A little whimsy to brighten the day.
Vera, Chuck and Dave.
When I get older losing my hair, many years from now
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I’d been out till quarter to three, would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty-four? .
The interiors of Strawberry Hill House are so well refurbished, that it seems waiting for its first occupants. Whilst the house has few artifacts at present, the trust is raising funds to restore at least some of Horace Walpole’s massive collection. For pictures of the castle-like exterior, history and essential information for visitors please click here.
These pictures are not necessarily in the order they were taken, do not include all the rooms and it is essential to use the guide-book to ensure seeing everything.
It is worth magnifying some of these pictures, especially the stained glass. To do so please click on a picture and then again to magnify and then use your browser’s “back” key to return here.. Enjoy 🙂 .
10 pics – The house was created by Horace Walpole who was the youngest son of Robert Walpole (Britain’s first Prime Minister). Work began in 1749 and continued in stages over the following 27 years. It was recently discovered that the original colouring was white and would have looked quite remarkable in its day, as it does now. The house is in a Gothic style of the fairy-tale variety and has extraordinary interiors here.
The interiors have been restored to an original state which gives a quite surreal appearance, as if it is still waiting for its first occupant. It’s surreal, but very peaceful character, is aided by some recent artwork.
The house once contained a massive collection of artworks, which were unfortunately sold by a later owner. The collection was so vast that the sale lasted for 30 days. The trust is gradually acquiring more items for the interior but the restored decor, picture glass and paintings are still worth seeing.
The website is here and the Wikipedia history here. Do check the website for opening times and to book a ticket for the house (before 10:30 on the day of your visit). Tickets are half price on Mondays and Tuesdays. A guide-book is provided and essential if one is not to miss some of the rooms and the Chapel. I missed the Chapel but Google images are available here (there are many pics of the house mixed in),
Hiya, welcome to St James’s Park. At this end of the long lake can be found a cafe, parkland, benches, deck chairs, flower beds, geese, ducks, coots and moorhens here. There are also some very friendly squirrels here and pelicans further down this page (feeding time at the cottage is 2:30 pm).
At the western end can be found Buckingham Place, the changing of the guard pageant, more waterfowl including swans and nearby Green Park with the Canada Memorial.
The nearest underground station is St James (although Westminster is almost as close to the eastern end of the park) and it is a pleasant walk beside the lake from end to end.
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The pelicans gather beside this cottage just before 2:30 pm for feeding.
“Perhaps a little pigeon al fresco whilst I am waiting”. – “Oy who nicked my piano ?”
The London Eye.
Looking to the west.
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If you look carefully, you can see the Old Man of the Willow, sitting down with his hands on his knees.
Looking to the east.
You cannot view the interiors but there is a small museum and one of these.
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.. and as always, one of these. Doesn’t it make you want to say “you poor ~ “.
At dusk the fountains light up and from the sound of all the honks and quacks there all having a party 😀 .
So let me introduce to you, The one and only Billy Shears, And Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Ruddy Duck (really)
It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play, They’ve been going in and out of style, But they’re guaranteed to raise a smile, So may I introduce to you, The act you’ve known for all these years, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
We’re Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, We hope you will enjoy the show
We’re Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Sit back and let the evening go
It’s wonderful to be here
It’s certainly a thrill
You’re such a lovely audience
We’d like to take you home with us
We’d love to take you home
Oh we would, we would. – Why are you doing that with your leg ? I don’t know, he started it.
More feathers than sense that lot.
Find the Squirrel (its in the middle).
Here’s one. Here’s some more (in a new tab).
I am Moorhen than Duck
I don’t really want to stop the show, But I thought that you might like to know, That the singer’s going to sing a song, And he wants you all to sing along
We’re Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
We hope you will enjoy the show
We’re Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sit back and let the evening go
Sgt. Pepper’s lonely, Sgt. Pepper’s lonely
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band ~
We hope you enjoyed the show and thank you for visiting.
