Updated at 9pm, Sunday 17th.
After arriving and claiming the Belfast as their home for the night, the cubs went on a riverboat trip down the Thames past all the landmarks. (Quality of pictures of these landmarks depends if your child remembers not to put their thumb over the camera).
The weather was good though, and they continued on to Big Ben and then, much more excitingly than a clock tower, got access to Downing Street. Little Prime Ministers in-the-making they may not be, so a snap outside no. 10 is always a nice alternative.
They sat in St. James park for their picnic, then continued to do a tourist staple - stand otuside Buckingham Palace and inevitably try to annoy the bearskins. Not actual bears, or their skins. Men with large hats who look like matchsticks.
Had a little journey in the tube, before popping back to the HMS Belfast for a little explore. After a nice dinner out they are now doing a night-walk around London, but don't worry, the nice, well-lit, riverside bits. As I write they're now returning noisily for a strange night on the Belfast.
Here's a pic of the cubs by the Duke of York (who had 10,000 men)
Monday 18th
After a fascinating talk by the Education department on HMS Belfast who really brought her history alive with stories and actual footage, it was off to the inevitable Gift shop.
We then took the tube to the Imperial War Museum where we had our lunch and explored the Tanks, Planes, Bombs, Trenches, Gift Shop etc.
Vowing we would all return to spend longer we left the Museum and headed back to the Belfast to collect our bags and returned home managing to catch the train 30 mins earlier than planned.
Reflections
It was a thoroughly successful weekend which all went to plan and was undoubtedly helped by the fine weather. Everyone commented on how well behaved our Cubs were and it was definately a pleasure to be leading them.
My grateful thanks to my son, John, who updated the web site for me with a glowing account of our day!
Also a big thank you to all my helpers without whom it would have not been possible: Geoff Evans, John Carey, Kevin Wood, Kim Bull, Linda Wheadon, Viv Clarke, Steve Muggridge, Peter Gibbons, Oliver Starr, Jennifer & Ro Bennett.
I'll shortly be adding some photos to the page below as well as sending you pictures of your child outside No.10!
Simon
