On now in the British Museum until the 23^rd February is the Silk Roads exhibit which gives you an insight into the silk trades and way beyond. This is more about the connection, evolution and expansion of empires across this vast route.

All traders from all walks of life and what are they trading? Cloths, silks, pottery, precious gems, silver, gold and spices. In turn the wealth build trade settlements along the route and the route expands to already established settlements.

The exhibit takes you for a wonder from Japan, through China into middle Asia, all the way to Europe and Africa. There are some sad realities like the fact slaves were traded also, with incredibly well-preserved letters of slaves passing from one hand to another. This was partly due to the expansion of the Muslim empire into Africa and Europe which in turn pushed a dominant Buddhism out of Asia and Islam to take hold on the lands. This also transforms type of trades.

As you near the end of the exhibit you see some treasures from the Sutton Hoo collection. A burial in England where gems had come as far from Sri Lanka. And this was done thousands of years ago. 

This is definitely worth a visit.

I’ve wanted to get down to Battersea Power station for a while to see all the modernisation work and what has been done there. It was after 11:00am when I arrived in the week and there really wasn’t much footfall in there at all. I asked one of the guards and he said the place was much busier at the weekends. I hope he was right! Upon walking around there are bits here and there that show the old workings of the station and Control Room B was turned into a bar that still has a fair chunk of the old technology in it.

Downstairs from the riverside entrance was one unit showing the process to how the station became what it is today. And then there are a lot o high end brands about the place from Ralf Lauren to Rolex.

Bars and restaurants here and there, a place called Bounce where there are a load of tables to play table tennis and even a cinema.

Further upstairs to the third floor, is an optional lift going all the way up to see a view and a few display bits, but I chose not to do that as I thought the price of over £20 was far too high!

Last Friday I was in Temple walking through Fleet Street and come upon St. Dunstan in the West. So I thought I would head inside for a look. It’s an impressive church in the heart of the city but sadly it also felt very neglected.

There was an eerie feel to the place, the pollution from all the passing traffic outside had soaked its way deep into the church. This effect darkened the place which would of been a lot brighter if had been looked after.

The bench cushions looked well used and could do with replacing, so I sat at the back on a bench that didn’t have one looking across hoping for someone to rescue this place. They are trying to raise millions to repair the church tower, I can’t spare that much, but I did donate a few quid in the collection box on the way out.