Help with WordPress Changes
Sorry to redirect you but there have been developments that makes this easier at WordPress Navigation Links – Improved.
However, additional Links can be found here for those who might find them useful. 🙂
Now only relevant for additional Links that you might wish to use:-
Links included. – For more about the changes and what we can do about it, please click here. Bloggers are discovering that the inconvenience of the new user interface pages can be bypassed by Bookmarking/Favourite the desired pages. Then open a tab for the required log-in page and then open other bookmarked pages in additional tabs (you are automatically logged into each) .
This is not only more convenient but signals to WP that their intention to continue with their present approach is undesirable.
Here are some links to start with. You will only need to do this once, Bookmark/Favourite it and can then open each in a new tab when required.
WP Admin.
You can also use this for sign-out purposes.
https:// {YourBlogName} .com/wp-admin/
The Classic Stats page (most commonly used prior to the new one). From the main Admin page use the “View All” button or bookmark:-
https://wordpress.com/my-stats/
At present, you can also get to your Admin page, from these stats, by clicking on the small blue house at the top right.
The Old Stats page (copy to the address bar of a new tab and put your Blog name where indicated, without spaces).
https:// {YourBlogName} .wordpress.com/wp-admin/index.php?page=stats
The Reader
On the Reader, one can go directly to a post by clicking on the lower left time-stamp.
A New Post using the desktop editor which, at present, can still be found at the left menu bar of the Admin Page. Here is the link anyway (copy to the address bar of a new tab and put your Blog name where indicated, without spaces) .
https:// {YourBlogNme} .wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php
All Posts which, at present, can still be found at the left menu bar of the Admin Page. Here is the link anyway (copy to the address bar of a new tab and put your Blog name where indicated, without spaces).
https:// {YourBlogName} .wordpress.com/wp-admin/edit.php
Notifications
https://wordpress.com/notifications
This opens your Notifications Archive which isn’t perfect but better than the New Notifications. That is. the unread items have a blue dot on the left and there is the usual bent arrow to indicate what you replied to. When the bell icon lights up, on any page, you only need to go to your Notifications tab and refresh the screen.
Further, avoiding the New Notifications is a clear message that they are not liked.
Other UI Pages
Can still be found using the left side bar of the WP Admin page. Bookmarking the most used is a quick way to navigate.
More About the Recent WordPress Changes, which need our attention if we are to rescue WordPress from the current managers of these endevours, which in there present form, can only the damage any pursuit of the mobile market whilst unnecessarily alienating existing desktop clients.
Please do re-blog or link if you wish. The more viewers the better. :-).
About WordPress Changes and What We Can Do
This article was first published 27th January 2015. The current situation (11 Many 2016) seems static with both the old Stats pages still available and very little disruption to the “classic” editor. The workarounds still being a viable option. We continue to watch for any further disruption and any cause for further protest as may be required.
For more recent concerns (Dec 2016) regarding the WordPress Reader, please click here ⇐.
For Help with the UI changes (workarounds) please click here .
There are additional issues that have not been openly disclosed please click here. For a full range of articles please click here.
*** On Jan 29, 2015 at 17:57 a reply from CEO Matt Mullenweg with bloggers responses, in comments below.
This article (on 27th January 2015) is about Underlying Motive, The Problems, Probable Cause, How We Can Make a Difference and Remaining Questions.
Underlying Motive
Matt Mullenweg, owner and recently appointed CEO of WordPress, has himself indicated a wish to pursue the mobile market which is made clear in and interview with Forbes click here ! (page 5/6) . However, that interview does not indicate any intention to abandon desk-top users.
Add to this, Tiger Global now have a total of $110 million invested in WP here !. Tiger Global also have investments in the expanding Indian and South American mobile and e-commerce markets.
Amended/Addition: From WSJ/Digits “We both have a long term outlook, and we’re focused on growth,” said Mullenweg of Tiger in an interview. “
This is altogether an entirely legitimate business pursuit but it’s gone wrong.
