Going out with a swing

The blow of leaving our lovely hotel was eased by a) being played out by a swing band and b) remembering it is not very far away and we can come back and check out the remaining 7 restaurants we failed to sample. Even if it won't be quite the same without a room to retire to.

Breakfast on the roof with grey skies giving the City skyline some added drama.

Fortunately the rains held off all morning as Carlos led a tour of the City and Southbank, incorporating St Paul's, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey. Though the highlight for me was the church of St Clements playing the bells of St Clements. Who knew it was an actual thing?

Splendid pie lunch on a bench by the river at Gabriel's Wharf. Back to the hotel to refresh before checking out and heading for an early dinner at Sea Containers by Blackfriars Bridge before our last treat of the weekend - An Evening with David Sedaris at the Royal Festival Hall. Considerably more scatological than he is on Radio 4 but none the worse for it. Lovely evening.

Home to an over-excited dog who clearly thought we'd been gone for a year and a more in perspective but nevertheless warm welcome from the kids and my folks. From what I can gather they have done little but play games all weekend which seems to have suited them all well.

So splendid weekends all round. And now it appears that autumn is here.

Lesley x