Day 163: - Capital

Due to the ongoing insomnia I didn't really sleep Thursday or Friday night and the weather forecast for London was lousy so when I stirred on Saturday to the news about Paris I really didn't feel like making the trip down to London. But I did and I am glad.

The weather was indeed foul, but the Cosmonauts exhibition at the Science Museum was superb (no photography allowed). Then I met a good friend for lunch and proved it's handy to have friends in high places as he took me on a tour of Broadcasting House. It was fascinating. This is taken from the famous balcony, looking down Regent Street with The Langham to the right. The London Eye is just visible over the cranes.

I expected to see extra security everywhere and I didn't really, but there was a definite sombre air in the city, with snippets of overheard conversation all being about Paris and the senselessness of the horror. It could have been any one of us just going about our normal lives, not wishing to hurt anyone.

I finished my day with some window shopping in the rain, and some overpriced actual shopping in Fortnums. Despite arriving home at 10pm in a virtual zombie-like state, sleep was still stubbornly elusive, but I did sleep in until an unheard-of 8am this morning.