The Problem
The mobile versions of the user interface have been so inept as to spoil its credibility from the outset and at the same time alienate desktop users. Complaints, on the WP Forum, about the new editor ran to 32 long pages here !. Complaints about the New Stats here (closed)! and here (closed)! and here (closed) !. Complaints about the New Notifications here ! . More on Goldfish “An Open Letter to WordPress !“. And, we are told, there are more changes to come.
Amendment/Addition: To make this clearer, the changes that have annoyed people most have been the removal of navigation links that make it difficult to avoid the changed pages. From the Reader entirely impossible. Such action being coercive.
This is not at all the “democratized blogging” that WP claims to support. It was entirely unnecessary to create such nuisance for desktop users when a separate strand could have been developed for mobiles. A one size fits all approach is unworkable for devices that are so different.
The notion that this is a free service and that we should not complain is false. Active blogs either accept advertisements (which are not visible to the blogger whilst logged in). Advertisements which are based upon their own work as the attraction, or pay their $30 p.a. to keep them away.
Such attitudes and behaviour have a continued corrosive effect which includes the loss of key workers over time. After 1-2 years a company falls into decline, but by then it is unable to stop that decline or even fully recognise the cause.
If customers migrate to another host, then those remaining are going to lose readership, which is then another incentive to move. If any of the major players realise that WP is creating its own vulnerability they will surely take advantage. An easy transfer and universal reader would be enough to tip the balance and create a landslide.
Taken altogether this means that we must rescue WordPress from its own demise.
Probable Cause
Nobody in their right mind would want to spoil their progress into a new market and at the same time alienate existing customers. From long experience freelancing in industry, I know of only one way this can come about. Somebody who is more convincing than capable has got hold of the reins.
The symptoms are commonly the use of unrealistic hyperbole, forcing users into the new product so that it appears to be successful (in this case, by manipulating the navigational links), destruction of previous work (by removing access), create a notion that restoration is impossible (manage the complainants instead of the complaint) and ensuring that executives of the company do not know the truth (it’s all going very well and doesn’t it look good).
Problems are exacerbated when there is failure to meet deadlines. That results in products being launched before they are ready and, needing to meet the next deadline, no time for adequate remedy. As a result, there is further motive to use the ploys mentioned above and plough on regardless.
The most insidious of these is the notion that we cannot overturn the situation. It is a ploy to ensure that we do not even try outside of the prescribed avenue (the forums) which only frustrate. But, to paraphrase FDR, ‘there is no cause for despair except despair itself’.
How we can Make a Difference
Whatever may be thought of the above summary, if we do not make an effort, then we and WP lose by default. If we get up on our hind legs and howl for the pack to pay attention then we stand a good chance of putting more sensible people in charge. So:-
- All the possible remedies and the encouragement to be optimistic need to be widely publicised by ourselves by posts (with plenty of tags for the Reader), links, re-blogging with lots of tags (you can use up to 15 categories +Tags without getting excluded from the Reader), tweets, Facebook, email etc. That is our strength as publishers and the numbers of people who express disquiet count as much as the comment content.
- Every click to/from the new pages are surely recorded and supports the notion that they are successful. Therefore, it is vital to boycott their use. They can be avoided by Bookmarking/Favourite a few pages and opening each in a new tab. For more information and a fairly straightforward approach please click here ! .
- Whilst the forums are a sink-hole for energy with comments that seek restoration only frustrated, it is still important to increase the number of voices and thus show the extent of disquiet. The most commonly used open threads are here ! for general comment and here ! for New Notifications. Comments can be entered at the end of the last page and whilst they do not need to be more than brief to add weight to the cause. However, the forums are free to comment as much as you wish.
- Make contact with WordPress seniors/founders who may not know what is really occurring. Many have blogs and can be found on the “About !” page. Unfortunately it is not at all as useful as the version that was recently removed. Fortunately I took screen-shots of the original here !. Matt Mullenweg can be contacted here ! and/or tweeted here ! and former CEO, Toni Schneider, here !.
More than one link may be held in moderation. Therefore, may I recommend using the exact name of forum topics.
- Later, when the tide of protest has risen, I will be making contact with the equity holders who stand to lose a great deal and those journalists who would like the story of WP unnecessarily creating conflict with its own clients.