The Divest-Invest ⇒ movement is being successful in encouraging large groups to divest themselves of fossil fuel investments and switch to investments in green alternatives.
That is only part of the battle.
For most of us, every time we pay an energy bill we are supporting the use of fossil fuels. As long as that continues, the energy companies will continue to make profit and continue the practice. Even carbon taxes will eventually filter through to the consumer.
As far as electrical supply is concerned, we don’t have to continue that support. Instead we can move our financial support to a Green Tariff or an entirely Green Energy supplier (some also provide a dual + gas tariff). Moving our money from polluting suppliers to green suppliers being of double benefit.
There is an additional and important benefit. Consumer choices are observable trends which result in forecasts and forecasts create business plans. It will make a yet greater impact if you if you let people know what you have done, and why, as an encouragement for them to follow and more still if you tell your old and new supplier why you have switched.
Here are some links to advisory sites, from which a choice can be made, but do check they are certified genuine green suppliers.
UK – Ratings – http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/buyersguides/energy/greenelectricitysuppliers.aspx
UK – Price comparisons – http://www.ukpower.co.uk/home_energy/green_energy_suppliers
USA – http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml
Australia – http://gpap.greenelectricityguide.org.au (You can skip the sign up – last line)
Canada – There are several companies but I could not find an up to date guide.
The above is just an example. Other countries also have green energy suppliers but difficult to find in English.
Energy supplies are likely to increase in cost. Heating being the greatest user of power, it makes sense to invest in insulation.
Good wishes to all in your pursuit of protecting our climate for ourselves, those who follow us and everything that lives on this extraordinary garden planet.
The amazing 2015 London Climate Rally ⇐
Thanks to a friendly park keeper at St James Park, I was able to photograph twin Graylag Geese. Born from one egg, that would otherwise have been a double yolk, they rarely survive and these two have another special feature. Ethologist Konrad Lorenz did his first major studies into the behavioural phenomenon of imprinting using Graylag Geese and, according to the park keeper, these two have imprinted on one another and are inseparable.
They are so rare that you are unlikely to see anything like this until next April 1st. Yes, I am disgraceful and ingenious abuse is welcome and probably deserved. Here’s wishing you all a fun day. 🙂
These posts are from March 2015 bu continues to receive views. The Poll below is still open and shows a a vast majority of protest. Some further articles/information on the WP changes are here.
This Poll, in response to the New WP Editor, has a gathering momentum (2,500+ votes) , it is independent, the results visible and well worth a moment of your time to add your vote. There is nothing to lose, it may help and it might deter any further nuisance. Please click on:-
http://www.poll-maker.com/poll277402x1D5c4173-10
With credit and thanks to blogger “imperialtwilight” for the initiative.
It is also worth leaving a comment on the most recently active forum thread. Please click here:-
https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/disappointed-in-new-wordpress?replies=11
The previous forum thread of 32 pges (now closed) is here.
If you would be kind enough to Share, Post with a Link or Reblog, it will help to spread the opportunity to others. Spreading the word is very important if we are to avoid further problems.
The Poll is spreading well enough that, if WP ignore it, then it will be obvious to all that they have made a wrong turn. On that basis, maybe they will not ignore it.
Workarounds are here.
Some further articles/information on the WP changes are here.
The Canada Memorial (London) was opened in 1994 and is dedicated to the Canadians who served in the two world wars. It can found at the bottom of Green Park very near to Buckingham Palace.
When I visited it was a very hot day in July and children were very happily using it as a water slide. Despite the “keep off” sign, nobody wanted to stop them and everybody was having a great day in the sunshine.
This little pigeon decided to join in and enjoy cool feet. A lot of wild life around London seem to have become so accustomed to a human presence that they can allow themselves to indulge in curiosity and even participation. The squirrels of St James Park being a great example. Here is one cool pigeon.
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The colours of the opening picture are so intriguing that I couldn’t help tweaking it a bit.
Freed From Time 