Hi All,
Am back home after my little holiday.

The main reason for going 'down south' was to attend a Patti Smith performance at Charlston House (formally the home of Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell, EM Forster and others of the Bloomsbury set).

Not being much of a Patti Smith fan (my partner idolises her and insisted we go), I have to say that I was blown away. Songs interspersed with readings of her poetry made for a remarkable experience. It was all accoustic, just Patti and her guitarist Oliver Ray. This man is a genius! I have never heard anyone play accoustic guitar to such effect before.

I had the notion that Patti (because of what I know of her politics and ideals) would be this hard, brittle personality but she was the exact opposite of this. A more unassuming, sincere and obviously kind woman you could not hope to meet. She seemed terribly nervous at first, almost unsure as to whether she should be on the stage at all but soon warmed up and gave an amazing performance.

Any way that was the 'concert' and we had decided to stay in Brighton itself as it was relatively near to Charlston. Apologies to anyone from Brighton but never having been there before I was not at all impressed with it. Less said soonest mended (but it was a hole! ) We moved on to London and stayed there instead.

We found a hotel and spent the next three days doing all the 'touristy' things. The Queens Gallery at Buckingham Palce was amazing and currently has an exhibition of Leonardo DaVinci drawings. We had to go through security to get in and had to empty our person of all metal objects before passing through! What a performance! I never knew I had so many pockets, coins, mobile phone, pens, tuning fork (well you never know), etc. etc. all had to be placed on a silver tray before we could enter! Thank goodness my corset was whalebone!!

We did the Tower of London which again ws excellent! The crown jewels were unbelievable even to an Englishman! Put my own 'family Jewels' to shame

Westminster Abbey was one of my favourites. I was eager to see the Tombs of Elizabeth the first and Mary Queen of Scots as I am currently reading a joint biography of these two women.

Finally we went to see Hampton Court Palace which I had always wanted to go see and never had the opportunity. To see Henry V111 's state appartments was remarkable but the best part was the chapel royal. The organ there was installed in the early 1700's and was even played by Handell!! It needs to be tuned every six to eight weeks to stay in tune and as the chapel is a working church it is important that they keep it in top notch.

OK well I will stop rambling now. I went I saw and now I am back!! (given the opportunity though I would go live in one of the grace and favour appartments at Hampton Court Palace tommorow, haunted or not!)
Best to you all
Tony