More champagne?

Ophelia

Inside outside Turner

Cheers

More?

Today our assault is the Tate Britian. Luckily it is under refurbishment and only the cream of the collection in on display. Much easier for tourists like me.  We start with our tour guide Evelyn who takes us through highlights of the Victorian, pre-Raphaelite and modern collection. She is super knowledgable and explains all the little intricacies of the paintings that we would not have known if we just looked at them.

Like half of the people there I am in love with John Millais and can’t believe I am seeing Opheilia face to face.

We also get a chuckle from learning that Tate Britian is on the site of one of the largest prisons in Europe. Lots of convicts bound for Australia waited here on the side of the Thames at Millbank for their departure. According to Evelyn, POM means “Prisoner of Millbank”.

Now onto the main event of the day, afternoon tea at Belgravia. Now this is being a lady that lunches a lot. We start with champagne and then devour a three tier extravagance of sandwiches, little cakes and scones. The clotted cream exceeds my expectations. Wash it all down with a cup of tea and then home to sleep it off.

If you are cold, tea will warm you.

If you are too heated, it will cool you.

If you are depressed, it will cheer you.

If you are excited, it will calm you

William Gladstone

(a quote from the deck of the Cutty Sark, Greenwich)