A good time was had by all in London and the South Downs

The Tower of London was not grim at all as I expected ....the sun was shining and it was packed to the rafters with tourists so was not the dark and sad place it probably should have been considering what went on behind those walls...after having stood in a queue (mind you this is the norm for most things) to see the crown jewels and getting in there only to find the crowns had all the jewels removed (it was news to me that the royals were into recycling..but maybe the austerity measures David Cameron had laid upon the country have hit them hard?)I was pretty peeved especially since I had paid a lot of £ to get into the bloody place!
The Dickens Walking Tour and High Tea at the Chesterfield Hotel and then on to the Apllo Theatre to see an Arthur Miller play starring David Suchet and Zoe Wanamaker...truely astonishing performances!!!! How I manage to fit all this into one day is beyond me...well I do admit to being just a little weary.

CHARLESTON

Next day (Saturday) another long and challenging trip to the country without a car...we managed (at great expense) to get to Charleston.........WOW I FINALLY MADE IT......it was WONDERFUL and again it was as if Vanessa,Duncan and Clive had just stepped out for a stroll....the poms are sure good at keeping their heritage intact...........the garden and the house are perfect!!!! Then a cab to Monks House as the trials of getting there meant we had no time to walk between the two houses...it too was wonderful ...Virginia's glasses still on her desk in her room (of one's own) at the back of the garden. Dinner in Lewes opposite the house where Tom Paine was a lodger before we headed ak to London n the train.

GARDEN AT HAM HOUSE

Today was a trip to Richmond on the Thames to Ham house and Marble Hill (both historic (very) big houses)...walk along the Thames Path and then the ferry back to London (2 hours) .....How long can I keep up this cracking pace...Hadrian's Wall shall seem like a well eaned rest after this week....off to the north tomorrow morning.