of the Dome and Canary Wharf area
Further round to the north the remains of the Olympic Park can be seen
As I was to find out later.....not much left at the Park apart from the main stadium.
18-JUN-2013
London City Airport can be seen in the distance, the planes make a steep approach and seem quite close as they fly over as you cross the river.
