Contrary to my earlier plans I find myself in London during the Olympics. Fair enough, the city is looking its best at the moment. It’s buzzing and, as long as you’re not in a hurry to get anywhere, fun.  More visitors than normal and they do keep on asking directions to London Bridge when they mean Tower Bridge. Some even argue with you when you point out the pretty looking one is called Tower Bridge and not London Bridge.

The American kids I overheard the other day topped it all though. Walking on the Southbank I recognised a distinctly American sounding person saying ‘You know that building over theeeerrrre? It’s modelled on the White House’. I’m facing east wards towards the City of London and there is honestly not a single building either north or south of the river that I would recognise from that description. I slow down a little to see what they have to say next. A bit of flicking through a guide book ensues. The answer? ‘It’s called St Paul’s’. Alright love, back to school with you. St Paul’s cathedral was (re)built after the Great fire of London in 1666. Only just a century or two before the White House…..

Dr Natalie Schoon, CFA