Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Number 11 bus...

...which as London readers will know, ploughs its way from Victoria along up Whitehall and down the Strand, was unbearably s...l...o...w this evening: I simply hadn't allowed for the fact of the constant bottlenecks in London traffic. As I normally cycle everywhere, or take the Tube, the crawling pace of a bus was infuriating! It was a mistake to travel this way, and I should have brought my bike as usual...however, one learns from such mistakes, and it was with huge apologies that I finally sprinted up the steps of St Paul's to greet the - rather worried - group of Catholic History Walkers gathered there awaiting my arrival. They were visibly relieved. One chap had already given up and left! Oh dear...apologies, apologies...I will not let this happen again.

However, after this bad start, the Walk went well, and we tackled St Paul's, and then the gloriously named St Vedast-alias-Foster, and thence down Gresham Street to St Laurence Jewry and the Guildhall. Then on down to St Margaret's in Lothbury and so on round to the surprise bit at the end - the birthplace of Blessed John Henry Newman, round at the back of the Bank of England! Most gratifying to see all the surprised faces when I revealed this fact, and showed them the plaque...
Next History Walk is Nov 18th, 6.30pm on the steps of Westinster Cathedral. All welcome. No need to book - just turn up. I promise, promise that I will not be late...

2 comments:

Sheila A. Waters said...

I never knew that Blessed John Henry Newman's birthplace was behind the "old Lady of Threadneedle Street." EWTN is rebroadcasting Pope Benedict's trip to England on 10/29 & 30.
Suburban small businesses are struggling in this sluggish American economy. They are promoting Halloween events all weekend in Westchester Co. NY. And, for the very first time, Christmas items are appearing beside Halloween items BEFORE "Black Friday," i.e., the day after Thanksgiving (traditional day of massive Christmas shopping). There are also contests for children to paint Halloween scenes on shop windows. Today, Friday, a local beauty salon will paint children's faces to match their costumes, prior to the annual Halloween Parade at 4 p.m. on the village's main street. Costumed "saints" will parade around their Catholic school this afternoon as well. Costumed dogs and their owners will have a Dog Walk Parade with prizes later this weekend! along with a Children's Halloween Festival. Because Halloween is Sunday,it is being celebrated from Friday thru Sunday. Politicians will frequent these happenings in droves, the last weekend before Tuesday's elections. All Saints and All Souls Days will be a welcome respite, as the limits of time & space fade and we pray as one family. Sheila Waters, Bronxville NY

Genty said...

Ah, the no. 11 bus. I know it well. It's a great way to travel past some of the major tourist attractions of London but only if you have all day!
Fascinating snippet of info on the Blessed. I hope to be able to get to your walks one day.
I wonder if it's worth your getting a cheapo pay-as-you-go mobile 'phone reserved specifically for walks/walkers so there is a point of contact. Just a thought.