The weather has been odd; the same for London where we were on a quick visit. Except there, it was between 7 and 10 degrees centigrade warmer than at home, even in a wind. Unusually,I do mean a wind and not what we, here in the blustery North would call a breeze. There was no need to wear a coat though. The most that was needed later on in the day was a lightweight jacket.

London was seething with the world's kids who, now having school holidays, have descended like a disease, determined to spread it and their unchecked exuberance on the metropolis.  Egocentricity was rife. We fought our way through the wide pavements around Westminster that were seething with humankind,  to get to a bus stop.  We waited at the wrong one. I called to rush to the next one - not far away - and found myself on the bus on my own, lamenting my missing hubby. The doors closed, the bus started off and then I saw hubby looking forlornly in and waving at me. :wave: The driver saw him too, stopped and opened the door so we could be reunited.

The idea was to escape the hordes and get to the South Bank for a walk down to the Millennium Bridge, which takes you directly to St Paul's Cathedral.  You can wander straight on down the South Bank to places such as Shakespeare's New Globe Theatre and eventually, Tower Bridge and so on. Southwark Cathedral is a really interesting visit and is  within easy reach of The Globe Theatre.

There was no escaping the seething masses. We had to fight our way across Westminster Bridge to get to the South Bank, however, the crowds thinned out to manageable proportions as we moved past the main attractions of the Dali Exhibition, The London Eye and MacDonalds, a popular place  for people to bunch up and get something to munch. Families picnicking with their food purchases on The bank side, added to the congestion. The pigeons, ever daring, loved all the droppings and scraps.

There is no doubt that the Millennium Bridge has opened up the old City of London to life where it had none prior to the existence of the bridge. The City died at 6pm and at the weekends. No more. The new vitality of the area is visible and palpable by day or illuminated night.  I love it.