London Update

Karyn writes:

Thank you so much to everyone who sent bon voyage wishes and as promised, a quick update on the journey so far.

Sometimes you forget how long it takes to arrive in London from New Zealand however it was a pleasant two flights with great service from Air New Zealand (and plenty of sleep)!  Twenty four hours after flying out on Tuesday, the day following our Owners' Cocktail Party at Matamata, I arrived at Heathrow and the new Terminal 2 on (UK time) Wednesday morning.

It was absolutely wonderful to see our daughter Lydia waiting for me at the airport and we spent the whole day catching up on all the news before sleeping (again).  Lydia had to work (at Battersea Dogs' and Cats' Home) on Thursday so it was a chance to catch up with some paperwork (never escape that completely) especially as four days after my return it will be Waikato Times Gold Cup Day - the biggest race meeting of the year for the Club.  I also have an Arts' Council meeting the day after I fly home, so plenty of reading there too - another bonus about long flights!

Friday was out and about day and we were determined to go and see the poppy installation at the Tower of London in memory of World War I.  It had been extended to the end of November and we arrived at the Tower only to find they had packed it away - early!  There were so many disappointed people including tourists and school groups that had made the trip on the basis that the "exhibition" had been extended - oh well, just as well for photos!

The major art installation was called "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" and marked one hundred years since the first full day of Britain's involvement in the First World War. Created by artists Paul Cummins and Tom Piper, 888,246 ceramic poppies progressively filled the Tower's famous moat between 17 July and 11 November 2014. Each poppy represented a British military fatality during the war.

The poppies encircled the iconic landmark, creating not only a spectacular display visible from all around the Tower but also a location for personal reflection. The scale of the installation was intended to reflect the magnitude of such an important centenary and create a powerful visual commemoration.

Each day in the moat at sunset, the names of 180 Commonwealth troops killed during the war were read out as part of a Roll of Honour, followed by the Last Post. Members of the public nominated names for the Roll of Honour using a weekly ‘first come, first served' nomination system to be read the following week in this nightly ceremony.

Lydia did tell me that people had actually been climbing over the perimeters to steal the ceramic poppies which may have been a catalyst for the early closure.  The sad part about people doing that is that every poppy had been sold and the proceeds amounting to millions of pounds are going to six charities.  Shame on the thieves I say!

Then we headed to Oxford Street and Regent Street areas which were breathtakingly beautiful with their Christmas decorations - absolutely stunning.  Of course it is dark by 5pm so the night scenes are really spectacular.  It was full on too as the shopping phenomenon of "Black Friday" which started our in New York has taken on epic proportions here and the huge mass of humanity on the streets underlined that!

That evening it was to the Prince of Wales Theatre to see "Book of Mormon" - written by the creators of "South Park" this multi award winning musical would have to be one of the best I have ever seen - irreverent and yes probably marginal in places, it was nonetheless a stellar theatre experience.

Another highlight was having brunch with some of Lydia's closest friends and her two flatmates on Saturday.  One of her flatmates is Adam Brazier, a very successful artist and it has been terrific getting to know him and his partner Lucie who are wonderful supporters and friends to her.

Today it is off to the Maltby Street Markets before heading to our favourite restaurant Zuma for an early dinner.  Early, as tomorrow we are up at 5am to head to Seville in Spain for three days.