Good morning – LONDON
London. Flashing past my eyes. There are SO MANY people here, throngs, crowds, many, many different languages, different modes of dress, different foods and and so much sound and light and colour. I am SO happy to be back in the big city. I feel invigorated by this huge collection of peoples.
Thank you so much to our first three wonderful guest writers. You did a great job holding the fort while I was out of range. There will be a few more guest writers before this adventure is over.
Yesterday I landed at London Heathrow airport after an uneventful flight in a half full plane where I was able to stretch out across three seats and sleep all the way to London, (that has not happened to me since the 90’s).
I took the tube into town and decided not to look at any of the signage and rely totally on Feet Memory to get me all the way from Heathrow out to Islington. And it worked perfectly. I have not been to London in ten years or so but my feet and hands remembered every turn, expected every staircase, made every train and it felt a little like coming home. I was totally at ease. No fear of failure this time.
Then I got caught up with people and shopping and mooching about – drinking good coffee, a few wines, popping up and down into the underground like an inquisitive mole towing my tiny wheelie bag behind me = sitting in cafes looking out the window – slowly lifting up out of my prairie bubble. Poor Camera House was left sulking in the bottom of my bag until later in the afternoon – forgotton as I traveled through the underground towards my old friends London home for the next few nights. 
Today I am off out into the city again for some more gadding about. Camera House will have a prominent role to play today.
By tomorrow I am sure I will have more to show you and more to tell you about.
For now – look out the window of the cafes with me. Watch the people for a minute. It is almost meditative.
I will be back tomorrow to show you the real Day One of our London Outing.
Love celi
56 Comments on “Good morning – LONDON”
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thekitchensgarden 
It’s so great to see/hear your adventures and I’m looking forward to more. Have fun!
Yes, I think i will – nothing like catching up with old friends in a big city! c
welcome the this time zone! … well an hour off, but close
Jean – thank you – yes – it is a quick trip now, so won’t be getting out your way – so sad!! c
booo! … and from the cows, “moooo!”
We were in London in November and it was AMAZING! Can’t wait to visit again. Looking forward to reading more about your trip.
Love from Africa.
🙂 Mandy xo
Yes, i do love London and really I have only seems such small slices of it – the central areas do attract me the most.
Those photos took me on a mild nostalgia trip 🙂 Charing Cross Road, Leicester Square – and is that a bit of Regent Street? It looks cold, people are rugged up. I hope you have enough warm clothes in your tiny rollie, Miss C, London’s damp, freezing blasts of wind go right through you. Looking forward to tomorrow’s instalment…..
Holloway Road 😉
YES! My old supermarket Mad! you know it.. and it is warm here compared to the prairies.. which is lucky Kate because you can only fit so many warmies in a bag the size of a footstool!
It’s Selby’s that gives the game away and I’m only a mile or so down the road. You came at the right time – it’s supposed to get cold again, later in the week.
I was thinking more of the second shot – but Celi’s right, the Waitrose does give the game away in that last image!
I love London!! Enjoy! 💚
Hey chook – you did a great job with your people yesterday – thank you! c
Thank you dear! Tarnegolita says “bock bock!” 🙂
Welcome to England!
Thank you ! I am pleased to be here .. c
Oh, you lucky duck! I have been immersed in your photos. Yes, as Kate said, those Londoners are looking bundled up against the cold — but those are Londoners and it’s more likely to feel rather tropical to you, coming from winter in the American mid-west. Enjoy! ~ Mame 🙂
They are promising 10ºC today and a little sunshine – which is most welcome after all that rain last night 🙂
Have fun! It’s been a few years since I was last in London and I love seeing it through your eyes.
wow you were down at the Nags Head, only about a mile away from me
wow you were down at the Nags Head, only about a mile from me !!
[J&D] Doesn’t do it for us, Celi. Even in the years when we were more used to town-centred lives in mainland England Wales and Scotland, London was an alien place. Other big cities bearable for a while, but not London. Just a place for passing through via the big rail stations – Euston, Paddington, Kings Cross, Victoria … and even that not for more than 20 years. (Those stations are exciting places in themselves – but only because they are gateways to the rest of the country!) However if we could be teleported to and between the V&A Museum, Natural History Museum, The Tate Modern, The Globe Theatre, and similar, then that would do us just fine – we’d just love to visit those places, especially the V&A. And then back home to Uist.
I dont like London..its too busy and too smelly. I like the country life
I loooved London, way back in 1994 😉 Laura
I looooved London way back in 1959! I’m loving seeing glimpses of it again here. Thanks, Celi.
