Free Piano

I love random encounters in big cities and this one really made me smile. This piano was at the end of the Millenium Bridge, and was left there to be played by anyone who wanted to. This young women was playing the most beautiful song - sadly after a long walk around London my feet were killing me and Craig was exhausted so we decided not to stay long and listen.

Getting my cultural fix

Donmar Theatre at Wyndham's Theatre - June 2009

I dream of being able to get weekly doses of culture but the reality of my life (budget, location and hubby's interests) mean outings such as the theatre are rare treats. However, I have had some lovely theatre treats living in the UK, including two special productions at Wyndham''s Theatre - Madame deSade starring Judy Dench, Rosamund Pike and Frances Barber and Hamlet starring Jude Law.

The longest running production in London, the 39th steps, one stillfor me to see

London tat

Liberty - like no other

I have never seen a shop like Liberty - to a girl from Sydney, a shop like Liberty is like being sucked through a worm-hole back to old England. It is beautiful.

Loving the London Eye

On our March 2009 weekend Craig and I decided to overcome our reservations in doing something totally touristy and took a dusk ride on the London Eye. Before our ride, we had coffee sat next to a family who'd just got off their ride. The consensus seemed to be that the ride was only okay. I'd been on the London Eye in 2006, and apart from the long wait at the time, I mostly remembered the greyness I saw up there.

Dusk proved to be a perfect plan. We loved how London looked glittering as the dark set in. We shared our pod with only 4 other people, a family and a young women visiting from the states. Taking photos proved to be tricky as our cameras couldn't handle the low light, but this allowed us to all stand back and enjoy what we saw.

Craig was so impressed with the ride, he even bought the official photo.

Touristy things can still be winners.

My new favourite musuem

I finally got myself to the Victoria and Albert Museum, a museum I kept skipping when I went up to London. If I had realised that they had a dedicated jewellery gallery and a photography gallery I would have got there sooner.

I loved the museum and know I'll keep going back - there is so much still for me to see. I hadn't finished seeing what I wanted to see, we got evacuated with a small fire. It made for an eventful visit.

Portobello Markets

I no longer seem to be able to visit London with Portobello Markets - we usually stay in the Park Inn in Hyde Park as it is walking distance to the markets (and so central to other things too).

I love the colour, the interesting array of items on sale, and even the crowds. To me the markets signify everything I love about the UK - diversity, history and beauty.

I have started buying vintage jewellery there - I justify to my husband by reminding him the vintage jewellery market isn't as big in Australia as it is here, that I am just taking advantage of the opportunity of living in the UK. He doesn't really care, he is happy for me to indulge in buying things I love - oh, bless him.