A few days prior to a procedure to fix Mr C’s unexpected health condition that caused us to cancel our Madeira trip in October we had a last minute day trip to London.

We enjoyed a special meal deal in The Ivy looking towards Tower Bridge, our destination for the day. Tower Bridge with its glass walkways and views of London from above is well worth a visit. After our tour of the bridge we had hoped to visit the nearby Tower of London but in winter months it closes earlier, meaning we had run out of time. Instead we visited Foyles book shop where neither of us were tempted to buy anything.

A couple of days later I took Mr C on the 50 minute drive to the hospital (in appalling weather) where his procedure to remove some anomalous non-malignant cells was due to take place. General anaesthetic was administered but when the consultant prepared to do the procedure he found that the anomalous cells had vanished…

He was allowed home rather than having to stay in hospital overnight. Another 50 minute there and back again journey for me. We stopped on the way home to pick up something for our evening meal. A cup of tea was in order and we were tempted by naughty cakes.

When I awoke after another comfortable night’s sleep Mr C presented me with a small pile of presents for my birthday. I had a lot of fun opening them to find a couple of books, a Wrendale mug (to add to our collection) and the much-anticipated expansion pack to my board game Apiary.

After a slow start we had a late breakfast in Weatherspoon’s. Their expansive breakfast menu caters for everyone. The St Albans Waterend Barn had an open fire, a lovely welcoming atmosphere and Mr C was able to indulge in a full English breakfast.

We lingered a while before mooching around Dyas and Waterstones whilst we waited for St Albans Museum and Gallery to open at 11am. The museum’s current exhibition is about prisoners and crime which we found interesting and thought provoking. The museum is housed in the former town hall, where amongst other things, an octagonal courtroom, subterranean cells and the Assembly Room can be viewed.

After our visit it was a little too early for lunch so we left the museum’s tempting food options behind, deciding instead to visit ‘The Bookshop on the Hill’ which has an adjoining café. Mr C consulted Google maps and headed in the direction of our hotel, but when we arrived, he realised that we had been walking in completely the wrong direction to where the bookshop is located. Mr C then plotted a new route which found us back at the museum where we walked a short distance down the hill to find the bookshop.

The bookshop is independent and not part of a chain which meant it was lovely to explore. We browsed the eclectic offerings with Mr C lingering a little longer than me. The bookshop is rather small so I waited outside and noticed that I had a missed called from mum. I thought she had phoned me to wish me a happy birthday so I tried to return her call only to find that her mobile phone was now switched off.

Unfortunately, the café adjoining the bookshop is not open on Tuesdays! We walked the short distance back to the museum and its tempting food options and enjoyed an ‘artisan’ toastie in the former courtroom.

We walked into the nearby Maltings shopping arcade away from the noisy streets so I could phone mum back on her home phone rather than her mobile. She was surprised to hear from me and it transpired that she had pressed the wrong button whilst trying to phone a friend to take her to a morning gathering. The arcade turned out to be not as quiet as it should have been. Whilst I was on the phone some workmen were noisily dragging some scaffolding next to where I was seated.

Next, we walked to St. Albans South Signal Box which was a longer walk than anticipated. We arrived to find that it was closed and only opens on Sunday’s. We walked back to St Albans via a different route and were drawn to revisit the Cathedral.

We had refreshments in the café first. The Cathedral had the same calming ambiance that we had experienced on the previous day. It was interesting to see the Cathedral lit in different colours as dusk descended.

After our busy day it was time to return to the hotel to chill out before dining in ‘The Ivy’ where I chose my usual dish, fishcake with crushed peas and then truffles to follow. As the evening progressed, what was a slight chilliness as we started our meal turned into a full-on cold blast from the empty side of the room.

The waiter who took our payment had already checked that the heating was turned on and working normally when the ladies on the table next to us complained that it was cold. It was only when I said that the cold air was coming from the empty part of the room that he frowned and had a light bulb moment. There was a door at the far end of that room that someone had left open by a merest sliver that no one could see. He was thankful we had solved the problem and apologetic in equal measures.

We had a nightcap in Weatherspoons, where we were able to warm up before returning to the hotel for the last sleep of our mini adventure.

Our recent day trip to London was so enjoyable we decided to visit London again the following week.

The train arrived on time but was delayed briefly due to a points issue. Once in London, we caught the Tube to Southwark where we intended to visit Southwark Cathedral and The Shard.

Before visiting either it was time for lunch. The place we had initially chosen had only two staff on so we decided not to stay because the pace was busy and we didn’t want to wait too long for our lunch. We checked out then next place on our list but instead settled upon The Ivy where we were seated in the conservatory area. It was light and airy with the doors open, which provided a cool breeze that took off the heat of the day.

The service was quick and efficient and we both chose the Smoked Salmon and Haddock Fish Cake accompanied by a glass of dry rose wine. Whilst dining, we decided to visit the Cathedral first. It had been on our itinerary for our recent London visit but we ran out of time to visit it.

We walked the short distance to the Cathedral in 80° heat. Stepping into the cool space of the Cathedral was a welcome relief. I found the Cathedral to have a peaceful feeling which perhaps reflects the rich history of the building. There are many interesting features within the Cathedral but sadly there is no guidebook to explain them in further detail.

After getting my Cathedral Pilgrim Passport stamped, we walked to the Shard. We purchased our tickets to ‘The View’, choosing the optional glass of bubbles to enjoy once we had reached the dizzy heights. The operation is very slick; bag search, green screen photos taken and then directions to the lifts that take you up to the viewing floor. The views are stunning and we took our time to spot the familiar landmarks of London. Watching the trains travelling in and out of Charing Cross station from above was like seeing trains on a model railway.

We walked to the top floor which is open to the elements although we found the view from there less enjoyable so we returned to the lower floor to enjoy our ‘bubbles’ looking out over London.

Mr C noticed the flowers in the Tower of London moat so after descending from the tower, we walked across Tower Bridge and around the moat before heading back to Euston Station.

We arrived at Euston Station to find utter chaos! All trains had been delayed due to a major problem with points near Watford Junction. Luckily for us the trains had just started running again. We caught the first train that was heading to Birmingham rather than wait for the later train which we had booked onto. When trains get messed up later trains often get cancelled, so better a train in the hand…

As expected the train was rammed full and we chose a space to stand safely next to the luggage rack. A man kindly gave up his seat for me; he didn’t like the thought of me standing all the way to Birmingham. I was grateful to him but also felt a little guilty.

During our journey the train staff decided to terminate the train a station early, Birmingham International rather than Birmingham New Street. A bit frustrating for us but entirely understandable for getting the trains back on schedule going forward.

This involved a mad dash across the platforms to get the first connecting train that was due to leave one minute after our arrival. There was a bit of Mr C not quite getting on the train whilst the guard was blowing his whistle and as I dashed across the platform, hopping on the train at the last minute. The doors closed behind me and we were on our way.

We arrived three minutes late compared to our original planned arrival which meant we were once again on time for joining our friends for last orders in a local hostelry.