The Remaining Questions
Are the seniors/founders of WP really upholders of high ideals or was it just a marketing ploy. Some of the delightful descriptions from the original “About” page, screen-shots here, include:-
Matt Mullenwg – As the Chief BBQ Taste Tester of Automattic, Matt travels the world sampling cuisine and comparing it to the gold standard of Texas BBQ.
Nick Hamze – Chief Swag Officer
Stu West – Chief Festivities Officer (CFO) – Stu spends his time measuring the awesomeness of operations and finance at WordPress.
Michelle Weber – Chief Semicolon Advocate
It begs the questions. Has it really all been about having fun and making swag or is it just that Matt Mullenweg is having too much fun to mind the shop ? The eventual answer is that deeds speak far louder than words.
What can do we do about it ? We can spread the word and raise as many voices as possible. As a last resort, a method I know to be effective against the unethical, is to widely embarrass with the truth and threaten income and the value of the company.
I hope that the sensible will get control soon and save us all any more nuisance. Lastly; thank you for taking the time to read and may I offer you my best wishes in all your endeavours.
Please do use this as you wish by re-blogging, linking etc. The more viewers the better.
GrahamInHats
With gratitude and credit to all those who entered comment and information on the forums and apologies if reading has been a bit hard on the eyes (this blog was not intended for this purpose). 🙂
The follow-on from this is now WordPress Changes – Polls #1 – Herded ?
The Tower of London – White Tower
Inside the White Tower
The White Tower contains mainly suits of armour and weaponry. In the days of sophisticated construction, a suit of armour could cost as much as a house and was often more of a status symbol than for military purpose. Nevertheless, when in use, a knight and horse in full armour at the gallop would be terrifying and the equivalent of a modern-day tank.
Queen Mary’s Gardens
14 pics. Queen Mary’s Gardens was opened in 1932 and named after the wife of George V. It can be found near the southern end of Regents Park, is shown by Google maps as the “Inner Circle” and the nearest underground station is Baker St. The gardens are in part a formal setting with up to 12,000 roses and 9,00 begonias. There is also a landscaped area of tress, bushes and a small wetland.
Photographs of some of the flowers can be found here and more information here.
Flowers at Queen Mary’s Gardens
Queen Mary’s Gardens can be found at the eastern end of Regents Park, London. It is a world-famous horticultural site with a great variety of plants including 12,000 roses and 9,000 begonias. There will be more views later. In the meantime, a little colour photographed in July, to brighten up the day.
The Great Nut Heist
At the Eastern End of St James’s Park
This time I took some food. I put down the carrier bag to take out my camera and ~
“Right, I’ll do the old squirrel up the leg routine”.
“You do the blag”
“I’ll do the snatch. I’m so cute the rozzers will never suspect”
“Oh my, Oh my, Oh my. I’m rich I tell you, rich”
“Well now that’s all sorted out, a nice little sit down on this handy leggy thing”
“Cor blimey governor, it ain’t ‘alf a good bit of cashew this.”
“A nice piece of walnut for me. I say, any chance of liqueur”.
“Look it’s the great Squirreldini”
“Blasted squirrels. Any of us could do that if we wanted too”
“What, with these feet”
We don’t have much and life can be hard, but:-
Sittin’ in the morning sun
I’ll be sittin’ when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch them roll away again, yeah
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh
I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time
Otis Redding Listen on Youtube
There are more squirrels at Squirrels in the Park and Squirrels Up My Leg
Paused for the Holidays
Due to unexpected technical difficulties and the after effects of abduction by Yuletide aliens, we will be temporarily off-line. I hope you all enjoy your holidays. 😀
Images temporarily abducted from the interweb.
A Very Many Christmas to All
🙂 It’s like this, when every new day is a gift, then every day is as joyful as Xmas.
And now 4 galleries of Christmas 2016. We hope you enjoy as many kinds of Xmas as you like and you can click on any picture to expand it.
Lights at Oxford St, Regents St, Hamleys Toy Store and Covent Garden
Night Wings
Winter Wonderland
This is at the south east entrance to Hyde Park. Entrance to the fair is free but the rides are paid for in tokens that are purchased at kiosks. Special attractions can be booked online or paid for at the venue (but you may have to queue). More information here. Food and drink are expensive (£5 for a Hot Dog).
