Day 1. Had a really good day today, maybe this had something to do with the weather and no rain! Boarded the London Euston bound Virgin Pendilino from Wigan at 9.11am under the grey skies of the North. Had first class coach seats booked and I have to admit that the coach was empty other than a mother and son, who I swear had Swine Flu, from Scotland making an absolute racket!

The journey takes around 2hrs and only stops at one station so you get a good run when doing the journey.Took advantage of the complimentary drinks, as you do.I say take advantage; I had a bottle of water, still to be more accurate.

Arrived in Euston around 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled time, so I think it was around 11am and headed for London Square underground to get over to Baker Street underground and start the game I like to call, Hotel Hunt.To be honest when I get to London I seem to become all local and automatically seem to know where I'm going, maybe I have taken 'The Knowledge' test in an earlier life; needless to say, we found the hotel straight away.Nothing to do with it being across Marylebone road from Madame Tussauds!The hotel or, La Suite, kindly let us leave our baggage at the hotel prior to check in, this making it easier to mooch around the city bag less.

First port of call was Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms over near Whitehall, off on the Circle line once again!Got the tube over to Westminster then it's about 5 minute walk to the War Rooms.Although I have been to the War Rooms previously, it's still a good place to go back to and I actually saw some bits that I didn't take note of on my last visit there!Oh, just remembered, while waiting for the Tube at Baker Street I saw my first paranoid foreign tourists wearing, yes you've guessed it, surgical masks!Now, I have an issue with these kinds of people.The issue is, yes Swine Flu can be caught by picking up the disease off a surface then transferring this via your mouth, HOWEVER, you can also get the virus by contact with your eyes and here I see the issue with face masks, they only cover your mouth and I have seen more people rubbing their eyes than touching their mouths when out and about today!BUT a confession, I do seem to have developed OCD over the last few days, and I constantly smell like a hospital with the amount of hygienic hand gel I have been rubbing on! Anyway, I digress.

After finishing in CAWR we took a stroll through St James' park, which had changed considerably since I was last there, it was minus the Pelicans but plus the water!Really busy around the park, lots of people getting an intake of sunshine while they can.Lots of people hiring deckchairs, £2 for 4 hours, not bad governor! After our stroll we decided to head toward Leicester square, to grab some lunch at café which we have eaten at before.Food was excellent.

After our escapade around Leicester square, by the way, some very good pavement artists around there, doing what they do best, we took the direction of Westminster Abbey.

When passing Trafalgar square spotted the OneandOther exhibition going on at the minute, very intriguing thing to watch, just highlights hoe diverse people are over in the UK!And have learned since that they 'Plinthers' as they're known are up there for an hour slot and there are people up there 24/7..WOW!

Arrived at Westminster abbey and just out luck, it was closed; this was 3.30pm by the way which I thought was a tad early, but them having their reasons!Onward to the London Eye.

Arrived at the London eye after walking over Westminster Bridge and I think in the process of doing so, several people!!Damn was it busy around there.You always get lots of people milling about on the Bridge and surrounding area as it offers some of the more recognizable views of London but today was extra busy.AND extra busy with Litter, a rat heaven around there tonight…!

Anyways, the queue was, well, how shall I put it…..lengthy.We decided to give it a miss today and try again another day.

Next stop, Westminster underground.***Face Mask Watch Update*** 4 more people wearing face masks, I think I'm now going to keep a running total of the amount of people I see wearing them.The even stranger thing about two of the people wearing them was that they had them resting on their chin, hmmm, defeating the object one thinks.17 minutes for the tube to arrive to get back to Baker Street, needless to say it was somewhat busy but I think that makes the tube journey so much more fun, being packed in like sardines in a tin and we had the obligatory coach light flicker, I love it, I love London!

Checked in the hotel, nice little suite.Went to reception to check in, as you do, then got escorted OUT of reception, through the main entrance, 200 yards down the road to our suite, different yet charming.

Day was rounded off with Dinner at Zizzi's, pasta, just what the doctor ordered and still no beer!

It's 11pm and I have been up since 6.30am so I think I better get some shut eye.Early start on Day 2 but it looks set to be even better than Day 1.

Laters y'all.

D