A Grim Week

Yesterday flags were flying at half-mast in empathy for the tragedy in Nice.  Last night many were killed in a failed coup in Turkey and last week hundreds were killed in a suicide bomb in Baghdad.

We are living in difficult times with no clear way out of this mess.  Violence and marginalising groups is not working, can we try something else please.  We need a true international peace maker to step up for the job.

Monopoly - White-Hall

Monopoly pink square. £140.

Whitehall is the road that runs from Westminster (houses of Parliament) to Trafalgar Square. Lined with government departments and ministries.

The horse guards about half way along Whitehall. Headquarters to the British Army's general staff since 1751, built on the site of the old Whitehall Palace that was destroyed by fire in 1698.

Thousands of tourists come to see the daily ceremony of changing horse guards, but not so many know about the museum here. Worth a visit, next time you are in town.

Student Protests

Thousands of students protested yesterday in the second day of action against education cuts and increases in tuition fees.

Spitfire

A full size replica spitfire outside the Churchill Museum as part of the 70th commemoration of the Battle of Britain. On the pavement around it you are encouraged to draw planes in pavement chalk.
The display will be there until 31 August. On Friday 20th at 15:52 Churchill's famous speech ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few’ will be read. Around the same time there will be a fly-past over Whitehall of spitfires and hurricanes.

Refugee Day

Hundreds carrying white umbrellas marched down Whitehall yesterday for world refugee day. Similar parades took place in eight other European cities.
The white umbrellas symbolise care, safety and shelter in foreign countries for those in need of international protection.

Couples

London is listed as one of the top ten most romantic cities.