We've been away for a short break. Not for us passports, travel insurance, cancelled flights and long waits at airports but a short city break - once again to London. I think as Samuel Johnson said "to be tired of London is to be tired of life" and we can always find somewhere different to go something new to learn when we go there and if "a change is as good as a rest" then London is certainly a change from our normal country environment. So if you would like to tag along with us please do but be warned this will be quite a long and picture heavy wander.
Just over a week ago one "September morn" we set off, not on a canal boat as per my photo but by train, for London Waterloo. Having had a sandwich lunch at the station we made our way to the bus stop and with our bus passes to hand caught a bus to our hotel in Marylebone. Mr M had done his research well and found us a lovely small hotel (why do they call them boutique I wonder?) in whch to stay for the next 5 nights. Having unpacked our bits and pieces we set off to explore the immediate neighbourhood and finished up on Marylebone High Street where we had a sit down and a cup of tea in Paul bakery which always reminds us of our Saturdays shopping in Limoges when we lived in France and by then we had also sussed out some possible places to go for our supper too.
Day1
One of our plans was to continue the walk we had started last year when we did section 12 - Highgate to Stoke Newington of The Capital Ring which is in total of 78 miles and as we have now done just 2 of the sections at our current rate of one section each year it will take us another 13 years so I doubt we will ever finish it!
Anyway it was a lovely sunny morning so we set off to get the bus to where we had finished last year and hopefully to do the next section. The bus didn't stop at the stop we required so we had to walk back from where it did stop and what a find was this lovely little cafe we'd never have seen had we got off where we had intended!
Such friendly owners and so welcoming - we went through to the conservatory at the back....
...where we sat at the table by the window....
... overlooking the garden below. It was something really different so right up our street! For more information and pictures check it out here on Trip Advisor where it has deservedly gained very high ratings!
Having enjoyed a coffee (Mr M) and a cup of tea (for me) with a home-made biscotti biscuit alongside which was delicious as indeed were the drinks we said our goodbyes and set off by bus to to find the last bit of last year's walk which we had discovered later we had missed last time as I had dropped the instruction sheet! We decided to have lunch before we left Stoke Newington and had a sandwich in the Salvation Army cafe/charity shop! As I said we like to do things differently and this was lovely - clean and friendly and the filled rolls were very good too. So replete and ready to go we made for Abney Park Cemetery
You might be forgiven for wondering why we wanted to visit a cemetery but this was a lovely tranquil environment and a real nature reserve with no trimmed edges beautiifully cared for graves. The cemetery dates back to the early nineteenth century and was a pioneer in multi-faith burial grounds and the first of its kind in Europe and was a suitable resting place for nonconformists and dissenters and its occupiers include Congregationalist, Baptist and Methodist ministers among others such as the founding members of the Salvation Army Catherine and William Booth.
Central to the design of Abney Park the chapel is the oldest surviving
non-denominational chapel in Europe, and was planned to reflect a lack of bias towards
any one Christian sect and the cruciform plan adopted the equal arms of
the Greek cross. It
was not consecrated and functioned purely as a funerary chapel - not a
place of worship. Seen in this photo below it looks as if there is a longer arm to the cross but the actual chapel has in fact the equal arms of the Greek cross and the one arm is extended to provide a covered porch for the horse and carriage entrance.
Photo from the website not mine obviously!
As you will see in this photo below.
I loved the higgledy piggledy gravestones and the fact that many were overgrown and natural and over all the sound of birdsong. Lovely and I think I'd fit right in here one day!.
So eventually we were ready to set off on our next stage of the Capital Ring to Hackney Wick - if you have your comfy shoes on or maybe as you are reading this a cup of tea to hand we'll set off.
Our route took us through Springfield Park a lovely green area and listed as one of London's top five green spaces by the Guardian see here which apparently has an excellent cafe though we had already been catered for in that way so didn't try it out.
The sun was shining and the sky was blue - how lucky were we?! For more info see here what Time Out has to say about the park.
The route eventually came out alongside the River Lea where there are moorings for many houseboats in the marina here.
Most of the way was then along this tow path beside the river with the Walthamstow Marshes on the other side - here we go beneath a bridge carrying trains to who knows where but we were happy to be down here in the peace and quiet ambling along the tow path stopping to take photos here and there along the way.
.
This is London as most visitors never see it eh?!
Autumn is definitely on its way.
