We started today’s activities by going out for brunch. It turned out that both of the cafes in Chapel Market that we favour – Cafe Sizzles and Chapel Cafe – were closed.

Millennium Cafe

Instead, we went to the Millennium Cafe. It was quite busy (partly, perhaps because the others were closed) but we were soon served.

Sainsbury’s

After this pleasant interval, we went round to Sainsbury’s (which was just opening its doors as we arrived) and carried out our usual shopping run. At the checkout, we used the remaining credit on our Nectar card (from the “points” carefully harvested during the year), giving us a £20 reduction on the bill. Now all we have to do is start saving again for next Christmas and New Year! (See also Early home for Christmas.)

Wet and gloomy

We were lucky this morning that it was not raining but after lunch the weather turned wet and gloomy.

Aboard the 56

We went to the clock tower and boarded a number 56 bus.

Near St Paul’s Cathedral

We left the bus near St Paul’s and walked in the rain, looking for somewhere open for coffee.

Damp and miserable

The scene was damp and miserable and most places were closed.

A small Starbuck’s

We eventually found a small Starbuck’s open. It wax busy but we managed to fit ourselves in.

Out into the rain

Then, regretfully, we went out into the rain again.

The Guildhall

Thus we came to the Guildhall. We went in and put our bags through the airport-style X-ray scanner. Fortunately, they contained nothing suspicious.

A gallery

A Guildhall ceremony of 1782
William Miller

The ‘Agas’ Map of London, c.1561

The Guildhall has several galleries in which exhibitions present art and also items of interest in London’s history.

Portraits by Sir Matthew Smith

One gallery contained an exhibition of portraits by Sir Matthew Smith.

Untitled
Joanna Price

My attention was caught by this strange artefact, unhelpfully called Untitled.

The Roman Amphitheatre
Photo by Tigger

In the basement of the Guildhall is a Roman amphitheatre. Though we have visited it in the past, we did not do so today but Tigger took this photo of it through a view-window.

Leaving the Guildhall

It was pleasant in the Guildhall, warm, dry and well-lit but all good things must end and we had to confront the cold, wet outside world once more.

Rain on the City

The City always has a deserted and somewhat forlorn look about it at weekends and this was doubled today by the cold rain and the fading light.

Beside the Bank of England

We went to a bus stop beside the Bank of England and started our journey home on a 141 bus.

Aboard the 214

At Finsbury Square we changed to a 214 which carried us the rest of the way to the Angel and home.

“Red sky at night…”

When we reached the Angel, we were treated to a pretty pink and blue evening sky. Perhaps the old rhyme “Red sky at night, Shepherd’s delight” will be proved true and we shall have fine weather tomorrow. We can but hope.