Day 15: Ravens

I don't remember when, but a gentleman warned me not to look a raven in the eye, that it was bad luck.  Although my bad luck started earlier that day, before I tried looking ravens in the eye, I still blame it on that.  I like ravens.  I don't want them to be bad luck.

First stop of the day: Parliament.  I wanted to take the Saturday tour, because it was more extensive than the M-F ones.  I was disappointed... it was cancelled, this Saturday and next, because of construction.  Of course, I found this out at the gate.  So, where to next?  I had so much time on my hands!

I went to the London Film Museum, which was a real treat.  They had Chaplin's cap and cane, Batman's suit from Batman Begins, Dr. Who's telephone booth from the original movies... I was a pretty happy camper.  I took lots of pictures.  And just in time, I left for Buckingham Palace, a 30 minute walk.  During the course of which I tried having a staring contest with a raven.  Of course, everyone else also went to the Palace for the Changing of the Guard.  So many people!  I realized, when I got there, that I wasn't going to have a chance at seeing anything, so I walked to Somerset house (30-40 minutes of walking).

Upon arrival at Somerset, I was told that the tour for the day was cancelled.  Again?  Really?  Thankfully, the House also had an exhibit hall, which I visited.  They were featuring the Sony photography awards.  There was some fantastic stuff in there.  I loved the work of the winner, Mitch Dobrowner.  Make a Google Images search on him, you'll see why I love his work.

Next stop: the Rose exhibition!  Except that... it's cancelled.  Two people out sick.  The Globe folks recommend I make a combo tour later on.  Which I will... but still.  Cancelled?  I stay around the Globe to see my show, Richard III, and have dinner at Nando's.  The review is already posted.  :-)

Then, to finish it off, I try to rush home to Skype Ben on time.  I get to the Tube station and realize that my Oyster card has been lifted from my back pocket.  Very frustrating!  I have to wait in line to get another one, since the machines here don't allow you to use cards that don't have a chip in them, so it has to be swiped.  I rush onto the train, and then at my transfer, it tells me that the direction I want to go in... the platform is flooded.  So I have to go the opposite direction to get the way I want to go.

I'm only 5 minutes late to Skype Ben, but five times frustrated.  Not the best day.