Having survived the Italian Autostrade and the small roads in Cinque Terre, it was time to survive the rigors of the English cricket fraternity as we battle out The Ashes series.

Our first commitment has been the Lord’s Test and we spent the first day under hot and sunny skies. By now you would know the result of Day 1, which was that Australia took ‘scalps’ early, thanks to Ryan Harris and Shane Watson, and also at the end of  the day, courtesy of a fine spell of bowling by Stephen Smith. We had already started to make our way home by then, and of course we are now convinced that the wickets came because of our early departure so if the game is at a stalemate, we may do the same, unless the Australians are batting, of course.

That’s us!

HM the Queen inspects the ‘guard of players’

A bit of light entertainment

The ghastly press box

The Aussies in action

Drinks time

Royal Albert Hall, just off Kensington Gardens

The Albert Memorial

Flower gardens in Kensington Gardens

A rock monument, in Kensington Gardens. Don’t know what for though

Serpentine Gallery