My body has certainly wandered a good deal, but I have an uneasy suspicion that my mind has not wandered enough. (Noel Coward)

Friday, 5/6/2015, London.

We started the day by dropping off some laundry and a pleasant stroll through the Covent Garden market, the 4 string ensemble added a touch of sophistication, the man with a pet weasel/ferret was indicative of the many colourful characters that abound in this district – it would be an entertaining few hours to sit (with a beer) and watch London life go by. As what occurs between 4 – 10PM from what we have seen (as the 20 & 30 somethings spilling over onto the sidewalks would seem to indicate).

We were enthralled by all the plaques dedicated to famous actors, playwright and impressarios on the walls of Inigo Jones beautiful St Paul’s church. Including Robert Helpmann, Vivien Leigh, Charlie Chaplin and Noel Coward.

At about 11am we jumped on the underground at Leicester Square and alighted at Waterloo about 50 metres from the London Eye. This rated an 85% WOW factor if the Eiffel Tower and Arc De Triomphe are 100%. We enjoyed the ride which takes about 25 minutes, but I am staggered by the engineering feat which was required to put this structure up. Like a giant bicycle wheel all held together by the tension in the spokes – amazing.

On our walk along bridge street over the Thames to Westminster Abbey, I was struggling to keep up with Mary (as I have been all holiday) and started to play, “Spot Mary (Wally) in the Crowd” with the camera (a couple of times I let Mary get too far in front and we lost each-other a couple of times, as London is teeming with people from all over the world).

The Westminster Abbey was probably about 98-99.99% WOW factor (it did not make the 100% because the subject was the glorification of the uninvolved and disinterested (because they were dead)). However, the poets’ and writers’ corners were moving, especially seeing Jane Austen’s memorial next to William Shakespeare’s.

It was an amazing experience with Jeremy Irons as our audio guide taking us through endless rooms within rooms (seeing Britain’s oldest door was a surprise)

Then we ambled back thru a few parks alongside the Thames jumped on the tube back to Leicester picked up the laundry all washed, dried and folded and enjoyed a cuppa before heading off to see, “Beautiful”, the Carole King story at Aldwych Theatre only 7 minutes down the road.Along the way we noticed the "Happy-Go-Lucky Funeral Parlour" on Drury Lane.

As per The Commitments the night before this was up there as the most enjoyable musical ever with at least 20 songs (some sang a few times). After the movie musical, “Into the Woods” by Steven Sondheim, I vowed never to see a musical again – what on earth was he thinking – when obviously it is possible to make great musicals – all you need are the great songs!

The contrast with Ireland and Scotland is enormous – I guess we are just big city people and tomorrow will be another big day – maybe we will see Memphis, another musical or Hayfever a play by Noel Coward or the Book, of Mormon a satire by the writers of South Park.