Where in the world...?

By now you will be missing me and wondering what I've been doing!??

Last week, after a very quiet Monday morning, the rest of the days flew by. A couple of very heavy and lengthy lectures let me know that we have hit the study straps and my brain has been hurting a little bit. The coffee shop across the road from our lecture building helped out though!

On Thursday we headed for London on the Eurostar via Brussels arriving in London late afternoon.  We stayed at the Holiday Inn Kensington, just around the corner from the Natural History Museum and the V&A Museum. We conveniently found the closest English pub and enjoyed a noisy and
packed evening in the bar.

Friday morning we had a visit to Westminster Cathedral, the Catholic one not the Abbey. We then headed around the block to the equivalent of their Catholic Education Office where the Deputy Director gave his presentations on the challenges in Catholic Education in England and the Religious Education Curriculum. At times we weren't sure if he was being serious, trying to be funny or taking the mickey.  An 'interesting' person. 

We then had a visit to the St Vincent de Paul Primary School which is right next to the Cathedral. There are 250 students in eight classes (30 to a class), over two floors in very small rooms. Not sure how they all fit - it was lunch time when we were there. Our briefing was held in the chapel which doubles as a library area and meeting room. The Principal, dressed in jeans!!!, gave us a talk about the school - 99% Catholic (the 1% is Russian Orthodox). The school families apparently go to mass 

as the students get points which help them get into the good secondary schools - that's one way to get 

bums on seats!

What else did we do?

The M&M shop - four floors of all things M&M!  No, didn't buy anything!

The HoHo bus - just for something to do!!

And we got tickets to 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' which was very clever. You could even buy a Wonka bar - no Golden Ticket though!

I know, it's upside down!

Mass at the Cathedral and a walk to see Betty - no changing of the guard due to the London Half Marathon. Back on the Eurostar and to Leuven by 10.30pm. Phew!