Tower of London Poppies, 3-11-14

In commemoration of the 100 years since the start of World War 1, the Tower of London has been showing the "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red".  A collection of 888,264 ceramic poppies in memory of all those British and Colonial casualties in the Great War, I had expressed my disappointment that I couldn't go to see it due to being ill.  My little sister and my dear wife then hatched a plan to take me up and organised it all for my benefit. 

Tamsin drove us all up on Sunday, we then spent the night chilling in the Travelodge (cheap and cheerful, but comfortable and quiet) before getting up to catch the tube into the big city.  Despite being proper country types we managed to get there without any mishaps and then joined the masses to get a look at the spectacle.  I struggled as the queuing went on, but was determined to see it and enjoy the day.  It was well worth the discomfort and pain, the atmosphere was calm despite the massed ranks of people and it was awe inspiring to see the display.  It is only when you think of the sheer multitude of poppies and then think that each of those represents somebody who died in the war that you realise the cost that that generation paid for us to live like we do. 

I am really grateful to Tamsin and Tina for making the effort to take me up there and I will always remember the experience.  I managed to get half-way around before I had to call it a day and we went and sat in a pub for a bit, where I went to sleep for a bit while the girls chatted and munched on some Nachos.  A trip back in the tube to the hotel, then into the car for the drive home.  We had to stop a couple of times as I felt so rough and I was wiped out for 3 days afterwards, but it was well worth it.  I managed to take some almost in focus pictures, so here are the best few.

One of the cascades down the tower wall.

A view of a section of the total display

An almost smiling Tina, almost in focus too

What an ugly bloke.  Who took that picture?

A closer look

The poppies have all sold now, we were lucky enough to order two before they sold out, one for us and one for my mum.  It is now 3am and I am off to bed, stupid stomach ache and nausea has kept me awake so I decided to do something productive with my time.  Take care folks.