This is free.
Now that’s been taken taken care of, how about a game ? – So,
What have we got in our pocketses then ?
More squirrels up legs ⇐.
A Flower to Brighten the Day
I thought I would just quickly publish a little colour for those who may be caught in winters gloom. This beauty is from a collection taken at the Horniman Museum’s gardens. There will be more later in the year, or next.
For those of you who were kind enough to enjoy the squirrels climbing up my leg; I went back with food and got mugged by the squirrels. So there will be more of that later and some Xmas lights. In the meantime I hope this brightens your day.
Recent Changes to WordPress – Further
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Some Plain facts
Tiger Global are investment speculators. Prior to September 2013 they held a $50 million stake in Automaticc Inc (that’s WP).
Approximately September 2013 they acquired another $60 million of private equity in Automaticc Inc. The article, which makes interesting reading, is here:-
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/09/17/tiger-global-ups-investment-in-creator-of-wordpress/
Tiger Global have increasing investment in mobile, messaging and e-commerce companies, especially in places where landlines are not always available. Here is one of several articles on the subject:-
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/17/quikr-tigerglobal-idUSL3N0RI4B920140917
Conjecture
If there is any connection between these items and recent changes that are intended to be more mobile friendly, then the alleged improvements have been handled so badly as to become a poison chalice.
Options
If this issue makes you annoyed, then the best approach is to ensure the unity of a collective voice in one place. May I suggest that; bloggers create a post upon this subject with a link to the forum thread.
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/massive-changes-to-the-wp-interface/page/11?replies=307
WP closed that thread, it now continues on:-
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/upgraded-stats-and-changes-to-wp-interface?replies=2
and
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/stats-classics-how-to-set/page/6?replies=155
Alternatively, re-blog the first post which includes the link:-
https://freedfromtime.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/recent-changes-to-wordpress-user-interface/
Further, you might announce your posts on the forum so that others can re-blog them.
… and may I wish a Very Merry Christmas to all bloggers.
more later.
Recent Changes to WordPress User Interface
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How to get involved – Why I Post on the subject –
Why there is a need to be involved – What is being said
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Recent Changes to the WordPress User Interface
In reference to the hosted service.
There was a WordPress Forum Topic on this subject, which is worth reading, here:-
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/massive-changes-to-the-wp-interface?replies=456
WP closed that topic, it now continues on
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/upgraded-stats-and-changes-to-wp-interface?replies=2
and
http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/stats-classics-how-to-set/page/6?replies=155
and about the notifications on
All WordPress users have access to the forum and a right to use it.
To add your comments, use the link and go to the bottom of the last page. Many specific complaints have been given, so you do not need to do more than state whether you do or do not like the changes, unless you wish to comment further.
There is also an option to subscribe to the thread by email notification and be kept up to date with developments.
– – Update: Investment influences, please click here.
Why I am posting this article:–
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On the forum, in response to the question “When will we start seeing information from the survey ?” the response (Dec 11, 2014, 6:14 PM) from staff was:-
“The survey results will probably be reviewed internally and used as one part of the decision-making process there”.
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The WordPress Daily Post produced an article entitled “Upgraded Stats and Navigation Enhancement”. Comments became complaints and, when I introduced a link to the forum thread, it was closed for further comments and omitted the comment with a link to the forum. The article shows how nice the new stats look on a mobile and is here:-
http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/stats-navigation-enhancements/
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WordPress closed a Customer Services topic after only 24 minutes.
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If views are not made more public, then no one will know the majority opinion.
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There are more changes to come and there is a distinct danger that new formats will eventually replace the existing ones. It is already being made difficult to navigate to the preferred screen pages.
I am concerned that bloggers will think that using the survey will be enough for their opinion to count. Considering that, according to WP Staff, the survey results are unlikely to be published, it is unlikely that they will need to pay much attention if it does not suit them.
Therefore it is most important that we make our views more publicly known, whatever they are. Otherwise we could find our needs supplanted by the pursuit of new markets and face increasingly thoughtless nuisance and loss of facilities. It does not have to be an either or situation, both needs can be facilitated. Although, even for mobile use, it has been badly done.
