Noises Off!


528 steps, with no lift, is what it takes to get the magnificent view from the top of St Paul's Cathedral.  You can see from the picture that we made it!  It is slightly less that the 551 steps we took to the top of St Peter's dome in Rome several years ago.

 Pope Gregory the Great, founded the original St Paul’s in 604 AD but the buildings were later damaged by fires and Viking attacks. William the Conqueror commissioned a Gothic cathedral in ~1087 AD (finished in 1148), standing until the Great Fire of London in 1666.  However from the reign of Henry VIII the shrines and artwork commemorating saints was destroyed. 

NOISES OFFThe architect Christopher Wren oversaw building of the current cathedral from 1675-1697.  The building caused great controversy in that it is was deemed as too 'Catholic' being similar to St Peter's and St Paul's in Rome but without any reference to saints apart from St Paul.  However the tombs of the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Lord Nelson are in the crypt - perhaps secular saints/heroes.

In the evening Simon Rouse, Maureen's cousin, graciously gifted us tickets to his latest play ' Noises Off' being performed with acclaim at the Garrick theatre in the west end.  This is a funny, frenetic comedy about producing a play and was superbly acted.  It was the first play that John had attended!  We were blessed to meet Simon in his dressing room afterwards discussing the taste of sardines that featured in the play, among other things.  This was another special moment for Maureen who had not seen Simon since she was in England as a 21 year old.  

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