Wednesday 18 October 2006

Our Day in the Capital

I searched and I googled to find a picture of Portcullis house,to no avail  ,only to find this one,I took my self when we had our trip/flight on the London Eye,about three years ago! Portcullis house is the building ,at the bottom right of the picture . I think I have made it a bit squat ,in order to fit it in ! 

Karen came to pick me up  at ten o clock on Monday morning ,we set off to the station at Peterborough ,where we bought our tickets and we were off ,we found a seat ,and I thought it would be a nice idea to get a picture of the crossing gates we seem to sit at for ages,when we are going into Peterborough by car ! but the train was moveing to quickly.... We were in London in less than an hour ,then got the tube to Whitehall ,after a change at I think Victoria,up and down escalators and stairs ,in court shoes ! been wearing mules and flip flops all summer !! (at the end of the day my feet ,lodged a complaint )We had to be there for two pm ,but as you can see by big ben on the first picture we had time to go and have some lunch ,so off we set down  Whitehall taking pictures as we went and again on our way back ,

In we went, and through the  check in  barrier ,were our handbags and my camera were put on to the tray and sent through for scanning ,I walked through and bib bib the alarms went off ,and again !,A young police lady ,checked me over !(four coppers there and all armed )can you imagine it? 'Fen wench comes to town '! it was decided it was the ornaments on my shoes setting of the alarm phew ! Those wretched shoes again !

Portcullis is the working home to  members of Parliament ,,though the outside presents an imposing facade ,inside it is full of light with trees and plants ,glass and crome and along the walls are modern pictures of members of parliament past and present ,we easily found the Atllee suite ,and settled down to listen as Bob Holmes ,silver surfer coordinator,digital unite,welcomed us and then introduced ,Terry Smith,director of public sector,microsoft who spoke of how far computers had come since 1948 ,and how it was second nature to the youth of today to be comfortable with computers ,but not so some of the older generation ,we of the generation who had to use next doors telephone (because we hadnt got one )to book a call to America or Canada to ring a family member there at Christmas ,and then pay the neighbour for the call .Now, we are keen to learn,to use a computer so that we can email ,or instant message our Grandchildren ,from wherever we are ,good point !Then a young lady Leonie Viachos, Manager digital Inclusion,age concern spoke  ,before Stephen Timms,MP,Chief secretary to the treasury,presented the awards,to the overall winner Jim Tuckwell of Andover Hampshire,Jim is eighty and lives in sheltered accommadation,and has made a huge difference to his life and others,(including local school children ),by learning and passing on his knowledge. They have written a book about bullying .The silver surfer entrepreneur of the year award went to Brenda Ferguson,Brenda is manager of an Aberdeenshire internet cafe,which has become the hub of the community ,well used by fishermen ,imigrant workers,school children and retired local people,and it is called 'the mouse trap' !

After cups of tea or coffee and biscuits ,and some networking it was time to ,go home ,we caught a train and was back in Peterborough by five thirty ,where my daughter in law Chrissy ,met me and drove me home ,where I was able to kick off my shoes and think over my very interesting day.

Jan xx

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh what a fascinating entry.....your country fascinates me. I would love to go there someday but probaly never will. I love the pics too!
hugs,lisa

Anonymous said...

Nice pics, TY so much for sharing. Very good entry.
Hugs, Sugar

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a very interesting and wonderful day.  Loved the pictures.
Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/

Anonymous said...

Hi Jan.

What an intersting entry. I would love to visit London one day!

Leigh :-)

Anonymous said...

What an excellent day!
I remember the excitement of getting the phone installed.
N o more Press Button A or B

Anonymous said...

Hi Jan ,your trip to London sounded very interesting and some great photos taken too.Oh your poor feet  and fancy your shoes sending off the alarm!!!!  Laughed at the bit "FenWench comes to town" I bet you could hold your own with any of those "Londoners".1948 you say when computers  came on all that since I was born ,like you say the youngters will take it as normal and in their stride.We even have computerised Blackboards at school except they are huge white things!!
So pleased you enjoyed your day  out .......With Love Jeanxxx

Anonymous said...

so glad that you enjoyed you day out in London, sounds like you had fun with your shoes, you have some lovely photos as a reminder
take care Lynne xx

Anonymous said...

Glad that you enjoyed your visit to London, Jan, some familiar landmarks in the pictures

Anonymous said...

Oh Jan, how I envy you!  What a wonderful time you had in London.  My husband has many business trips to Peterborough and we spent our honeymoon in London.  Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this!

Susie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/susanebunn/ItAllStartsAfter50/

Anonymous said...

A good day out. Isn't it amazing where our computer interests can lead us?

I know what you mean about the shoes,I put on some high heeled ankle boots the other night, to go to a concert. Then I thought ' blow it!' I put on some black beaded flip flops instead.

Linda x.

Anonymous said...

Again, you took me on a trip, and I never had to leave my house.  I loved the picture of Big Ben! :)  Everytime I view your pictures, and read your entries, it just makes me long to visit the UK even more!  I will, someday!  Count on it!

Hugs
jackie

Anonymous said...

