Weekend Roundup - 4th/5th April '15

It was the first weekend of walks for April and Easter weekend as well. I began it on Saturday by getting in trouble. A couple of reasons really, but the main one being that Sam, Boon, George and Karen (and their friend Mark) who had been on a walk with me at the end of last year were back for their second (repeat offenders). It would appear that I never did my 'weekend roundup' when they came previously, never mentioned them, never put the photo on the website. Nothing. It was as if the whole thing never happened. I think that Sam particularly had been checking to see whether I'd mentioned their walk. I had always assumed that if I didn't mention a particular walk, people would feel a sense of relief, that they had escaped unscathed from their experience, rather than the profound disappointment obviously harboured by Sam (only kidding Sam). Maybe that's a bit strong, but I apologise and to make up for it, I shall include both the photo from Saturday and the previous one taken on the East London walk last year. They were joined on Saturday morning by Denise and Venetia. 

And ... just for the record, here are Sam, Boon, George and Karen last December in Shoreditch.

For Saturday afternoons walk, there were only two people; Frank and Lisa from Canada. They had spent the week in London doing various tours, visiting the must see sights and wot not and I think wanted to get more of an insider perspective and for me to maybe point out and talk about some of the stuff they'd perhaps walked past, but not noticed. I took their photo at the end of the walk beneath The Monument, built by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke in the 1670's to commemorate the Great Fire of London. 

Easter Sunday brought a mighty group, an international conglomeration of first timers, second timers and also 9 month old Mali, which was really quite special. A really excellent young lady called Beth had come on the same east London walk a few years ago with some colleagues (yes, you Paul), but returned on Sunday with her husband (I think they're married) Owain and their baby daughter Mali which was great. Tagging along with them were friends Phil & Lexi. A guy called Joe who I'd met doing a walk around Soho last year for him and his work people came along with Britt, Verena and Katrina. We also had Sharyn and her family from New Zealand, Chris and Sophie from Germany, Elsie from Kenya and Dale and Rachel from Americaland. Here they are on Rivington Street in Shoreditch. 

Some Awards
Youngest - Mali
Best Moustache - No Winners
Tallest - Boon & Mark (joint winners)
Most beardy - Mark
Special Award for no particular reason - Sam
Only person to wear shorts - Matt
Most German person with an un German sounding last name - Chris Black