Sun and maharajas
London has been absolutely spectacular today. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Deep, deep blue sky, and just such a lovely feel to the day.
Early this morning, we went to see a fabulous exhibition at the V & A, called “Maharaja,” which has stunning royal treasures, mainly from Rajasthan, and most of which, realistically, you could never see in India. Such as items from the Queen’s collection, for example.
Gorgeous jewels and clothes, stunning courtly painitings, and even a clip of Himmat’s grandfather in an old black and white film. That was quite special.
We wandered in true touristy fashion past the Palace, through the Parks, and visited the amazing field of poppies outside Westminster Abbey, which was deeply moving and gave the children food for thought. Thousands of poppies commemorating the war dead over many generations, as well as the shattering reality of the number of war dead from Iraq and Afghanistan – it was all unspeakably sad, but in a peculiarly dignified way that, to me, just adds to the heart break.
The plan is to go to the cenotaph tomorrow morning, to pay respects in a more formal way.
Here is my very, very small tribute. 
Dear Christine,
So glad I finally got some time to start reading your posts… You’re such an expressive writer!!
Just want to share that in Belgium we still have a day off every year (the 11th of November) in rememberance of the end of the first World War.
The poppies are also very well known here. See more information on:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Flanders_Fields
Lots of love, Ria.