Till we reached the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park where we turned off from the path and into Hackney Wick which sadly didn't merit any photographs being somewhere I'd rather not remember! From here we got a bus back to Highbury and wondered if the Fig Tree cafe might still be open for a cup of tea which it was - only just as it was due to close in 15 minutes but we were welcomed in like old friends. After saying goodbye once again to the lovely owners we got another bus back to Baker Street and from there we went for supper at the Golden Hind where we had the best fish and chip supper I've had in a long while! Maybe the walk in the fresh air helped. We were lucky to get a table and as the evening wore on it became incredibly busy. From here it was just a short walk back to our hotel. A lovely day of sunshine and blue skies and a great walk topped off with a delicious meal - what more could one ask?
Day 2
Having slept well and breakfasted like kings on the delicious buffet provided at the hotel we set off by bus to Putney where we wanted to visit Fulham Palace and Gardens.
As we walked from the bus stop to the Palace we passed these allotments - looked lovely I thought and one gardener obviously enjoyed an occasional sit in the sun admiring his handiwork to judge by the seats.
In through the gate past this lovely lodge building to the Palace itself...
.. through the Tudor courtyard.
Our first port of call the cafe what a contrast to yesterday's elevenses stop eh? But it was lovely in a different way.
Once refreshed after our bus journey we set off to look round the gardens. These are new glasshouses built in the style of the originals which had fallen into disrepair.
I don't know if this lettle video will work but it shows the work that went into restoring the glasshouses.
The garden was lovely and I imagine in the summer months it would be even nicer. I took several photos but most of them were out of focus so you will need to check the website out for more
This is a very old and venerable holm oak tree thought to have been planted in the 1500s but still looking good.
On our way out to walk towards the river.
The mighty Thames looking a little less than mighty as the tide was out! Having had our fill of that we returned to the Palace cafe for lunch before getting a bus to Selfridges and then a short walk to see the Brown Hart roof garden which I had heard about. Check out the link for a video about the creation of this little space on top of a Grade II listed substation
The building at the end of the road seen here from the Garden is Selfridges so it's surprising that this little known garden is just a few yards from busy Oxford Street.
Having seen this - it didn't take long, even though we sampled the tea at the little cafe at one end of the garden, as it is not very big we walked down to Oxford Street and then just behind Selfridges about a 10 minute walk away we came to the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square.
This is considered to be one of Europe's finest collections of works of art, pantings,furniture, arms and armour and porcelain. We reallty didn't have time to do it justice and will need to go back another time for a further look.
Being such an art Philistine I was less interested in the art and paintings than the beautiful braids on the curtains which were not antique at all!
I preferred the little snuff boxes so intricately carved and decorated- do check out the video on thelink here
There is of course a tea room which looked nice but we didn't check it out as we had not long ago had a cup of tea at the roof garden cafe. So we left the Wallace Collection and walked back to our hotel having had another lovely day out.
I think it best if I stop here and add the next couple of days as another post.
I know some of you like to hear about my outings so perhaps you would like to join me on a recent mini Backpack, Boots and Bus pass trip?
I haven't been on a real BBB Trip for more than 2 years - my how time flies - and truth to tell this wasn't actually a proper BBB trip anyway as I didn't take a backpack as I was only going for the day and I wore shoes not boots and I drove part of the way.
I was home alone as Mr M was away for a couple of days. I love him dearly but oh how wonderful it is to spend time at home by myself for a change! Before he retired his job required him to go off here, there or wherever, sometimes for weeks at a time, and I got used to being on my own, or with just the Wanderer for company, and I loved it though of course it was always good to see him home safely again.
So having only myself to please I decided to have a day out on my own on Monday and thought that a day at the seaside would be good. I drove to Poundbury where the parking is free, the route goes along a high ridge and the views on both sides are stunning although of course when driving it is as well not to spend too much time admiring them! The roadsides were beautiful with tall pink spires of rosebay willowherb and pale grasses softly swaying in the breeze and I felt at peace with the world as I made my way to Poundbury where I left the car and with my bus pass at the ready got the bus to Weymouth a journey of about half an hour again through lovely Dorset countryside although as I got chatting to a couple of other passengers in the seat behind I didn't actually pay too much attention to it on the outward journey. We said goodbye to each other as we left the bus and I made my way along the esplanade towards the harbour. The donkeys were there on the soft white sand but as the schools don't break up for the holidays till the 21st July there were few customers and they were enjoying pulling at their hay net when I saw them.