Thanks for my little trip around London, brought back memories of 1963, the last time I saw Nelson's Column. There used to be the most marvellous pavement artists in Trafalgar Square.
Love Sylvia xxx
http://journals.aol.co.uk/Sylviam4000/YeOldeEnglishPosy/

Anonymous said...

Jan, brilliant chance you got there and glad you took it

Anonymous said...

Jan the pictures are lovely ~ sounds like you had a wonderful day out ~ glad you had enough time to go on walk abouts in our Capital City ~ I always enjoy London and love the sights ~ last time I went Downing street wasn't fenced off ~ "that is a sign of our times" we live in today ~ laughed at you setting off the alarm with your shoes ~ Portcullis house really does have a big security system those armed guards must have seemed a bit scary ~ but I am glad all in all you enjoyed your day there ~ Ally

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful crowded day !  My feet are throbbing in sympathy.  Thanks for all the pictures.  Bunny.

Anonymous said...

You do have interesting days. There is a little community near Houston,Texas named Whitehall. I wonder if it is named after the Whitehall of which you speak. Could be. Paula

Anonymous said...

Lovely photos Jan, I`m glad you had a lovely day out in London, AND the sun was shining too! :o)

Sandra xxxx


http://journals.aol.com/labdancer51/SandrasScribbles/

Anonymous said...

Great pics Jan. so pleased you had a good day out in London. it is a wonderful place to go and spend the day, theres so much to see. it must have been a great view from the London eye...did you see my house from there...lol.

Astra!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you enjoyed your day there Jan, You had a lovely day for it weather wise too! You took some great pics!I haven't been to London for years, must go one day! Jeannette xx  

Anonymous said...

What great pictures. Made me feel like I was there with you. It is the first time I have actually seen such close ups of London. Thank you. My Regards, Bill.

Anonymous said...

what great pictures:) you went there to take a computer class?  not sure if i read this right. i want to visit london sometime looks so pretty

Deb

Anonymous said...

it looks like you really had a great day.... I was wondering what that e "eye" is for?  Sandra

Anonymous said...

I loved looking at your London Pics. . . theres so much to see in London and always something to recognise. I remember my mum using the neighbours phone,they had a little money box at the side of it too. Then we got our own phone and it was so exciting answering it.But where would we be without our computers?

Anonymous said...

Good pics of some famous landmarks. I do love London but relieved I do not live there anymore! Love Conniex

Anonymous said...

Jan

What an interesting trip into London!  Thanks for taking us along with you.  I really enjoyed the pictures.  It seems really odd to see Nelson's Column without the famous pigeons in the square.  I was fortunate enough to have visited London as a young boy and thses photos brought back some great memories.
Sam

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful entry..thank you for the pictures...they are of places I will never see and are so much better when taken from a "real" person's view.  #10 Downing actually gave me goose bumps.  The check-in- barrier story makes me think you must be related to my husband's family. LOL

Anonymous said...

Awesome entry and pictures. I had a glimpse of something interesting I doubt I will ever see. Thanks;0)
Dianna

Anonymous said...

What a nice trip you had.  I'm so happy that you shared it with those of us who won'rt ever get a chance to see London ourselves.  Loved the photos.  Congratulations on your nominations, Lady of the Blog.   Best wishes.      Dawn
http://www.aol.com

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your nomination for Lady of the Blog... I think Lady Jan has a very nice ring to it.  : )  Good Luck!
Hugs,  Kathy

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your VIVI award nomination, Jan, and good luck on November 2nd!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your Vivi nomination :-)  Good luck xx Glad you had a good day in the capital and I love the pics - you were certainly lucky with the weather.

Jen xx

Anonymous said...

Jan, you can find a picture or rather a drawing of a portcullis in Wikipedia.  If you haven't discovered this wonderful on line encyclopedia do tap into it.  Something else that I found on Wikipedia yesterday was a spectacular panorama photo taken from the London Eye.  First time I've visited your blog but I'll be back! [Ain't retirement great!]

Anonymous said...

Great entry Jan. Very well done in the nominations. Wishing you the best of luck on the 2nd. xxxx

http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/

Anonymous said...

Looks like you had a wonderful time.

John.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your nomination Jan! Jeannette xx  

Anonymous said...

Jan! congratulations on your vivi award! well done! I really enjoyed that entry and your pics as usual! I have seen that building, but didn't realise it was called Portcullis House! sounds like such an interesting day and your poor feet after flip flops, I know what you mean! Linda xx
http://journals.aol.co.uk/lindachapmanuk/metamorphing/

Anonymous said...

Jan, loved the pictures, and what a lovely day you had to spend in London.  I would love to visit the UK one day.  xx Chris

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a brill day out...Is it only OAP's that are classed silver surfers??? To be honest home computers didn't exist when i was at school...When i went to art school there was one new desktop for the WHOLE of the college...It was a rarity and hugely expensive...Now there will be loads of them there for all kinds of art stuff...remember calculators were new to use in schools back in the 70s but they haven't changed at all really...My mum won't go near a computer and my younger sis will hardly use it and gets one of her kids or hubby to find stuff for her LOL...Guess for a lot of people from whom it was a technology we didn't experience growing up or at school then they don't like it and find it all baffling  Caff xxxxx