London and Chester

Mike was up early to catch the 7:35 train to London where he was attending a meeting. What seemed amazing to us (used to long journeys almost to anywhere out of Cornwall) the time to London from Chester is just a few minutes over two hours!

The journey went smoothly - except that the on board coffee machine had broken down so no hot drinks! As soon as he arrived at Euston he dropped down to the Underground for a short trip to Westminster, close to where his meeting was being held.

The meeting was listed as 11am to 4pm (at the latest) so the return trip was booked on that basis, leaving just after five o'clock. However the business was completed well ahead of schedule and broke up must before 2:45.

To fill in, Mike walked slowly across the square outside Parliament - with the well publicised scaffolding rapidly going up to enable the very long restoration - which has led to the chimes being silenced whilst the work is taking place.

He continued along the Embankment and found a quiet little garden - there are hundreds of these around the centre of London but not always obvious to find. It was warm and sunny, just right for a sit and read until it as time to head up to Euston and thence back to Chester, on time around a quarter past seven.

Meanwhile, Christine spent the first part of the morning catching up on washing and cleaning before going out to look around the shops and re-stock from the supermarket.

In the afternoon she went to visit the cathedral and found there a large exhibition of modern sculptures.

For the moment, here are her photos but she will be along later to tell her own story of what she saw.

Here goes: The sculptures were very varied in style from very realistic to decidedly abstract. They were placed throughout the cathedral and the cloisters. The cathedral nave was clear of chairs which emphasised its immense dimensions which really provided a superb backdrop, complementing  the sculptures.

A powerful presence

Noah with the raven

Cat catching a bird

The view down a cloister

An enormous sculpture but what was being referenced?

A beautiful solid shape on top of a cupboard.

Placed near the war memorial chapel

of two at the entrance to the exhibition. Very tactile.

In the Cathedral grounds - the middle reminiscent of the 'seed' at the Eden Project.

By the West Door

Beyond, the two elderly men playing and singing hits from the thirties and forties - just as they were two years ago when last we visited Chester. Much appreciated by passers-by.