Here I am, scything through the opposition and seconds away from passing the finishing line in a blur of speed at Cambridge parkrun..Unfortunately another 170 runners did their own bit of scything and got there before me. Still, I still think 171st has got a certain ring to it. I’m getting over a cold at this point but this 5k felt okay.

We went to Londinium on Sunday and caught part of the Cancer Research Winter Run 10k (through closed roads in central London). Very good natured run and 16,500 taking part. We’ll consider doing it next year.

We walked alongside the runners until St Pauls and then ventured off the beaten track.

                    

The old YHA building, second down from the top, is less than a 30 seconds walk from St. Pauls Cathedral. Very good value if you’re happy with YHA accommodation (£99 a night in a room sleeping 4).

These narrow streets and alleys are just situated a few metres away from St. Pauls Cathedral and were deserted.

The building below is 2 Temple Place WC2R 3BD twotempleplace.org. It’s open to the public at present because they have an exhibition ,Sussex Modernism – Retreat and Rebellion. Eric Gill sculptures, Bloomsbury group stuff and Salvador Dali’s  Mae West lips sofa.

This late Victorian mansion was built in 1895 for William Waldorf Astor, allegedly the richest man in the world at that time. It’s administered by the Bulldog Trust and is used as a prestigous venue for corporate and private entertaining. It’s well worth visiting this building when it’s open to the public (ie now) and if you go to the website  virtual tour you can see the beautiful interior. Entry and the exhibition is free. You don’t even have to prove you’re a paid up Tory or wave a copy of the Telegraph to get in.

After we left 2 Temple Place, the next stop was the Tate Modern.

This converted power station on the bank of the river Thames is a wonderful space. We’ve now got membership to the Tate modern and the other Tate galleries. It’s a real privilege.

Here’s me talking to my cool bag and about to eat my packed lunch in a deserted family room in the bowels of the building. I can’t get better than this!

The Tate was really fun on various levels. More about this in the next blog.