Iron Maiden: Maiden England Tour, 2013

Highlights of Iron Maiden's Maiden England Tour, 2013, at the O2 Arena.

Saturday August 3, 2013.

Back in 1982, when I was 10, I bought my first 7-inch single; 'Run to the Hills' by Iron Maiden. Ever since I have been a huge fan, seeing them in various venues across the country.

However, it had been quite a while since I had seen them live, due to a growing family, work and the like.

Thankfully, an old work colleague, David, put on social media that he had a spare ticket to the concert and was looking for someone to go with. I jumped at the chance.

We arranged to meet in London, near Kings Cross, and make a day of it.

Considering that we hadn't seen each other in around 15 years, it was like we had never been apart. Meandering our way down to the River Thames, via a few pubs, we headed for the Thames Clipper and made our way to Greenwich Peninsula.

After a few drinks of Trooper inside the dome, we made our way in to the Arena proper.

We had deliberately missed the support act, but that was of no real concern as they were not who we, or any of the other Maiden fans, had paid to see.

Suffice to say, Iron Maiden were on top form and were absolutely amazing.

Roll on the next tour.

Up the IRONS!

Iron Maiden

Walking with family: Borough Market to St Paul's Cathedral... and beyond

Friday June 28, 2013

After dropping Erin at 'Busy Bees Nursery', Emma, Keilyn and I headed to London’s 'Borough Market', for lunch. Keilyn slept for pretty much the entire journey on the Metropolitan line, but woke as we changed to the Jubilee line. After a ‘toilet’ stop at London Bridge Station, we headed into Borough Market. 

The Market area, and Market itself, have gone through some major changes in the last few decades and finally the work is complete. The Market seems more spacious and appears to be a bit bigger. After a good look around, I settled on a ‘Boston’ double burger with red onion and rocket for lunch, while Emma had a hot Bap. 

With the crowds growing and the temperature rising, we decided to head over to the North side of the River Thames, which is something we rarely do as we prefer to stay on the South Bank, where it is a lot more pedestrian friendly.

Once we had crossed London Bridge, we headed along Cannon Street towards St. Paul’s Cathedral, popping in to the odd shop here-and-there. One of the best shops we went into was ‘Hardy’s Sweet Shop’, on Ludgate Hill. The shop has a myriad of jars full of ‘quarter’ sweets and lots of other hard-to-find sweets and candies. I bought some chewy nut caramels and Emma bought some Root Beer, amongst other things. 

We then continued on our merry way along Fleet Street and on to The Strand, heading for Trafalgar Square. The Square itself was surprisingly quiet, considering how nice the weather was and that this is where many of the tourists end up. So, after a brief stop, we decided to walk up Haymarket and then turned on to Regent Street.

Walking with my mum: HM Queen Elizabeth II, The BBC and Angels

Broadcasting House entrance.

Thursday June 27, 2013

Having travelled to Baker Street, via the Metropolitan line, mum and I decided to walk to BBC Broadcasting House, where we could grab a coffee and look at the new building. Having walked along the Marylebone Road, we turned on to Portland Crescent where we noticed a black Bentley pulled up at the junction. We both took a quick glance in the back. Looked at each other. Then looked back at the lady with white hair in the rear of the Bentley. It was none other than Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Too soon the car pulled away, so we were unable to get any photographs. Still shocked to have seen Her Majesty, we continued on with our journey. 

Arriving at BBC Broadcasting House, we went in to the World Piazza and grabbed a coffee at the Caffé Nero. Sitting by the window we could see the hustle and bustle of the people coming and going, many of them BBC workers. Others were there for tours or, like us, just there to see this magnificent building. 

Me with a Dalek.

After our coffee we headed into the Broadcasting House via the main thoroughfare, which brings you into the main foyer. To our right was a BBC News studio mock-up, where you could read the news or present the weather to the public, who stood around awaiting their turn. To our left was the entrance to the Radio Theatre and the Media Café, which was guarded by a Dalek. After the obligatory photograph, with said Dalek, we were scanned by Security and headed into the Media Café. The café has a glass wall, behind which is the heart of BBC News. 

Looks like a clear day ahead.

To the left is the BBC weather set and the various meteorologists. In the centre (read basement) is the hub of news journalists and the BBC news studio. As the weather bulletin was being broadcast, make-up technicians were ‘touching-up’ Matthew Amroliwala and Jane Hill. 

BBC News... live.

After a good look around and plenty of photographs had been taken (WITHOUT the FLASH), we headed back outside to get some photographs of the building itself. The World Piazza is covered in over 750 flagstones, each carrying the name of a city or place from around the World. From Tombstone to Gibraltar and all places in-between.

HMS Illustrious at Greenwich

HMS Illustrious at Greenwich.

Monday May 13, 2013.

Recently, HMS Illustrious arrived in Greenwich to mark the 70th Anniversary of the ‘Battle of the Atlantic’. She was berthed at Greenwich, just to the West of the Cutty Sark and the old Royal Naval College. Not having been to London, for a while, I thought it would be nice to see her off and get some photographs. HMS Illustrious was due to depart Greenwich at 15:30 and head around the Greenwich Peninsula and on through the Thames Barrier, so I headed to the O2 Arena to see her. 

HMS Illustrious.

I arrived at North Greenwich just after 15:15 and made my way to the River Thames, just East of the Emirates Cable Car, where I had a great view of the O2 and the Thames Barrier. Patiently, I waited. And waited. Deciding that I had either missed her, or that she was running late, I took a cable car across to the Royal Victoria Docks, so that I could look westward to see if I could spot her. Sure enough, there she was. 

HMS Illustrious.

After getting another cable car back to North Greenwich, I took a Thames Clipper to Greenwich. As we approached I managed to snap a quick shot of HMS Illustrious’ Port side, before disembarking from the Thames Clipper. I strolled along the embankment, stopping every now and again to take a photo. I then took a detour, due to a new housing complex, which brought me out behind HMS Illustrious, giving me a great view of the ship and the Old Royal Naval College. 

Security aboard HMS Illustrious.

With time getting on I decided to walk to Canada Water, where I could catch a train back to Baker Street and from there a Metropolitan train to Watford.

On arriving at Baker Street, I realised that there was quite a wait for my next train, so I wandered up to street level and visited one of the tourist shops, to buy Erin a present. After a quick look around I settled on a plastic pink glass with a curly straw. I then headed into the ‘Metropolitan Bar’ for a quick drink, before catching my train home.

Even though I never got to see HMS Illustrious sailing out to sea, she was still a marvel to behold.

'Peter the Great' by Mihail Chemiakin

A gift from the Russian People.

Monday May 13, 2013.

It was during one of my Greenwich walks that I stumbled across this rather odd, and creepy looking, statue of Peter the Great. 

I had started at the Thames Barrier before heading westward, to see HMS Ocean, which was moored at the Old Royal Naval College. After taking a few photos I continued on my journey towards Tower Bridge, happy that I had got the photos I had hoped for. 

But, as I turned the corner, on to Glaisher Street, I noticed this rather peculiar, odd and creepy statue. So, once again, I took some photos.