London is divided into two . There is the City of Westminster which is the one we all know from tourist brochures. Showing Tower bridge, Buckingham Palace, The famous West end with Oxford and Regent Street and so much more. But there is another. It's called the City of London and this is where all the financial transactions take place. It has an area of just one square mile (not really big at all), and is colloquially know as the square mile to people who work in it. Dating back from Roman times it’s still one of the most thriving financial areas of the world. Names you would probably have heard would be St Paul’s Cathedral and The Tower of London to mention but two. It is a special place because it technically is, but isn’t part of greater London. It has for example its own police force; and governing authority. And one of the famous things that happen each year is the Lord Mayors show. Similar to Trouping the colour when the Queen inspects her troops in a lavish exhibition in Horse Guards Parade and is done with such pomp and ceremony as only the British can do . So back to the Lord Mayors show... In olden days, it was a means, decreed by the king, for the Lord Mayor to be seen so that he could be recognised by all and sundry that he lorded over.

Now about twelve years ago I was given an honour by the City and made what they call a Freeman. The reality of it means that it is the first rung on the way up to being the Lord Mayor. Not something I’d want to do though. But, other privileges it offers is that I can get into places that the general public can’t. And two quirky things it also offersis that I can’t be arrested for being 'drunk and disorderly’ in the city, and the final one, and this is just so strange, and perfectly true. I am allowed to drive a flock of sheep over London Bridge at any time. Now can you believe that? So being quite Machiavellian, the thought has often crossed my mind to get an enormous flock together and do my best at driving it across the bridge on a Friday at rush hour. Hmm! How to win friends and influence people… I don’t think so! I’ve never done it… . but,…… It’s a thought that’s often crosses my mind.

Now as a result of this, Dyana & I are allowed to take a couple of friends to the Guildhall to watch the procession from what you might call a prime location. This year being back in London on the second Saturday in November went to view the procession. It is always preceded by the Pikemen. The guard of honour for the new Lord Mayor and goes back in time so long into antiquity. Parading in their deep red finery and all carrying their long pikes while marching and tapping them on the ground; all with perfect timing.

This year, 2014 is a very poignant one as it is the centenary of the beginning of the Great war, commonly known as the 1^st world war. Names like the ‘Battle of the Somme & Delville wood’ spring rapidly to mind where there was such carnage it is
difficult to imagine. So the theme of this year’s parade was naturally military. I just love the precision of the bands, and my personal favourite must be the skirl of the pipes and the magnificent drumming played by the Scots. But one of the highlights must have been the costumes and the way some platoons marched by as they would have done in seventeen and eighteen hundreds. Just fantastic. Anyhow, please click on the pictures as they turn into short videos.
Now, one of the pictures shows me standing with ‘The Beadle of Coleman Street.’ A Beadle was a very important person in the 11^th century. He was the judge, jury and executioner and it was his job to make sure nothing untoward happened in his ward, (area). If the Peelers, (the original name for police, and taken from the organisations founder, Robert Peel,) caught someone, they would be brought before the Beadle. Even today in English slang, if you have to appear in court, you’re before the ‘Beak.’ So talking to him was just so interesting. He was telling me that in the 11^th, 12 and 13^th centuries, Beadles were in charge of Inns, Taverns and brothels. Hmm! Must have been an interesting occupation!

Now, in one of the videos I mention the limber guns. These are the old 25 pounders that were the bulwark of the artillery battery’s during the 2^nd world war. Now every year there is a military tattoo held in London where the armed forces compete against each other in a number of different disciplines. One of them being taking a complete gun plus its attendant ammunition carriage, its carriage, wheels and all including ammunition across an imaginary river and firing it on the other side. All this
is done in a large arena under the scrupulous eyes of judges from the opposing side. Usually the army and Navy compete against each other and the tension is palpable right at the start of the competition. Although there is no ravine or river, each team of twelve is given a long rope and cross-stays to hold the rope well above ground. The distance being about fifty yards over the imaginary ravine. At the signal, each team start disassembling their gun into its component parts. The barrel, the wheels, the ammunition, and the limber. The limber being the cradle the barrel actually fits into while being fired. To see the frenetic activity of the teams doing this against each other and the clock is brilliant. First off is the barrel which is slung onto a cradle which is then attached to the suspended rope. Two men then attach themselves to the
barrel and are rapidly hauled across the suspended rope to the other side. The cradle is pulled back to the original side and another two men each carrying a wheel are moved across. The pulley is hauled back another twice, once for the ammunition, and the second for the limber. Once all men and equipment are over the other side without I might add touching the ground between the cross-stays, the guns is re-assembled and fired. All this is done in around two minutes or less. Leaving the men heaving for breath at the enormous exertion. And this is where the expression ‘limber up’ in exercising comes from. Lifting and stretching and preparing for the exercise. Just thought you’d like to know that useful bit of trivia.

Now this will definitely be the last blog before Christmas, so can Dyana & I wish you a very Happy Christmas and Healthy and prosperous New Year to you and all your Family.