Just look at all that space! It will be a different story soon when on a day like Monday the beach will be full of holidaymakers! The sand was clean, pristine and almost white as though all had been made ready for the influx of holiday makers due in a week or so.
I made my way towards the harbour - this little boat will carry you across the harbour for £1 if you don't want to walk along to the Town Bridge and back along the other side.
Here is another boat coming from the other side. I didn't avail myself of the ride though and walked round to the area you can see in the above photo.
Now on the other side and looking across the harbour to where I had come from.
I continued my walk along this side and wondered what the boat I saw in harbour and flying the Union Jack was and since learned that its is apparently HMS Severn named after the River Severn and one of several ships named HMS Severn the first being launched in 1695. This current one is a patrol vessel.
I continued along this side where it becomes less built up and as you can see greener.
Until I reached what is called the Nothe and this wall is part of the fort built here over a hundred years ago. Click here for more info on the Fort and an aerial photo from which you will see my route along both sides of the harbour and round the wall on to a tiny pebble beach and some rocks.
The tide was not in at this time, although from the seaweed on the rocks it would obviously come further in in due course, and so I made my way over some of the rocks round to the right to where I could see Portland across the water a nd then came back closer to the little beach, as I didn't want to get trapped if/when the tide came in, and found a warm flat rock against the wall on which I could sit and eat my lunch.
It was so incredibly peaceful I had the area to myself apart from the many swallows which swooped and shrieked as they flew in seach of their lunch too. I think they had nests in the upper part of the wall but they are so fast I couldn't actually see for sure.
Sat here on the dry blocks with my back against the warm stones of the old wall and felt that all was well in the world - even if only for a while!
Having sat peacefully and mindfully breathing in the quiet, just the sound of the water gently slapping round the rocks along with the swallows high pitched cries, and truly being in the moment whilst eating my sandwich lunch and enjoying the view for a while I decided to make my way back into town so retraced my steps back round the harbour and along the esplanade to the bus stop.
One of the hotels on my way back to the town and the bus stop - lovely flowers and a sign saying No Vacancies so obviously fully booked for the moment - it certainly did look nice.
The donkeys on the beach now had a little gazebo to provide shade but still no customers!
A few more people now that it was afternoon but still not many. I loved the way the pale sand gradually changed to a darker shade where it was damp and the water was a pale blue gradually becoming darker turquoise and finally indigo as it reached the horizon. Amazing and an inspiration for a textile weaving/knitting/fabric or something perhaps.
I crossed the road and the bus was in and ready to leave to take me to Dorchester where I got off to do a few errands prior to continuing on to Poundbury and the garden centre there where I had a cup of tea in the excellent cafe and got some bird food in the garden shop for the wild birds we feed each morning. Then home getting in about 4.00 after having had a lovely relaxing day all to myself doing just as I pleased!
Next Monday I will once again be in Dorchester though not for such a pleasant outing as I am due to have an injection in my eye since the second pterygium I had removed is recurring and it is hoped the injection might prevent the cells continuing to grow. I haven't asked what happens if it doesn't work!!
Just when we are all still reeling from the recent events which have taken place both in Manchester and London another tragedy is played out in our capital with the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower (the Wanderer lives in a
tower block in London but happily on the seventh floor and in a more recently
built building which has hopefully complied with all the regulations). Can you begin to imagine what it might have been like to have been woken in middle of the night to find your home and all those around you on fire like this? Those who survived may have lost everything - family, home and all they possessed and many have only the clothes they were wearing. It really doesn't bear thinking about does it? Add to this the anger and vitriol which is currently filling our media, the protests, accusations and blame which is bandied about and it seems hard to see how life as we knew it can go on. But go on it must and Phoenix like out of the flames has come a real sense of community, of charity and sharing where religion, creed, colour and race are of no importance - we are all humans and thus all part of the same family. My heart goes out to all those affected including the firemen and women and other emergency services who though well trained had probably never experienced anything quite like this. I feel helpless as all I can do is to donate to the Red Cross when I feel I should be able to do something more.
