Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner!

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner, that I love London town!  Yes, I harp on about it all the time after upping roots and moving to Essex and then Lincolnshire.  My accent is east end though and not the posh part, so imagine someone from Eastenders speaking and you've got me!  From nine years old (yes 9!).  I used to jump on a double decker bus with the open door and a 'clippy', sit on the top deck and go to St Paul's Cathedral, Oxford Street, Westminster, on my own!  I could never get enough of the place.  Further down the river, I would go with my Grandad to Greenwich, mainly because they were redeveloping the Docklands, so you had to be  a bit more savvy in where you went.  This week though it was up river and opposite the Houses of Parliament to have a meeting and lunch at Lambeth Palace.  Unfortunately the weather was not kind to me with a heavy misty rain and very grey (I have tried to brighten the shots a little for you and promise to return soon on a more cheery day).  So as promised last week, grab yourself a cup of rosie lee (tea) and rest those plates of meat (feet) and I will take you on a very little tour of my 'manor' (home town)...

Let's start with the reason I was here, Lambeth Palace.  This is the gatehouse to the precincts of the Archbishop of Canterbury's residence.  Notice the Houses of Parliament to the left across the River Thames.

This was the view from the south bank, you can just make out Westminster Cathedral to the left of the shot (the white building).

Once we were approved to go through the gatehouse the 'inner sanctum' is a group of old buildings, this one is the library. Just look at the fig tree in front of it. Goodness knows how old that is!

Then this building next to it contains the Guard Room.  I have put a link here so that you can read further on the different rooms within Lambeth Palace. (When you look at the link we had our meeting in the Guard Room, we sat for lunch in the State Drawing Room and I had an additional meeting in the Pink Drawing Room.  We also went down to the Crypt Chapel, such a beautiful peaceful place)

On the shot above can you see the third arched window from the left?  Can you see the light?  Well this is where we had our meeting and this was what was above our heads....

I only shot above as the room was full, however apart from the wonderful lighting, you can make out the oil paintings of the 15th and 16th century Archbishops.  This room was used when the new Archbishop of Canterbury was recently announced to the world.

This is the entrance into the Palace, when through the door you are faced with the most gorgeous staircase which takes you to the state rooms.  This farcade was built in the 1840's due to the fact that there are so many medieval buildings behind it that they wanted to give it a more uniform character.

Once the meeting was over and the networking had finished for the day it was time to head home before the awful London rush hour began.  I was hoping the mist would have cleared for you, but I'm sorry to say it hadn't.  However, I have managed to edit the following photos to get through the mist.  Here is the view of the Houses of Parliament with Lambeth Bridge standing impressively across the River Thames.  Now, just to the left of shot can you make out a very strange looking building in the mist.  This is the old Post Office Tower.

Getting closer so the mist isn't so dense...

This was looking back towards Lambeth Bridge from Westminster Bridge.  THAT's how misty it was, just awful.

A bit closer, such a shame it was so dark!

On the other side there is the fabulous London Eye.  If ever you can...do!  BUT pick a very clear day.  The pods look empty as the view would not have been good at all.  Also if you do ever go on here make sure you have one of the guide books as you will then know where all the famous landmarks are.

The day was so dark that even the street lamps came on early.  What a shame.

So, for some of you this will be what you would expect of 'Good Old England', rain, fog, grey.  Honestly, it is not like this all the time and I am planning my next trip very soon to give you a better tour of the place.  Until then, the last shot, black and white, think of Sherlock Holmes and all those old films.

I hope your part of the world is a lot more sunnier than mine was!

Take care.

This week I'm sharing with:

Share Your Cup Thursday
Weekly Top Shot
Grow Your Blog Hop
Serenity Saturday
Sunny Simple Sunday
Sunlit Sunday
Market Yourself Monday