Thank you for the great photos Celi and have a fabulous time. From a very young age I have always embraced Samuel Johnson’s words: ‘When a man is tired of London he is tired of life’ !! Oh to be at Covent Garden or the National Theatre or the V&A . . . best wishes at our midnight . . . well, ‘none shall sleep’ if 100mm or torrential rain overnight s flooding the surrounds: your 10C and dry streets look wonderful . . . keep the Camera House busy . . .
I haven’t seen London since 1989. She still looks lovely to me! The husband and I are taking the family on one last family trip before our sons fly the nest as soon as the old house sells, destination: England, Scotland, and hopefully, Wales. Your photos and stories are adding to my excitement; can’t wait to see and hear more! Have a wonderful trip, Celi!
Great candid photos! Perhaps one day this farm girl will make her way to London. Enjoy yourself immensely, Celi! 🙂
I love how places that make a big impact on us can trigger all the memories we need, yet (in my case anyway) I often cannot remember some little incidental needed item walking from one side of the house to the other 😉
Enjoy!😊
Oh, I know that memory thing. Went to Maine for the first time in 6 years – and I knew exactly where everything was…… And I had to, as hubby got sick and was not able to help me. Horrible trip, but it was nice to not have fear along for the errands I made alone.
I so want to visit London!
It’s wonderful you remember the way, because I am sure there are lots of changes!
I know EXACTLY what you mean about being invigorated by being in a big city… with all the people, the sights, the smells and all that ‘movement’ flowing like a river in front of our eyes. And, as I’ve told you, that’s why I decided to sell this wonderful farmhouse – so I could get back out there!!
; o )
So happy you are on terra firma and loving the urban vibe! Look forward to seeing your photos. x
I hope you have a great time (and that the weather treats you nicely)! Looking forward to more photos. 🙂
Wow! The photos are just so exciting and lively and busy. I hope you have a fabulous time–I wish your fellowship could meet you in a lovely cafe for hugs galore!
Looking forward to your photos! Have fun!
Have a fab time. I love London and try to get up there most weekends with friends or to visit my daughters who live in South London, near Borough market. You should try to have lunch in the Shard, or just a drink. Oblix is nice and relaxed, and Southwark cathedral is interesting.
Ah, a great shot of a red bus! I am in London on the 8th and 9th, going to the Hockney exhibition and to a poetry event (and like you, seeing friends!) So much to do! I think the weather will be cold but dry, so good for your vigorous walking! Have a very good and refreshing time! Look forward to more of London through your eyes! Do look out for cormorants on the Thames! They can be spectacular! Very best wishes, Alison (Brackenbury)
Feels a little strange to be viewing pictures of London. But love how your journey is being told via these pages.
What fun, I hope you have a wonderful time.
Oh those colors! I feel color starved with all our monochromatic days. Have a wonderful time and eat some good food for us. And PLEASE tell us all about it! 🙂
Do I see duck confit, I love it. Have fun and enjoy your trip.
Glad to see that yo made it without any problems worth reporting. It’s been ages since I’ve been to the UK but I’ve enjoyed the times I’ve spent there. London’s museums alone are worth the trip. Looking forward to hearing more …
Loved seeing London through you! I love that city!!!!! Thank you. Very much enjoyed all 3 guest posts. Great choices.
Oh London! I spent a fun summer there many moons ago. Your photos are bringing back memories.
Ive been away from the internet for a few days and am just catching up slowly…glad to hear your travels are going well and you are enjoying an invigorating time!
Very exciting! Happy that your travels are going so well and we are along for the ride. What a different landscape from your home. Thank you for the tour.
Lovely, wonderful, crazy London!
Welcome to Europe, Celi! – Or – after Brexit – shall I say Welcome to THAT PART of Europe? Anyway have a lovely holiday, enjoy your trip!
❤️ London x hope you enjoy
great pics! Have fun!
Oh wow, I am seriously jealous! Looks like you had a great time though… Thank you for sharing. 🙂
If you have time, please check out my latest post about Brick &Liquor Cocktail bar – https://tootinghustle.wordpress.com/2017/05/24/brick-and-liquor-in-review/ and let me know what you think!
Happy blogging! x
Hi my blog is all about life in Britain if you want to check me out, I have only just started and haven’t got any followers- sorry for bugging you- Francesca
Sounds like a great time. This made me even more excited to visit at the end of this month after reading your post!