Our Visit to Greenpeace

Well, we had to get up at 6 am in order to leave the house at the crack of dawn, at 8 am. That for me is the crack. We managed our usual routine: walkup hill for John and Jellies, washing, 4 breakfasts and were in the car by 7.45 equipped with dog stuff, walking boots and cameras. John had primed the TomTom to take us to Canary Wharf where the greenpeach ship was moored. To our surprise we were directed to the M25 going westwards, but after Heathrow we were sent onto A4 and through town past the Museums, Harrods full of spring clothing. It seems as if beige is THE colour this season. Ugh. Then through Picadilly past Fortnum and Mason and then we were directed towards the river, past the Tower and lo and behold we arrived half an hour early which gave us the oportunity to find a parking space; not easy even though it was Sunday, everywhere double yellow lines. John decided that we should take the Jellies with us and tie them up at the railings by the Greenpeace tent. They were a great hit, all the young people who work with Greenpeace just loved them and made a tremedous fuss of them. They just lapped it up and didn't mind too much when we left them there to go and see the Arctic Sunrise, one of the Greenpeace ships.

Two very nice young and enthusiastic girls took us all over the ship. She is a 35 year old ex-seal hunter, and pretty basic as far as luxuries went, but with all the equipment necessary for hunting whalers and causing trouble for rainforest choppers and police who try to stop the Arctic Sunrise like when it were up in Scotland blockading the nuclear sub. base. There is a lot of hoo ha going on about replacing the Trident missiles, something that will cost approx. £25bn a sum too large for us to take in, but Tony Blair has no trouble with that. He is forcing it through Parliament as fast as possible. Quite a few of his back benchers won't vote with him, two or three ministers have resigned, the Lib Dems will vote against, but it is expected that even so he will get it through with the help of the Conservatives. They of course will vote for it as it means a lot work and sales etc. But why we need to be lumbered with acquiring these missiles and subs when anyone who has any 'nouse' will realise that we could never use them. And don't give me that these are sophisticated missiles that can target undergound targets and such.

Any way Greenpeace is demonstrating today out side Parliament both at lunch time and at 6pm. Not that Tony Blair and his lot will take much notice of what the people want or think.

The rest of the day we took the Jellies for their daily walk in Battersea Park. Great for them as it was a lovely spring morning and there were loads of walkers with dogs about as well as children riding about on reclining tricyles. These looked great I wouldn't mind having a go on one some day. The Jellies had a lot of socialising and running about. After that we went to our favourite restaurant The Ghurka Diner opposite Du Cane Court for a meal . We've been there often whenever John is letting out Du Cane appartment. They certainly remembered us and greeted us with open arms so to speak. After a super meal, Indian type but not so spicy, in fact much more delicate, we went home and arrived there about 4pm just in time for Jed&Nellie's meal. We were so full we didn't have anything that evening. It was a great day.