Cheers

 

Good Bye Lovely London, Our Dear and Delightful Friend!

Missing so much about this eclectic and electric city as this chapter of our lives closes: our breathtaking morning scenery, the fabulous flat, the staggering history, amazing architecture, captivating culture, bold city sounds and sights, the beautiful people, tasty nibbles and noshes, vibrant vibe and all our amazing adventures!

London leaving, London longing, London loving! How blessed we feel to have had the marvelous opportunity of living in this phenomenal city. We cherished every minute of our whirlwind ventures here. So sad as we finish our time in our adopted home. Now our hearts belong to two countries and we love each of them! Hooray for both the red, white and blues . . . we’ll be back!

Signing off for #MandMLondonLife.

Cheers, London – bless and thank you!

Beautiful Britain . . . Lovely London Looks Continued!

 

Beautiful Britain

 Lovely London Looks Continued

Lovely London Looks!

 

Flat Out Fabulous Flat

 

Our Neighborhood and Flat

Mike and I absolutely fell in love with our flat (apartment) the second that we saw it! In fact, it was the first place the realtor showed us, but for as many others subsequent flats that we looked at, we knew the first one was ours.

Located at New Concordia Wharf on Mill Street (London area of Southwark), it was built in a converted 1800’s warehouse which housed spices, teas and other commodities. These items were unloaded and loaded onto river boats on the River Thames in Victorian times using the towering black cranes which can still be seen all along the buildings.

An 1878 book says:

“Shad Thames, and, indeed, the whole riverside, contain extensive granaries and storehouses for the supply of the metropolis. Indeed, from Morgan’s Lane – a turning about the middle of Tooley Street, on the north side, to St Saviour’s (once called Savory) Dock, the whole line of street – called in one part Pickle Herring Street, and in the other Shad Thames – exhibits an uninterrupted series of wharves, warehouses, mills, and factories, on both sides of the narrow and crowded roadway.”

During WWII, bombs rained down all over London, and this area was no different, although a few of the warehouses escaped being hit. Later, during the 20th century, the area declined when use of shipping containers meant goods had to unload further east. The last warehouses closed in 1972. One of our movers recalled playing in our very flat as a boy. He said it still smelled of spices and he and his friends had great fun making up games using the conveyor belts that were left there.

Various artists took up residence in the low-cost area after the closures, but the area was regenerated in the 1980s and 90s when it was converted into amazing, eclectic and luxurious flats.

We’ve never lived anywhere SOOOOOO cool! Exquisite yet quirky, posh but comfy, it sits directly on the Thames with an additional tidal waterway to one side. Perched just at the end of where tourists don’t wander (with a little wooden bridge and gates that locked at night), it was close enough to be quickly in the thick of city life, but removed enough to be peaceful.

We enjoyed U.S. amenities such as a full-sized freezer/fridge and a washer and dryer! Happily, the flat was completely furnished with unique and elegant, yet comfortable furniture; it really was completely turn-key (including dishes, and decor), so we needed little more than our toothbrushes and clothes. Having three bedrooms and baths meant we could share our find with our family; they were able to visit often and we had such fantastic times! 

Right out our bedroom doors to the balcony, the River Neckinger flows. Often we'd see small crafts and kayaks go by, headed to or from the Thames. It’s a “reduced subterranean river that rises in Southwark and flows approximately 2.5 kilometers through that part of London to St Saviour’s Dock where it enters the Thames.”*

It has a pretty colorful (?) history, as it’s the place where convicted pirates were hanged at the Wharf in the 17th century. “The name of the river is believed to derive from the term ‘devil’s neck cloth,’ a slang term for the hangman’s noose.”*

Other tidbits about it include*:

• 14th century mention by Geoffrey Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales 'as the place where the Pilgrims water their horses on their way to Thomas Becket’s shrine.'
• 16th century writings by herbalist and botanist John Gerard about the wild willow herb found there.
• Middle ages: the Bermonsey Abbey, a local religious house, used the Neckinger’s water to power a Tide mill.
• 17th and 18th centuries saw homes and businesses being built on the former Abbey grounds and tanners being attracted to its banks for the supply of tidal water.
• In 1790 the paper-producing Neckinger Mill was established and was later sold to leather manufactuers.
• In the 1980s the area was converted into residential development

*Wikipedia sourced

Our view was breathtaking with Tower Bridge and the Gerkin building (plus the museum, shops and restaurants) in sight to the left of us and other warehouses and along the river bends, Canary Wharf (the financial district) was to the right. The colorful “Harpy” houseboat was anchored just across our sidewalk. Intrigued by the rising and falling tides and the quiet stream of nautical neighbors going by, we reveled in life on the River – it was always a show, from kayaks to yachts and everything in between; even cruise ships floated by. The nighttime lights were mesmerizing as they danced off the river and sparkled in the city. Tower Bridge stood a stately guard with the Tower of London just beyond. It’s a sight I could watch forever – day or night!

This flat was a dreamy place to be and we adored EVERY minute of living there!

Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da--Daaa - BOOM! Battle Proms at Ragley Hall

Battle Proms

What a spectacular way to wrap up our time in London – with the annual Battle Proms, complete with full-orchestra concerts (Boogie Woogie and classical music), WWI Calvary maneuver demonstrations on horseback, a Spitfire aircraft fly over and a yummy boxed-dinner picnic! Then add 110 ground shaking cannons firing in time to the “1812 Overture,” a flag-waving sing-along and phenomenal fireworks displays (3 of them in total)! What an extravaganza! It is the quintessential British "party in the park!" In a word: WOW!!!

Moat Movie . . . Fire Monument . . . Queen's Fancy Fashions

Luna Cinema

Luna Cinema’s movie under the stars = Star Wars: The Force Awakens” viewed while actually sitting IN the Tower of London moat! Whaaaat?!? It was a crazy location and such a kick to perch on chairs in the grass among the other picnicking people with the giant movie screen in front of us and a blanket of stars overhead. I had to pinch myself a few times to see if it was real that I was in such a place, viewing space and feeling history literally so close! 

Monument to the Fire

Traversed the crazy spiral staircase of the Monument to the Great Fire which decimated the city of London in 1666. The blaze started from a spark in a bakery on Pudding Lane and burned for days. Once we ascended the winding and tiny stairs, the views of the city which literally rose from the ashes and continues to flourish were fantastic! Mike, mom and I agreed, it was worth the hike – and we earned a certificate for our 311 stairs efforts.

Interesting Monument Facts:

• The Monument is a Doric column made of store and topped with a gilded urn of fire. Its base has inscriptions in Latin on 3 sides and on the fourth, a sculpture of the destruction of the city and directions for its restoration.
• Sir Christopher Wren (of St Peter's Cathedral fame) was one of it's designers. 
• "It's height marks its distance from the site of the shop of Thomas Farriner (or Farynor), the king's baker, where the blaze began." 

-Wikipedia

Buckingham Palace State Room and Queen’s Fashions Tour

A great girl’s day out for mom and I came as we dropped into Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms for a behind-the-scene’s look at her majesty, Queen Elizabeth’s fashions throughout the years. Some stunning, some sturdy, always with a hat, the clothes were lovely and it was a fun peek into her world of color, texture and design.

Favorites included her intricate and beautiful wedding dress, gowns worn to formal diplomatic dinners and weddings, riding gear, and outfits for Ascot, state visits and garden parties. It was interesting to learn about her staff: dressers, hat makers, seamstresses, tailors, jewelers and the like. Who knew getting dressed was such an event?!?

Mom and I also delighted in the rent-a-chair option at the lovely park by Buckingham Palace and soaked up some sun and people-watching before our tour.

Picture This - Tate . . . The Clink . . . Beatle Crossing

 

Picture This - With a Twist! Tate Modern Museum

International modern and contemporary art galore is at Tate Modern in the former Bankside Power Station.  It houses the national collection of British art from 1900 to present day.  The Tate Modern is actually one of the world's largest museums of modern and contemporary art, and the 6th most visited art museum in the world.  Organized into eight different areas, each one has a named theme or subject.  Also "the Turbine Hall, which once housed the electricity generators of the old power station, is five stories tall with 3,400 square meters of floor space.  It is used to display large, specially-commissioned works by contemporary artists. . . " (Wikipedia).

Some of its most famous works include "Ships in the Dark" by Paul Klee, "Weeping Woman" by Picasso, "Water Lilies" by Monet, "Metamorphosis of Narcissus" by Salvador Dali, "The Kiss" by Rodin, the "Marilyn" (Monroe) Diptych by Andy Warhol, "The Snail" by Matisse, plus endless others.  One piece that catches the eye is a solid royal blue, painted canvas. ???  My favorite is the wall-sized sculpture featuring parts of actual bugles used by soldiers during wars.  The haunting music playing in the background completes the vibe.

A Tate visit is always interesting; sometimes wacky and odd, but thought provoking!  Perfect for modern art!

The Clink Prison

Dark and dank took on a whole new meaning as we visited the Southwark prison, The Clink, which operated from the 12 century until 1780!   It’s thought to be the oldest men’s prison and likely the oldest women’s prison in England.  History says “The prison served the Liberty of the Clink, a local manor area owned by the Bishop of Winchester rather than by the reigning monarch.  . . . the Bishop kept all revenues from the Clink Liberty and could put people in prison for failing to make their payments.”  He could also imprison heretics.  

It displayed all kinds of heavy, squeaking doors, implements of unpleasant purpose, stocks, a chair with straps and all such paraphernalia.  We were happy to only have to take our 2-minute turn in the stocks and then dash out for sunshine and freedom!  Liberty is awesome!

Abbey Road's Zebra - I Mean "Beatle" Crossing

We were excited to "Come Together" (hum along to the Beatles' classic songs when you see " ") and see "Something" special on Abbey Road where the Beatles recorded their eleventh studio album, "Abbey Road," named after the location of EMI Studios in London.  It wasn't an "Octopus' Garden," but we were pleased that as we visited we could say "Here Comes the Sun" and take a walk on that famous crosswalk (or as the say in England, "Zebra Crossing") as we mimicked the epic group in their album cover-shot jaunt in the same place.

Tidbits:  the 1969 album contains blues, rock and pop genres.  The album found immediate commercial success with its lead single "Something"/"Come Together" topping U.S. music charts.