Bloggers can help to secure the future by leaving even a simple comment on the forum and/or re-blogging this so that others have the opportunity of being in the loop.
A Summary of Complaints
There are many very specific complaints and a lot of annoyance to be found on the forum, but I will try to fairly summarise the main points:-
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The changes were foisted upon us without warning or the opportunity to comment. After all we do pay for this and do make WordPress a financial success by the effort we put into our blogs. The last valuation of WordPress was $1.4 billion.
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The User Interface is being made more Mobile friendly at the expense of Desktop users.
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Navigation and Sign Out drop down menus are disappearing and it is interrupting work flow.
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The New Stats page is only one column showing a graph of 10 days instead of the previous 30, it requires more scrolling to view the entire contents and the summary table icon is missing.
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The new editor is missing “Add Poll”, “Add Contact Form” , the Screen Option of One Column (Full Width View). The editor frame is not adjustable, one cannot get directly from a published post to the old editor and there have been numerous complaints about “beep bop boo etc” from when it first appeared.
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Many people just don’t like the appearance.
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There is only one staff member attending who can only report back to the developers. Although very polite and patient it is, as one member commented, “Like trying to knit fog”.
If I have omitted anything or you have a specific concern, please comment on the forum where it will be seen by other WP members and by staff.
Thank you for taking the time to read and hope that you will take few moments to add your voice.
🙂
Squirrels with Altitude
I’ve always considered myself to be quite animal friendly, and animals quite friendly to me. Nevertheless, at the south east corner of St James’s Park Lake, I was quite surprised by this.
I discovered why squirrels are so good at climbing trees. Those little claws are sharp.
When he or she looked up and realised that this tree had a face, there was a quick scamper off behind a real tree.
Then, would you ~
it.
There was another one.
At first I thought this must be the same squirrel, but a close examination of the whiskers shows a variation and there is slightly darker patch at the left shoulder. I think they must have been siblings and the little scamps were playing “Anything you can do, I can do better”.
Even the geese were surprised.
Wha’ the ~.
Still, they were only having fun in their own squirrely way. Good on them, they make me laugh and I feel quite privileged to have had squirrels up my leg.
There are more squirrels at the Great Nut Heist.
Herons
The Grey Heron is resident in the UK and can be found near rivers and lakes. Although it is a water bird it does not have webbed feet and does not swim. They catch their prey of fish, small birds, frogs and molluscs by standing at the water edge. They will also feed upon rodents in fields. There is a broad variety of Heron species, some of which are called Egrets or Bitterns and some species have been known to use bait.
This one, photographed at the east end of Regents Park, was difficult to get close to. Unlike swans, geese and ducks they don’t feed of human gifts unless you happen to have a live fish about you.
Another shot of a Heron at (click on) Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park
Upon Refection I’m Twice the Bird I Used To Be 🙂
Squirrels in the Park
Just outside Kensington Palace and a little to the north, there is an intersection in the path where the squirrels like to play. These cheeky chaps seem particularly interested in people with shopping. They also like to play hide and seek with photographers. The other games are; now I’m in focus and now I’m not and I’ll move just at the moment you press the shutter button. They’re very good at it. I took about 20 snaps, these are the only 4 worth showing. Can’t complain though, they were only having fun and very endearing.
“I say, have you got any linguine and do you know the way to San José.”
Just outside Kensington Palace where you can see this house.
Now you see me, and now ~
“Flash ah ah , the savior of the universe”.
“Alright you got me. Now about my fee”.
I hope you enjoyed that. They always make me laugh.
You might also like Squirrels up my Leg ⇐.
Kensington Gardens
Also, Kensington Palace , Kensington Garden Flowers , Elfin Oak , Playful Squirrels , Squirrels up my Leg , and Serpentine Water Fowl ( The Dog and Swan)
At the Queens Gate
The Gardens
On the other side of the Serpentine Lake is Hyde Park. We’ll have a wander over.
Here I am on my holidays, That’s me with the wings. What a hoot, honk.
