al + lyn's excellent adventure: May 2012

London - Union Chapel for June Tabor and Oyster Band - 19 April

Back to London from York for a show at the Union Chapel by June Tabor and the Oyster Band, a fantastic folk group who won the 2012 BBC folk award. It's still a functioning church but is also a great music venue. It was packed and we cheered until they gave us an encore. One of the many highlights was a cover of Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division. Simply wonderful.

Love Al and Lyn xxx

York - Wednesday 18 April

A 2 hour train trip from London, York is a beautiful old city with so many 'vibes' from the past: Romans, Vikings, Normans have occupied the city over centuries and built walls, castles, moats etc. York Minster took 250 years to build but what a church! Superb old buildings set inside and outside of the old walls, the place is unspoiled, as the city controls new development to make sure it fits with the history. Friendly people, good food, great sights. Overnight stay, Thurs 19 : more sightseeing incl. National Railway Museum which has some of the greatest trains ever built. Next time we'll stay longer.

British Museum, Chinatown and the West End for Jersey Boys - Tuesday 17 April

The British Museum, ancient relics from all over the world. The Rosetta Stone, Easter Island carvings, items from ancient Rome, ancient Greece, ancient Egypt, China ... everywhere. Beautiful, fascinating, huge!

Vietnamese dinner in Chinatown then to Prince Edward Theatre in the West End and 'Jersey Boys' which was as good as everyone in Australia had told us - sensational music, dancing and a great play. We all loved it and cheered long and loud.

Love Lyn and Al xxx

British Museum Main Hall

Enormously talented busker - the show before the show!

Favourite Vietnamese in the West End

Prince Edward Theatre - Jersey Boys

Regent Street

Oxford Circus

Leicester square - Trafalgar Square - Pall Mall - Buckingham Palace - oh my! Monday 16 April

Leicester Square - Trafalgar Square - Pall Mall - Buckingham Palace - Wow! The British sure built some wonderful monuments and churches when the Empire had a lot of cash. Grenadiers, beautiful parks, flowers and a little bit of sunlight - superb!

Hahaha, what do we think, some of the worst tourist photos at Big Ben?!

Look at Al... and these were the good ones!

The East End + Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club - Sunday 15 April

Walking tour of the East End where we find out the social, economic and crime history of this 'colourful' part of town. No wonder London's East End is such a fantastic place with the Romans, Huguenots, Jews and Bengalis mixing into the local culture over the centuries. The colour, the ‘bewdiful’ food and music in Brick Lane, the shopping in Spitalfields and the stories about Jack the Ripper and the Kray brothers are superb. We reckon everyone should do an East End walking tour if you have the time.

To Ronnie Scott's jazz club for dinner and a show. Venue is superb - red velvet decor with dark red lighting. Food is just okay but the music - sensational :) More cds for the collection. ‘Natalie Williams and Soul Family’...

What a night! A slow day tomorrow... yes please!

Love Lyn and Al xxx