Battersea Power Station

 After a great nosh up brunch, Fi, Scott and I made our way to the recently opened Battersea Power Station site. This has been a long time coming and for many years the site looked like an Alien landscape.

Consisting of the old grade 2 listed station which sat idle since 1983 and the surrounding area it is now an amazing shopping and residential area. At one point over 50 cranes were building the station and surrounding buildings.


The power station itself was gutted and is now 4 levels of high end shopping on the river with open areas outside. Restaurants and bars aplenty in the adjoining residential buildings. They even put in a new tube station.

For those old enough to remember the cover of Pink Floyd's Animal cover the station should be familiar, especially as the pig escaped!

Open up to read

From there we headed to Wandsworth Bridge where we enjoyed the sun that had made an appearance. On the waterfront and a couple of Chardonnays it was great.

Thames from Wandsworth Bridge

A short walk back to Scott's saw us preparing dinner and then settling in for the Coronation concert.

Will see what today brings as it is a public holiday here.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chateau de Cormicy arrival

Image
 Left Paris from Gard D'Este on the TGV. A fast train that got us to Reims in 45 minutes. Travelling at 300 kph the countryside was a blur. Fi and I walked to the Europcar depot through a beautiful park and got our wheels for the week. A few hiccups between driving on the right and navigation we got to Cormicy. Unable to check in for a bit we went to Supermarche for essential supplies (wine) and parked outside the digs. The church at Cormicy The area was ruined in the Great War and church dating back to 12th century was rebuilt as was the Chateau. 18 of us were here now with last 4 arriving Saturday. We gathered at cafe whilst we waited. Fairly sure we increased their turnover enough to afford a new villa! The nearly whole gang + random local After a few hours we got the all clear to enter the premises. The place has been here in some form since 1179 and this reincarnation since 1925. We will be given a tour of cellars on Tuesday which are of the 12th century! Our erstwhile organis...
Read more

Chateau day

Image
 Was a slow start, but being a Sunday, shop was only open until 12.00. Meant we had to get out for supplies. Our room Donny and I went to Supermarche for essentials and then drove on to one of the many war grave sites in this area. This one at Hermonville is for allied soldiers and poignantly the date of death for many was today 108 years ago. We returned to the Chateau where a catered brunch was being provided in the gardens. Our idyllic setting We sat and soon decided it was not too early for rosé and champagne! Served up we enjoyed the repast. Our menu Following the meal the children (all of us) decided on archery. Fortunately the arrows were rubber tipped and our target was an apple on the head! Donny's turn as target A lot of fun had and consensus was Peter Hack was most lethal. The afternoon progressed and Bocce was played as the day slipped into darkness. Once again 11.00 came and we retired indoors and one by one we sidled off to bed. Cannot be sure when last trooper retire...
Read more

Final goodbye and home

Image
 It was time for call stumps on our epic 10 weeks away. Last night in London we met up with 8 others at the Green Room in Waterloo for drinks and dinner. Farewells all around until a next time. Scott, Fi and I We made our way back to Leann's and a last sad drink on balcony. Up in morning to pack and then to Deptford for brunch with Sian. Fi and I then had one last look at the Dog and Bell before inevitable time arrived. With extra luggage on return we had booked a car for travel to Gatwick, which arrived spot on 5.45 pm at Leann's. Teary goodbye and we were off. Put luggage through at Emirates desk then for the herding through security and border control. Flight to Dubai first then again through their security before resting in terminal. Did not feel like 9.00 am, so beer and Bloody Mary time! Final leg home to Brisbane then shuttle to Main Beach saw us home by 10.00 am. Total travel time of 31 hours and very weary. Showers then a quick trip to shops as nothing in house. Brough...
Read more