And, In the Autumn
Back at Kensington Gardens in the Autumn
A beautifully atmospheric autumn evening, at 11 am. I do love the British weather.
The Great Dance
With a little music at the end, for the dance. 🙂
Once again, hats off to the builders, makers, artists and musicians. There is also Hall Place Gardens, Hall Place Interiors and nearby Danson House.
Kensington Palace
17 pics. From Queensway Underground station, across the main road, through the main gates and along the broad avenue facing south through Kensington Gardens. After a short walk, a small clock tower and the Elfin Oak ⇐ can be seen on the right. A little further on, also on the right, is Kensington Palace. The palace was built in 1605. More of its history, from Wiki, can be found here ⇐. The official website, with admission prices etc, can be found here ⇐.
Non-commercial photography is permitted but the lighting is dim and there is a certain amount of glare. As a result it was necessary to use a higher ISO setting than I would normally wish and gives a brighter impression than is really the case. Nevertheless, if you like old houses, it is the most atmospheric that I have come across so far.
It is well worth using the map, provided with your ticket, and finding the Queen’s rooms. They are located behind a large wooden door and you may have to ask an attendant for access. However, the staff are very friendly, informative and helpful.
If you wait a little while, the shadow will dance accompanied by the sound of shoes upon the hard wood floor and occasionally a little music.
Above is Princess Amelia, a favourite daughter of George III. The shadow dancers will occasionally move into each others space and dance together.
One can only wonder at how many, during the long past, have gazed at this view from the window and of their thoughts and dreams. You might spare a moment to join them.
And, hats off to the artisans who built this for their skill and diligence.
You might also like to see some of Kensington Gardens Flowers ⇐ or perhaps what the local Water Fowl ⇐ do for fun.
The Elfin Oak
From the North Gate of Kensington Gardens, just across from the station called Queensway, a traveler might proceed along the great path leading south. After but a short walk, can be found on the right, a small clock tower. Very close to this, and beside an outdoor purveyor of comestibles, the Elfin Oak will be found.
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The remaining stump is of an Oak being 900 years of age. Carefully carved by Mr Ivor Innes in the year 1911 to reveal the elfin folk that were hidden within. Thereafter maintained by that same gentlemen for a further 40 years.
Later restored by the efforts of the inimitable Mr Spike Milligan and friends in 1966, the Elfin Oak is now protected by its own cage of steel.
Peeking into this little world, one might still see – Wookey the witch, with her three jars of health, wealth and happiness, Huckleberry the gnome, carrying a bag of berries up the Gnomes’ Stairway to the banquet within Bark Hall, and Grumples and Groodles the Elves being awakened by Brownie, Dinkie, Rumplelocks and Hereandthere stealing eggs from the crows’ nest. Or, these fine characters :-
. . . . and many more
A book, with the title “The Elfin Oak of Kensington Gardens”, was later crafted by Ivor and Elsie Innes and revealed that “for centuries now it has been the home of fairies, gnomes, elves, imps, and pixies. In the nooks and crannies they lurk, or peer out of holes and crevices, their natural windows and doorways. It is their hiding-place by day, their revelry place by night, and when the great moon tops the bare branchless tree the Elfin Clans come out to play and frolic in the moonlight.”
The Dog and Swan
Kensington Gardens, Serpentine Lake and Fauna
15 pics. – Just behind the Albert Memorial is a very nice outdoor cafe and one of the entrances to Kensington Gardens. To the left and a little further north there is Kensington Palace and to the right is the Serpentine Lake with Hyde park on the other side. You might also like Squirrels up my Leg.
At the cafe
“I don’t know what it is, but I shall defend it to my last breath, or teatime.”
Kensington Gardens
At the end of August.
On the Serpentine
First a word from our sponsor.
“No brain cells were harmed during the making of the this travesty but we can’t guarantee the same whilst reading it, and have you got any cake. “
“I say, they’ve got tea and buns”
“Do I look like I’ve got a bun”
Signor
“What do think of my new paint job and have a got any panini.”
Signor briefly broke of the session to give a small dog a thorough hissing and then returned to a perfect composure. What it must be to live in the moment.
