January 3rd 2015: London: Horniman Museum

Monty the Motorhome is shivering at Abbey Wood. The temperature is not far above freezing and it is raining.

Met up with everyone at London Bridge station and travelled on to Forest Hill where we visited the Horniman Museum. This is not on the A list of tourist attractions, probably as it is some way out of Central London. However it definitely should be. Entrance is free and the place is stuffed with natural history exhibits - a bit like the Natural History Museum, but on a much smaller scale. 

We also paid to visit the Aquarium and this is well worth it. Many interesting fish, sealife and freshwater exhibits, from all over the world. We were particulary fascinated by a tiny little fish that was burrowing down into the sand and emerging every few seconds with a mouthful of debris which it spat out on an adjacent pile of rubble. One almost expected a voiceover from David Attenborough to accompany it.

Also on display were a number of paintings by the artist Kurt Jackson, a British painter born in 1961 whose large landscapes reflect a love of the landscapes and especially rivers. There were some really dramatic and colourful studies.

We all returned to the city centre for an evening meal at Browns, on Butlers Wharf adjacent to Tower Bridge. On entering the restaurant the weather was still overcast and gloomy. However on leaving it had cleared and the whole Tower Bridge area was sparkling with lights. We went over to St Katherines Dock and wandered around the marina, marvelling at some of the big cruisers moored up. 

Tower Bridge

 The Shard

However it was soon time to say our goodbyes. Once again it will be some months before we see Rachael and her boyfriend Ivar again - thank goodness for Skype. Hopefully it will not be quite as long before seeing James and Becka.