I have now been in London for 3 and a half weeks, living in a small hotel in Kings Cross. Everyone else in the hotel stays for a few days so those at breakfast each morning change constantly.

I am beginning to feel like one of those elderly 'come down in the world' gentle folk who inhabit such places as Faulty Towers, ie the Major. I haven't as yet not mentioned "the war" as many of the guests are German or the Rainbow Warrior as many others are French.

I have, however, had interesting conversations with an ever changing group of people with whom I share the breakfast table. It is a small down market hotel.

Yesterday it was 2 young women from Moscow who teach English and the day before a young couple from China who are studying a Masters of Managment at York University. I have discussed visiting ones grown up children with a English women from France whose son lives in London and who could not get up until 11.30 to visit Greenwich with her.

I had an interesting conversation with a man from Cork who had travelled widely in Australia, including the Gun Barrel Highway. His aim is to travel down the Canning Stock Route. He made an interesting comparision between the way Government authorities treated Aboriginies and the way the Irish authorities treated the descendents of the Gypsies in Ireland. This was the first time I had heard gypsies mentioned in a way that was not disparaging.

I seem to have acquired special status as I have access to a hairdryer in my room rather than having to get it from reception each time I need it.