Back to London. Planned a Open Top Bus Tour, starting at London Bridge. Bus eventually turned up but traffic at almost a standstill and blaring police sirens everywhere. Turned out the police had done a controlled detonation of a suspect abandoned taxi in the street near the famous "Gherkin" building. Welcome to London!

Then slow progress around Southwark and the City, passing the London Eye . Traffic came to a halt! After 30 minutes, in a street near Buckingham Palace, driver of the bus suggested all passengers get off and walk! We walked to the front of Buckingham Palace to watch an impressive parade of guards in their great coats and bearskin hats, with 2 military bands, not for us but for the visit of the Singapore PM.

Walked in horrendous gale force winds back to Victoria, A hurricane was off the coast and the winds amazing, rail and air traffic disrupted and a woman killed by a falling tree in central London. Quick lunch and then "Tube" to the British Museum. Never been there, a most impressive building , a bit like the Louvre but smaller and better signed. Looked at a wonderful exhibition of the Ming Dynasty 1400-1450, including beautiful china, of course.

Then looked at the Portland Vase, Roman and the precursor of all Wedgewood china
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Looked at the classic Black and Orange or Yellow Roman and Greek vases we had seen in Greece, a small,copy of which we had bought in Athens.

Then the Parthenon Gallery to look at the friezes 'stolen' from Athens in 1800s, that we had heard all about AT the Parthenon Museum in Athens. So much stolen, they had to build a special gallery to house it all. Full circle again!!

Lastly the Lewis Chess Set, made of whale teeth and and walrus ivory. Dating from the 12th Century and discovered on the Isle of Lewis in 1831. The same chess set my father had made copy of years ago.

2 and half hours of battling London trains to get home; glad I do not commute daily!