Yesterday we saw Southwark Cathedral, which is small but lovely. It has an excellent refectory for tea and cakes. We also saw the Shard, which is the new building in that area. In fact, the Shard is not quite finished. It costs £30 to go in the lift to see the view. Steep in both senses of the word. You need to book in advance.
Not satisfied with tea and cakes, we also went to a well known pub, the building of which dates from 1640s, the George Inn Yard. I had heard a radio programme about it and was very keen to see the pub where Dickens sent one or two of his characters. Many historical Londoners must have known the George Inn, not far from London Bridge. It is all National Trusty and well-restored, but the food was surprisingly reasonably priced. Had a very enjoyable time there.
In the old coaching days.
This is the pub in modern times.
We also went to see a play, Quartermaine's Terms, which was very well acted with Rowan Atkinson in the title role. I wasn't expecting it to be funny, but I was terribly disappointed with it altogether - it's a play which seems to be depressing without having much point to it. Quartermaine himself is a very tragic character who says himself he has nothing much to offer. He is a language teacher (I thought it was sure to ring some bells for us, but it was set too far in the past when language teaching was by bumbling amateurs.) He doesn't try to teach at all! His life revolves around the staff room. Everyone else's life does move on in various ways, but his doesn't. It's a lesson for everybody that they mustn't lose their mojo, their dynamism.
No comments:
Post a Comment