Diving- Home and Away

London - What a bloody rip off April 17, 2006

Posted by onthetrain in : a good old rant , trackback

It’s unusual for me, but with the 5 day forecast for Dorset being pretty crappy I decided to do the fatherly/husbandly thing and bin diving over Easter Weekend and to take the family for a weekend in London instead!

What in Gods name was I thinking?

Firstly the populations of Australia and South Africa seem to have gone back from whence they came to be replaced by the combined populations of Italy, Russia and the Ukraine. The place was heaving. My seven year old had travelled with a very definite itinery in mind. Early train to town on saturday morning, followed by visits to the London Aquarium, Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. As we walked along the embankment towards the aquarium I got a feeling for just how busy it was going to be! The queue for the London Eye was enormous. I think it stretched to Manchester, in fact those at the back of the queue are still waiting their turn!

It took us about 40 minutes to get into the aquarium. Unbelievably only three cash desks were open! To be honest it was a bit of a waste of time as it ws almost impossible to get near any ofthe exhibits. The Natural History and Science musuems were a bit better though the kids areas were heaving. We managed to get tickets for the last showing of the 3d undersea adventure. Without doubt the highlight of my weekend. Once we got all that done we trecked very tiredely to our hotel. I must say we did score here. A family room in the 4* Hyde park Corus hotel for £69 courtesy of lastminute.com. The only real bargain of the weekend.

For some bizarre reason my good lady wife decided we should head into Covent Garden for dinner. As always the street entertainers were good fun, but we eat at a place called the Palm Court Bistro in King Street. Totally forgetable food which cost me a damn site more than it was worth. A very pleasant bottle of Rioja though

Sunday meant a lie in due to rugrat being banjoed from the night before. A leisurely breakfast and a short tube ride had us over on the South Side for visits to the Imperial War Musuem and HMS BELFAST. My 7 year old just loves museums. Weird! As an ex-matelot I must confess I did enjoy the trip around the Belfast. I was amazed to see gear I used to mantain in its radio and electronic warfare rooms. God that stuff was top secret when I was serving. It doesnt seem that long ago! As we walked back to the tube from the Belfast I was mazed at the queues outside the London Dungeon, christ I swear it stretched to Glasgow!

I really enjoyed the weekend, but when I read reports of fine weather & 10M vis around Swanage & Weymouth I was a little jealous, well a lot actually, especially as I had to spend Monday finishing off painting the kitchen. As brush stroked across wall I couldnt help thinking that what I spent on a weekend in London would have paid for a red sea liveaboard, or repayed the debt of an emerging 3rd world nation