Friday 3 February - London to Ottawa

It had rained heavily in the night but there was a cloudless blue sky when we set out for London Airport.  I think we saw more rain in London in a week than we saw in ten weeks in Paris. The Circle line train came quickly and the Heathrow Express was good.  We went out at line speed on the down main line and didn't slow at all until the junction for the airport. The airport formalities were easy and I even found a bottle of Craigellachie single malt scotch at the specialty whisky store.

Boarding Air Canada was very relaxed indeed and the flight was very smooth. We arrived in Ottawa 50 minutes early.  I wish all transatlantic flights could be this easy.

Thursday 2 February - Eltham College Class of 1960 Reunion

We had a great turn out at the Skinners Arms on Judd Street near Kings Cross, St. Pancras. This time I decided to to take individual pictures so that new comers could readily identify us - we have changed a little in the last 55 years or so.

John Bingham

Colin Bishop

   

John Boyd

  

Julian Hale

Colin Churcher

Dai Bamford

Charles Smith

Rob Carter

John Palmer

Derek Browne

Allan Collins

Dai Rhys-Tyler (Treasurer)

Mike Fulford

Peter Gregory

We raised our glasses to Clive Grenyer, Ian Cunningham, Ray Godfrey, Gethyn Timothy and Roy Bennet who sent their regrets.

Lunch was excellent and we managed to put the affairs of the world in good order.  It was agreed that the next meeting of the group would be on Thursday September 14 2017 at 1200 at the same location. We were pleased to see Alan Collins for the first time and hope to see additional first timers in future. I have made the reservation.

Wednesday 1 February - Borough Market

It has been wet today,, very much like in Ireland - it is either just about tio start raining or has just stopped.  We walked out as far as Earls Court, didn't like the area and took the underground to Southwark and walked to Borough Market.  This is the first time we have seen it in full swing at lunch time on a weekday.  The place was popping and everybody seemed to be eating something from the amazing variety of foods available. It was fun just walking around watching people.

After a Notting Hill Pale Ale (cask) we walked along by the river, past Tower Bridge as far as Butlers Wharf.

This plaque commemorates that the Austrian GeneralHaynau was run out of Southwark on September 4, 1850.
http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/history/down-with-the-austrian-butcher-the-international-incident-that-happened-in-bankside/

We returned via Tower Bridge to Tower Hill and the District Line.