Open House Saturdays

Wake up, breakfast, post office, drop off stuff at the charity shop and get a coffee;


Tube from Balham to the Bank of England, queue for two and a half hours, walk through Sir Merv's office and the MPC meeting room (note the bas-relief of Moneta holding a scale in one hand and a cornucopia in the other - somewhat ironic considering the former is pretty much ignored these days in favor of of the latter, à la QE) before lifting a gold bar (weight 13kg; value c. £459,000 - unfortunately they wouldn't let me take it home);


Have french onion soup for lunch beside St Paul's;

Continue toward Fleet Street and stop off to admire the Daily Express building's art deco foyer, marvel at the snake handrails in particular and almost recall being born upon looking up the spiral staircase;


Sit down in court room 15 for an intriguing and entertaining trial that originally took place in 1840's Nottingham (defendant, public execution, found guilty) at the magnificent Royal Courts of Justice;

Another coffee and off to Tottenham Court Road;


Negotiate a deal on a sweet new stereo (thanks Eamonn!) and DVD player, followed by grocery shopping and tube home;


Set up the new sounds and vids, enjoy a delicious meal with my beautiful wife, take out the rubbish, collapse into the swivel chair;


Knackered, but somehow end up writing this - all in all, happy days!