Unexpected Surprises

So Wednesday was the day I had planned to be in the capable hands of Paul BL, seeing all sorts of wonderful historic things in the west of England, but as already mentioned I instead found myself in London for a beautiful, although freezing day, with small patches of snow confirming that last night was not just a dream!

After buying a ticket for 'The 39 Steps' I decided to take a walking tour (with london walks, walks.com) of Hampstead...not too sure what to expect but it sounded good.

The guide was excellent, and the location beautiful. On the hills out of the city, along with a great mix of history and celebrity residents, it was a great walking tour. The cemetery around the Church was a highlight! Hundreds of gravestones in no order at all...and it was only afterwards that Mum tells me I have an ancestor buried there! Keeping him company is the real family around the Peter Pan story, among other notable names I don't recall.


Famous residents include a former house of Jamie Oliver, house of Ridley Scott, a couple of Spice Girls, a place owned by George Michael....etc! The village is just lovely, a really pleasant place to spend the afternoon. There is also the house that inspired the ship-like home of Admiral Boom in Mary Poppins.

Back in the city I stumble upon the premiere of the latest James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, and get the obligatory London star-siting with Dame Judie Dench.


And then the fantastic 'The 39 Steps': 4 actors play 150 roles (hmmm...more like 30 roles...) in an hilarious performance. The use of the 4 characters is brilliant, on some occassions having conversations with themselves etc, and the kind of humour is typically British.