London Sheep Drive & Livery Fair

Today, booked with Discover London - History Walks and Events for the London Sheep Drive & Livery Fair. Have to hand it to her, she always comes up with interesting things..

Ah well, it wasn't the easiest thing to drag myself out of bed, but I managed it. Wasn't up as late as often recently, to be fair. And trotted off in time to catch my bus - which was diverted, but handily, that meant it dropped me even closer to the Royal Exchange, where we were to meet!

Ironically, I found myself passing a cash machine - when, for once, I didn't need cash! One person needed the loo, and found it harder to find that - this part of town isn't known for its public toilets, and particularly on a Sunday morning! She eventually found an open pub.

After the scheduled 15-minutes grace period, we headed off - stopping first on Walbrook, for a sheepy connection!

So that's the origin of the word "worshipful" as applied to guilds and such - means they had a church associated with them!

And so, on to London Bridge. Where the footpath on one side was blocked off to regular pedestrians, being for the exclusive use of sheep and their drovers:

There were several "pockets" of sheep, so what seemed to be happening was they were run / walked for a little between stages. And, as subsequently seen at the Livery Fair, it seemed you could apply for a certificate to drive them! There were staged drives through the day, and they seemed to be doing good business:

The Livery Fair also afforded people the chance to get closer to the sheep:

Sheep in the City, eh!

Well, we hadn't really known what to expect, but it was interesting. Our guide had planned to take us to the Lamb Tavern, in Leadenhall Market, afterwards - but it was completely blocked off to the public! For a private event, it seems - perhaps the folks from the sheep drive, being ironic? Instead, we ended back in the Monument pub, across from the Livery Fair - but lo, they were no longer doing food by 2.15 (!) and at least a couple of us were hungry. (The place was filthy, too - nobody seemed to be clearing up. Staff shortage?) So, off we schlepped, to Cote, in Hay's Galleria:

Where the maitre d' was initially dubious about seating us, but there was room to squeeze us in upstairs. And we were v well fed - steak frites for both, one with the optional upgrade of truffle fries, triple-cooked. Unfortunately, he wasn't mad about those. But his cheeseboard went down better, as did the truffles I had for dessert - and a bottle of their v nice Chardonnay. So, it was a long, leisurely, enjoyable lunch, and a most successful afternoon!

Tomorrow, as usual, I'm on my own.. heading to Divas, at the QT bar. Which, of course, focuses on the hits of - the divas! Now, I see that Over 40 Living the Life are going to this, too, but the event is full - I can't actually remember where I got the idea to go to the show, but it might well have been from them!

And on Tuesday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! (Considering I probably won't be in a job at that point.) Gee, seems ages since I saw them.. Anyway, this walk is around Sophisticated (& Sometimes Seedy) St. James'..