Trafalgar Square & National Portrait Gallery

Our last day in London and this tourist business is beginning to catch up with us "seniors". We didn't wake up until around 9.00 this morning and so had a late start to the day.

No matter. We hadn't planned a full day anyway. Decided to have breakfast in a restaurant just around the corner. We have passed it every day and hadn't eaten there until today. Best breakfast of our

trip so far.

Caught the bus to Trafalgar Square and considered ourselves very lucky with the weather on our trip. Lovely sunshiny skies and moderate temperatures. Nelson's Column looked stunning against the blue sky and Johnny thought aloud that this particular monument is probably the best one in London. I had to agree, but Boudicca is still my favourite.

I went in search of the only Post Office in "our" part of London. They have this ticket system here. You choose the service you want from a machine, it spits out a numbered ticket and you wait to be called to a counter. I got 188. They were only serving No. 120 or something. Had a long wait to reach the counter to buy some stamps and post Sky's birthday card. You would think a city this size and the home of

the Queen would be better served by the Royal Mail. Been carrying the birthday card around with me for the past week trying to find a Post Office. Sorry Sky. Haven't forgotten you. Better late than never I hope.

While we were in the vicinity we went into the National Portrait Gallery. What a stunning collection is on display here. I loved this portrait of the fabulous Darcey Bussell.

While Bussell was still at school, the choreographer Kenneth MacMillan noticed her exceptional technique, and in 1988 he decided to use her to create the leading role in his ballet The Prince of the Pagodas. A year later, in December 1989 on the opening night of the show, she was promoted to principal dancer at just 20 years old, at the time the youngest ever principal of The Royal Ballet.

Scilla, the Gallery has a portrait of Elizabeth Fry but sadly, it isn't on display at the moment.

After the Gallery we refreshed ourselves with a coffee and I returned to our digs. Johnny has gone to the movies and tonight we will be preparing for our departure tomorrow on Eurostar to Brussels.

There we will begin the next phase of our Big Adventure.