Memorial day - 41

If there is one prime location for a monument, it is at the end of Westminster Bridge within the shadow of the Houses of Parliament Clock Tower, (sorry for being so pedantic in not referring to the Tower as Big Ben - that is the name of the bell that chymes the hour, not the clock nor the towers).

Queen Boudicca (formerly known as Boadicea) was the ruler of the Iceni, a tribe who lived in eastern England. She is famous for leading the British (though technically they weren't British at the time, but a collection of tribes) against the Roman Empire. And like present day British sports persons, she didn't win but came in a good second best. Though in her case the Romans killed her in 61AD.

The statute was commissioned in 1850 by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort - I wonder what devious reason he had for doing that? It was made by Thomas Thornycroft.

Standing in the chariot with Boudicca are her two daughters - no wonder they lost, three women driving a chariot, it would have taken them hours to park it.

Legend has it that Boudicca is buried under Platform 10 King's Cross Station. And if you believe that, you'll also believe Harry Potter boarded the train for Hogwarts from Platform 9 3/4.

What a day

Back in early January I wrote about the filming on Blackfriars Bridge. Well they were back again this weekend, but 300m further downstream, to the Millennium Bridge.

And I can confirm, they were filming the new Harry Potter film




How much does it cost, not only for the film crew, but all the extras walking across the bridge, security (both police and private security staff), and a helicopter (which you can just about see if you look closely at the upper photo)?

Movies don't come cheap




Moving 300m upstream of Blackfriars Bridge, yesterday morning they found a WW2 hand-grenade which the police blew up with a controlled explosion.











How can you improve on all that excitement?

Well Mother Nature can. After an afternoon shower, a brilliant rainbow over St Paul's Cathedral

Action Take 2

I was going to write - "a couple of weeks ago . . ." - but on checking I see it was back on the 16th December I wrote about Blackfriars Bridge, London, being used to film a movie.

Well they were back again on Saturday evening, filming until the early hours of Sunday morning.

Previously I speculated they were filming the yet to be named new James Bond film, though I did edge my bet by suggesting it could be the new Harry Potter.

Well unless master spies travel in a large wooden caravan drawn by four horses, then its not James Bond.

That leaves Harry Potter or some other fantasy film.

Any ideas?



I was amused to see, that even though it was raining, they were employing a rain making machine - guess they had to have the "right" type of rain.

Second thoughts

It might not be Bond 22 but Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

But what the heck, what does YesBut know about such things?