Like Bug Woman who on her blog posted about going for a walk and finding solace in the plants she saw lest she should become tattered and worn thin by the terrible event I too find comfort amid Nature and have this morning been out in the garden - an accidental one if ever there was one (see Bug Woman's post) - noticing the way the roses are the same colour as the foxgloves which are taller than I am and self seeded, how Nature creates colour schemes that look wonderful, the bees are busy in the lavender and the bumper crop of strawberries which survived a vicious hailstorm a few weeks back and are looking and tasting good. I pray that a community will rise Phoenixlike from the ashes of the fire and that nothing like it will ever happen again here or anywhere else.
ANOTHER DOGGY STORY
This morning when reading the news on the internet I came across the above image showing dogs in little heat proof boots! Apparently specially trained fire dogs are helping to search the remains of the building and need their paws protected against heat and broken glass etc. I gather no fire dog has ever been injured in their work. Man's best friend or what?!
If like me you have had enough of politics, terrorists, death and destruction, climate change and the Paris Agreement and all the rest of the daily news we get take a look at this just click on the title:
I had been intending to write a post about Time but when I saw this I thought how lovely it was especially just now when there is so much depressing news every day. I wish we were all more like Gavel, friendly, welcoming and "enjoyed meeting strangers". He's not silly is he?
I am shocked to discover it has been nearly 6 months since my last post - I am still here and do still lurk around occasionally reading a few blogs and I might actually get around to posting that post that is in my mind about Time and the passing of it eventually.
It's the last day of 2016 and thoughts turn to what has happened during the year. Others have written far more eloquently than I could about the events on the world stage so I won't say more on that subject but for me on a personal level this year has been about the eyes!
It's been a roller coaster year as I had an eye operation at Easter and then a second one at the beginning of October and have gone through the gamut of emotions after each ranging from fear and anxiety, frustration and despair to joy and immense gratitude. There were times when I was on top of the world as my sight was so much improved and moments when I was in the Slough of Despond when I lost my faith in eventual recovery and even, dare I say it, in the wonderful surgeon I have been seeing. I developed blepharitis and later an allergy to the drops which left me with a horrid red, scaly rash round the eye and then when I thought I was out of the woods with the first eye and just about to have the second one done, a broken blood vessel which left me with a bloodshot area on the newly pristine eye surface which I worried about. I also hadn't realised that the pterygia could be cancerous which they weren't but of course I worried about that too! However all is well and I am gradually reducing the eyedrops and am to see the surgeon again in February when I should have finished them altogether. I am hopeful that this will be the end of the story.
I have learned a lot over the past year and had plenty of time for reflection not being able to see to read, do any crafting or even watch television some of the time and I realised that there is more to sight than being able to see - that is just the mechanics of it - how and what I see has changed the way I think and the way I see things is about who I am. I have been given the precious gift of clear sight again and an unexpected extra gift - that of a new lease of life! Now that I can see better I feel different - younger at heart and once again the capable person I used to be and for that I will be eternally grateful. Every time I thread a needle to do some stiutching I marvel at the skill of the surgeon - I bet he didn't lick the thread to get it through the eye of the needle (at least I hope not!) nor say "That'll do" if the stitching wasn't quite right!!
My mantras for 2017 are:
One of a couple of little tiles on the shed wall
Carpe Diem for I intend to use whatever life I have left in the best way and not waste it on complaining, or procrastinating as I have been doing.
Accentuate the positive for I have been guilty of negativity and complaining instead of seeing the wonder of life which is now there for me to see if only I take notice.
Now that I can see to read I have been making up for lost time getting through several books a week and have just finished one I can recommend to you: The Outrun by Amy Liptrot which is a life affirming read about the power of Nature to heal even though the author didn't seek nor expect Nature to heal her alcohol addiction.
I seem to have forgotten the very rudiments of writing a blog post and can't seem to string together a couple of words like I used to but this comes to wish you all a peaceful and Happy Christmas. The photo above was taken this afternoon when I went for a walk in what was left of the sunshine. Last year the daffodils were in full bloom at the beginning of December but this year they are seeming to be a little more circumspect and this is as far as they have got but they still speak to me of hope and after all what is Christmas about but Hope?
And if you are able to listen to Classic Fm on Demand within the next 7 days I can recommend this carol service as a real tonic to get you in the mood for the festive season.
And let's not forget whilst we are smiling at the above poems and preparing for our own festive holiday that there are those who have nothing to smile about and perhaps send up our prayers for those who are sick, those in war torn areas, those who were in Berlin when the lorry was driven into the Christmas market and ..... so many for whom Christmas is not a merry festive time at all and as this verse of the carol It came upon the midnight clear says:
"And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing."
