A Cruise down the Thames

 

One of the pleasures of being retired is to be able to do things you don't normally do such as being a tourist. This past week saw us taking a river cruise down the Thames with our youngest daughter starting at Westminster down to Greenwich. Another opportunity for a grown up's day out to include lunch, a stroll and chat.



So we took a walk from home to Banbury station where the train was on time and arrived in London on time. This was certainly an improvement when we had to sit on the luggage racks. A quick tube journey saw us get to the wharf at Westminster with time to spare. This time our cruise was not interrupted with a boat breaking down. While many of the tourists on the cruise did not follow the information being shared in English it was really good, informative and funny. 





You do get a different perspective on the city as you journey down what was the life blood of the city for so long. So ancient and modern buildings stand out and in a strange way complement one another. 







From the Houses of Parliament, the South Bank, the Shard, St Pauls Cathedral, the OXO building, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, onto Canary Wharf and finally Greenwich with the Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory. 






We took the opportunity on the way home to go via Canary Wharf in the dark. Glittering financial buildings which must have felt most strange during lockdown. Not a place I would have wanted to work or live. It does highlight the way in which London is seen by some as the financial heart of the country. 'But all that glitters is not gold' Recent political decisions highlights the fragility of our economic system. As always the rich have become richer, while the poor becomes poorer, and more than ever before more people are dragged into poverty. 


Going to Canary Wharf gave us the chance to try out the speed of the Elizabeth Line back to Paddington which was brill.  It should mean if we travel to Forest Gate in the future from Paddington it could be a journey of 27 minutes, so from Banbury to our daughters in around 2 hours well we can dream.

It was a great day out and we are fortunate that we can do so. Six months on since moving and it still feels like we are on holiday, except finding the time for such days out is not easy as our diary fills up with child care, getting the house and garden sorted etc. 

Creator God,
as the tidal river rises and falls
may we rise and fall 
on the river of your Love.

Lord Jesus
as you came to make all things new
and yet fulfill the old.
May we delight 
in both change and continuity.

Holy Spirit.
gifted to us
to show us the truth,
may we live 
by what you reveal. Amen   ( Mark Goodhand 30th November 2022)








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