Brief journeys - Lovely London

I've been lucky enough to live in London on and off for a total of almost nine years, most recently about three years ago. I'm happy not to live there right now but it's one of those amazing and distinctive cities that can forever capture one's heart - and it has at least part of mine. I love to go back and visit whenever I can.

This week I had to travel down for work, so I woke up early and took the train...

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... past cows in fields, people working their vegetable and flower allotments, baled hayfields, and little stations.

And once there, after several hours in my office in the City, I wandered into the West End to spend a blissful hour with Van Gogh, Gaugin, and the Impressionists of the permanent collection in the National Gallery...


...before meeting up with a colleague again and walking over towards Covent Garden, and up to one of my favourite areas, around Seven Dials...



In the heart of Seven Dials is the very special and easy-to-miss-if-you-don't-know-it's-there Neal's Yard...

This is a colourful, vibrant and quirky little spot. A gem.

We paused for a little while to soak in the atmosphere and review the day's work...

And then, all too quickly, had to head back to catch the return train.

It was a brief but sweet visit - a lovely London top-up - and I brought some of these home with me...


...to remind me of the day and also the faraway place they originally came from, which also has a piece of my heart.