What makes St. Bartholomew so Great, anyway?

Even if you have never been to London, I bet you have seen the interior of the historic church, St. Bartholomew the Great.  I will get to that after a little more church chit chat.  St. Bart's was established in 1123 by a monk named Rahere, a former courtier who found God and became a monk.  After becoming ill while in Rome and having a dream during his travels back to London,  he appealed to Henry I (son of Wm the Conqueror) to built a church and hospital on the western outskirts of London.  During the dissolution of the priory during Henry VIII's reign, the nave was destroyed and some other changes made, but much of what remains is original to the 12th century.

You enter the churchyard through the Gatehouse, above which are the remains of an old house done in the "black and white" style associated with the 16th century.  Passing under the gatehouse there is a lovely garden on your right and the hustle and bustle of London seems miles away.

Imagine Shakespeare himself praying here.  Well, we don't know that, but Joseph Finnes who played Shakespeare did. (Shakespeare In Love with the lovely Gwyneth Paltrow) Many movie scenes have been filmed here.  A fan of Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr.?  All those wonderful sacrificial scenes were shot here.  Are you a bit older and a Hugh Grant fan?  Then you probably saw Four weddings and a Funeral and can take a pretty good guess as to the church where all that took place.  In addition, there's Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves and Snow White and the Huntsman.  (I never said all the movies shot here were good, did I?)

Below you will find pictures of the Gatehouse, main aisle and altar, along with one of the founder Rahere's tomb.

What do Beer, Biology and Harry Potter have in common?

As beer drinkers know, sometimes the name of a beer will catch your eye and you think "I have got to try it".  I do this all the time and usually it works better in picking an interesting beer than it does when I employ the method to pick a winner in the Kentucky Derby.  Thus, when we walked into The Lamb, a beautiful old pub in Leadenhall market, I could not help but be fascinated by Waggle Dance and Hummingbird, taps wisely poised next to each other.

I chose a pint of Waggle Dance, a light ale from the Wells and Young's brewery, which contains fair trade honey.  So now I find I have two reasons to like the beer, a great name and good economic policies.  What is a waggle dance?  Honey bees send out scouts to look for food.  When a good source of nectar is found, the scouts return to the hive and complete a rather complex dance to communicate the location.  The dance involves a series of semicircles and hind waggles to give flight directions and distance to help the other bees find the food.

There's the beer and biology, but where, you may ask, does Harry Potter fit in?  Some exterior shots for the Leakey Caldron and Diagon Alley were filmed here in Leadenhall Market.  Leadenhall Market has existed since the 14th century, but the building that stands here now is a grand Victorian structure dating from the later 19th century.   Most of Diagon Alley was a beautifully constructed movie set, which you can now take a virtual "stroll" along thanks to Google maps and Warner Bros Studios. Check it out.

So you want to be a Barrister - Lincoln's Inn

British divides practicing law and arguing law into two separate categories, whereas in America and many other countries these two have been fused into one.  A Barrister argues a case in court but does not directly interact with the client.  A client hires a Solicitor to represent them in a case and the Solicitor is the one who obtains the Barrister to argue the case in court, if need be.  Obviously, most legal firms have both Solicitors and Barristers, so you can think of it like a medical practice that has several physicians with different specialities.

Lincoln's Inn is one of three Inns of Court that train future Barristers.  You must have a "real" degree, we were told, although it does not need to be a law degree.  A degree in media will not get you considered, but one in history would.  In addition you may only apply once.  If you get  rejected not only can you not reapply at that particular Inn, but you can't apply to any of the other Inns.  It is a one shot deal.

This is one of the lovely buildings at Lincoln's Inn.  There are some apartments available for students as well as offices of members.  Once you join an Inn you are a member for life.

This next picture is the Small Hall.  Those accepted, are required to attend 12 dinner which are a combination of dinner and discussion on court practices.  In addition, pupils must serve a one year term of in-court observation (I believe this is after they have passed the Bar- which is on a 3 times you're out basis).  During this internship you are not allowed to utter one word in the courtroom. 

The final picture is from the chapel.

River Thames

Historically, the River Thames is responsible for the existence of London.  Thames is a tidal river up to the point where London is, which made it an ideal spot for exporting the goods Romans wanted from the British isles.  Of course, there would have been development here eventually, even without the Romans, but they and the river are what started it all.  

As I sit here in the early evening the tide is out.  This morning I sat and watched the tide wash in.   River Thames (as it is properly know in Britain) is awash in activity.  Of course there is the predictable presence of the river tours.  But what was unexpected were the cargo barges chugging along.  Ferries transporting people from one side of the river to the other.  Kids learning to crew and kayak.  Sail boats motoring upriver.  And the sounds.  Gulls calling, motors chugging, parties partying.  Oh yes.  The River Thames is alive and well.

Seacon Tower - flat 89

How do I compare thee to Vienna and Rome?  Your views are more beautiful than could have been hoped.  No, really, the views hear are amazing and I do spend mornings and evenings gazing out at the river and various "Londonscapes".  While we have had contentious interactions with the offsite owner Thomas, due to the promised, paid for, and lack of air conditioning, the views are magnificent.  If cool nights and river breezes continue to prevail all will be well.  And it is rather hard to feel bed for us, we are, after all, in London.  Try to see if you can identify the Tower bridge, London eye, the gerkin, shard and walkie talkie.  Yes, Londoners have taken to nicknaming their new construction.