Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Today was another day of being spoiled. We went to Middle Temple, one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers (lawyers). It used to be the headquarters of the Knights Templar until 1312 when they were dissolved. We had a fabulous and very expensive lunch in the Middle Temple Hall. We had to dress up and be on our best behavior, because we would be dining along side many prominent lawyers and their guests. The hall was magnificent. It has a double hammer beam roof, which was very cool. We got to sit at the High Table, which has an amazing history. It was a gift from Elizabeth I to the Middle Temple. It was cut from a single oak tree in Windsor Forest, then floated down the Thames to be cut and built in the building. It is 29 feet long. Many royalties, footballers, celebrities and other prominent people have dined at that very table. I sat across from the chair that Prince William had recently dined in. I kept telling the girl who was sitting in it that he probably farted in that very chair, and that they shared a special bond now. Above the High Table are oil paintings of Queen Elizabeth I, Charles I, Charles II, James II, William III, Queen Anne, and George I. The largest, and therefore central portrait, is of Charles I. He is painted on a horse, but the portrait is an optical illusion, because the horse’s head is not proportional to its body (it is smaller). By painting its head smaller, it makes Charles I (who was 5’3”) appear taller than he really was. I found this very funny.

We had a wonderful multi course lunch. First munched on a yummy sun dried tomato roll, and then we started with a mushroom, leek, and tomato tart with hollandaise sauce. It was so good! Mouthwatering! Then the main course was a pork loin medallion with bubble and squeak and green peppercorn sauce. Obviously I didn’t eat this, so they allowed me to go over to the gourmet lunch buffet and grab a plate! So many options! I got a broccoli quiche slice, couscous, mashed potatoes, mozzarella salad, and a baked brie and cranberry tart. It was so good! I especially loved the brie tart and the mashed potatoes. I didn’t get the jellied eels though… blah! For dessert we were served apple and sultana crumble with lemon sorbet and raspberries. It was really good, but I thought the lemon was too tart. Originally we were supposed to be served cinnamon ice cream instead of the lemon sorbet, so we were all slightly disappointed with the change. Everything was so good though! We were served herbal tea after. Yum! So good!

After Middle Temple we went to Charles Dickens’ house. This place was fairly uneventful. He wrote some of his books there. We didn’t stay very long.
After we went Primark :). I bought a cheap sweatshirt that is very colorful. When we left it was raining a lot, and we were very cold.

So tonight we started planning Secret Mission #38139 and Secret Mission #90724. Commence missions.