Tuesday began the same way as many other days do.
After hitting the snooze button three or four times before truly committing to waking up and facing the day, D and I made our way downstairs for the first cup of tea and to await a call. This is by far the worst part of my day. Not the tea, D makes a good cup of tea (not as delicious as my Dad makes it, don't be silly, but still pretty good), it's the waiting. Not knowing whether to wish the phone would ring or wish it wouldn't.
With every minute that passes between seven and nine, I get a little more excited about the prospect of having the day off. Simultaneously feelings of guilt rush over me as I justify to myself that work equals money and money equals more food and fun times. It's an emotional battle. Trying not to get too excited as it gets later, but also knowing that the closer to nine it gets, the more likely it is that you'll be called. Oh, the trials and tribulations of supply teaching.
Nine o'clock came and passed and as D and I exchanged high-fives and triumphant grins, we began scheming what the day could hold now that it was ours... We decided to visit St Paul's Cathedral because despite it being visible somewhere on the horizon, wherever you are in central London, we hadn't actually seen it up close yet.
After hitting the snooze button three or four times before truly committing to waking up and facing the day, D and I made our way downstairs for the first cup of tea and to await a call. This is by far the worst part of my day. Not the tea, D makes a good cup of tea (not as delicious as my Dad makes it, don't be silly, but still pretty good), it's the waiting. Not knowing whether to wish the phone would ring or wish it wouldn't.
With every minute that passes between seven and nine, I get a little more excited about the prospect of having the day off. Simultaneously feelings of guilt rush over me as I justify to myself that work equals money and money equals more food and fun times. It's an emotional battle. Trying not to get too excited as it gets later, but also knowing that the closer to nine it gets, the more likely it is that you'll be called. Oh, the trials and tribulations of supply teaching.
Nine o'clock came and passed and as D and I exchanged high-fives and triumphant grins, we began scheming what the day could hold now that it was ours... We decided to visit St Paul's Cathedral because despite it being visible somewhere on the horizon, wherever you are in central London, we hadn't actually seen it up close yet.
I'm a huge fan of big, impressive-looking buildings and St Paul's is both of these. Despite not being particularly religious I find standing inside buildings, such as this one, incredibly overwhelming and find myself whispering and tiptoeing around. I get the overwhelming sensation to lay on the floor and stare up at the ceiling for hours or touch things I know I'm not allowed to. I can't help it... Forgive me.
It's for this reason that I, in defiance of all the sign posts and staff telling people not to, snapped these two sneaky photos of inside the cathedral. The photo on the left is the spiral staircase that twists all the way up to Professor Trelawney's Divination classroom and the one on the right is the entrance where you hand over silly-amounts of money to proceed further.
It's for this reason that I, in defiance of all the sign posts and staff telling people not to, snapped these two sneaky photos of inside the cathedral. The photo on the left is the spiral staircase that twists all the way up to Professor Trelawney's Divination classroom and the one on the right is the entrance where you hand over silly-amounts of money to proceed further.
After taking my sneaky shots and feeling like a complete criminal, terrified of being caught, I hastily escorted myself off the premises and walked swiftly back down the stairs (resisting the urge to glance over my shoulder to ensure I didn't have a swam of nuns chasing after me).
Our next destination was Millennium Bridge (you know, the one that was reconstructed after the Dementor's ripped it apart). We crossed the bridge, taking moments to look back at the new view of St Paul's and out across the Thames to the Shard and Tower Bridge.
Our next destination was Millennium Bridge (you know, the one that was reconstructed after the Dementor's ripped it apart). We crossed the bridge, taking moments to look back at the new view of St Paul's and out across the Thames to the Shard and Tower Bridge.
We arrived on the other side of the river and sat listening to two incredible buskers for a while before heading up to Shakespeare's Globe. We wandered around the outside and gazed up at the amazing roof, promising to return to watch a performance some time soon.
D had a surprise for me next and as usual, whisked me off to a tube station for the next exciting leg of the journey. As we walked down the street, I had an odd sense of familiarity. It almost felt as though I was on the set of a British television series. The street certainly looked about right and that cafe looked strangely familiar. But I disregarded what I hoped it would be, because we were not on Baker street and that was not the door of 221B.
The people sitting at the cafe looked at me as though they knew something I didn't and there seemed to be several geeky-looking people lingering around, taking subtle photos of the door and surroundings. D informed me that this was indeed, the location that they film 221B Baker street for the television series Sherlock and all of a sudden my inner-geek erupted. Everything was a million times more awesome and twelve photos was simply not enough to capture it (I limited my gallery here to two with immense self control). Even the knocker was crooked; Mycroft mustn't have been to visit...
We had a coffee in Speedy's and I struggled to order in my star-struck state. Staggering over my change and misunderstanding the waitress. It was very small inside, with photos of the staff with the cast posted on the walls and the smell of fresh bread. I was completely overwhelmed and opted to drink my coffee outside, entertained by the trickle of Sherlock geeks walking past with their thumbs up to the camera.
The people sitting at the cafe looked at me as though they knew something I didn't and there seemed to be several geeky-looking people lingering around, taking subtle photos of the door and surroundings. D informed me that this was indeed, the location that they film 221B Baker street for the television series Sherlock and all of a sudden my inner-geek erupted. Everything was a million times more awesome and twelve photos was simply not enough to capture it (I limited my gallery here to two with immense self control). Even the knocker was crooked; Mycroft mustn't have been to visit...
We had a coffee in Speedy's and I struggled to order in my star-struck state. Staggering over my change and misunderstanding the waitress. It was very small inside, with photos of the staff with the cast posted on the walls and the smell of fresh bread. I was completely overwhelmed and opted to drink my coffee outside, entertained by the trickle of Sherlock geeks walking past with their thumbs up to the camera.
Next stop was the real 221B Baker street (I remain optimistic), where we went to the little gift shop and I bought this awesome canvas bag with a really subtle 'I'm a huge fan' design.
I got my geek on. It felt good.
Xxo
Xxo