Eight Days In London

Buckingham Palace

We finish the tour within Westminster Abbey at twelve noon ending up back near the Sacrarium.  Right when we finish the tour Abbey and I had to stop for the minister preacher on duty asked everyone to stop and take a moment of prayer.  As the minister said the prayer I began to hear Big Ben chiming again as it’s chimes sang throughout the Westminster Abbey.  After the prayer ended Big Ben’s chimes ended as Abbey and I walk over to the Cloisters of Westminster Abbey.

 As we walked in we saw the Cloister Garth.  Within the Cloister Garth was a fountain center of the area as the snow covered the grass around the fountain.  We didn’t spend that much time in the Cloisters for we saw the Chapter House, the Pyx Chamber, and The Abbey Museum.  When we got out of the Cloisters we were back in the Nave walking by the Coronation Chair exiting the Abbey through the Great West Door.  

“Want to go inside the main Abbey Shop?”  asked Abbey as were now by the main Abbey Shop outside.  “Sure, I’d like to see what they have inside” I replied.  We both walk inside the shop seeing many items on sale.  There were key chains, magnets, coffee mugs, notebooks, notepads, fountain pens, and many other choosings.  “You should get yourself a souvenir Grinny to remember and bring back home a bit of London” suggested Abbey as we looked around the shop.  “Not a bad idea...” I said as I looked around wondering what I should get for my souvenir from my trip.

 Soon I saw something on the shelves against the wall that caught my eye. It was in a red stood up rectangular box as I went over to have a closer look.  I went up to the shelf seeing a miniature statue of Big Ben that was inside the the red box. You could see the mini statue of Big Ben through the plastic cover of the red box as the statue was a gold color.  I turn the box around to see the backside of the box as I began to read the description.  

“On the corner of the Houses of Parliament stands St. Stephen’s Tower.  Popularly known as Big Ben.  It is named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was the commissioner of the works at the time.  Construction of the thirty-two foot high clock tower began in the year 1837, when Queen Victoria came to the throne and was completed in 1859.  This was part of the reconstruction of the Houses of Parliament after the fire of 1834.  The clock tower was designed by Sir Edmund Grinthorpe, who died before the thirteen-point-five ton bell was hung.  The four clock faces each measure twenty-three feet square, with two feet high figures.  A light at the top of the tower at night indicates that Parliament is sitting...”  

I paused after reading that description to myself as I turn the box to the front seeing the miniature statue of Big Ben. I notice the front face of Big Ben was an actual clock as I put the box close to my ear hearing the clock ticking inside.  Soon Abbey comes from behind me “I think you just found your souvenir of the entire trip...” stated Abbey peering over seeing the souvenir statue of Big Ben.  

“Yes the souvenir where I can say I’ve been here along with the memories made and the time spent being here...” I said looking over at Abbey.  Abbey smiles at me “and there’s still plenty of memories to be made!” she replies.  “Yep, and each memory we make of us I will always cherish because time is a precious thing you can never get it back, but as the time goes by I can’t wait to make more memories of us.” I said sincerely.  

“Me either...” said Abbey softly to me.  I just smile at her as my smile made her smile.  Suddenly Abbey speaks “Oh, gosh speaking of you being here where would you like to go next?” she said breaking the the second of silence.  I thought for a moment “not sure I got to see most of what I wanted to see in London except for the Sherlock Holmes Museum, but we are going to see that tomorrow.” I answered.  

Abbey soon thinks for a moment “Well, I think we should pay the queen a little visit next; you have to see Buckingham Palace!”  I chuckle at Abbey hearing her words being enthusiastic about paying Buckingham Palace a visit.  “I like that idea as long as I’m with you to Buckingham Palace it is!” I said cheerfully with a smile.  “Yay, I wonder if we’ll be able to get a tour inside, but I think we should get some lunch first before we go” suggested Abbey. “I agree, I haven’t really eaten anything filling yet let’s go.” I finally said.