Signora and Cygnet
“Don’t look Nigel, Ma’s gone all tipsy again”. “Oh look a shiny thing”
Cygnet
“That Odette, what a diva. Not like me I’m so demure, and modest with it.”
“Me, I’m firm but fair and proof against meteorites.”
“Pay attention class while Mr Flogget demonstrates how we do walking”. “I’ll confiscate that in a minute”
The Flying School
“Ok, now choose a nice soft landing ground, lower landing gear, throttle back and full flaps – tee hee I’m so funny.”
“Alright not bad, now get off that swan. These kids, honestly what can you do !”
Never had a lesson in my life. Wheeeeeeee”
The Preening Salon
“Well of course he got his bill stuck in the mud. I told him, I said if we were meant to do that, we would have been born with propellers. “
The Last Word
“It’s like living in a madhouse around here. Why can’t they be more normal like what I am. “
Just Beneath Our Feet
The Victoria and Albert Museum is dedicated to design but it does not forget the designs of mind that we refer to as philosophy and ideology. On the steps, leading to the main entrance, are these words:-
Step 1 Top – Civil disobedience is not our problem. .. Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves, and all the while the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem. (Howard Zinn)
Step 2/1 – Greed is stopping human evolution .. the richest people own half the world (Oxfam Charity)
2/2 – What is the crime of the bank robber compared to the crime of founding one (Bertolt Brecht)
2/3 – It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking system for if they did I believe that there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning (Henry Ford)
2/4 – During times of universal deceit telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. (Eric Arthur Blair pen name George Orwell)
Step 3/1 – Every effort for progress, enlightenment, for religious, political and economic liberty, emanates from the minority, and not from the mass. (Emma Goldman)
3/2 – No real social change has ever been brought about without revolution (Emma Goldman)
3/3 – Revolution is but thought carried into action (Emma Goldman)
3/4 – A riot is the language of the unheard (Martin Luther King Jr)
3/5 – The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion (Frederick Douglass)
Step 4/1 – There’s no reason for the establishment to fear me. But it has every right to fear the people collectively – I am one with the people (Huey Percy Newton)
4/2 – The history of progress is written in the blood of men and women who have dared to espouse an unpopular cause, as, for instance the black man’s right to his body, or a woman’s right to her soul ( Emma Goldman)
Step 5/1 – We declare our right on this earth, to be a man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence, by any means necessary (Malcolm X)
5/2 – It is easier to build strong children than to mend broken men (Frederick Douglass)
Step 6/1 – Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds (Bob Marley)
6/2 – Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and passion to reach for the stars and change the world (Harriet Tubman)
6/3 – Question Authority (Socrates)
Step 7 Bottom/1 – Think for yourself act for others (Kenny Zulu Witmore)
7 /2 – The essence of your life is only measured in the way you can help others (Herman Wallace – 42 years in solitary confinement)
7/3 – I rebel therefore I exist (Albert Camus)
7/4 – I am an artist your rules don’t apply. The revolution will be ceramicised ( The Treatmentrooms collective)
Victoria and Albert Museum Entrance
Inside can be found.
Disobedient Objects
London and the UK in general has always had a subversive and irreverent streak. It did not entirely begin in the 60’s but in the 50’s when people sought a better world after the ravages of world war. Many of the quotations stem from the philosophers of that time. Equality of race, gender and creed was fought for in the pursuit of the fellowship of humankind. History shows that the wish keeps on being born and is therefore indomitable. It scared the greedy then and it still does.
We have much to value in the freedoms that were won by those of the past, but the price of that freedom is eternal vigilance. The phrase is attributed to many, but probably originated from John Philpot Curran in 1790. It is not a new recognition. It is not a new problem. It is not a new battle. But there is always a new step, same as it ever was.
Victoria and Albert Museum
21 pics. Entry to the Victoria and Albert Museum is free. The museum is dedicated to art and design from around the world. The items here are just a few of many hundreds on display and non-commercial photography is allowed except for the wedding dress exhibit and the wonderful jewel room. There is also a large inner courtyard with water feature that makes a great place for lunch. Packed lunches can be eaten in the Learning Center’s Lunch room on the 3rd floor . The museum map. The website.
At the museum entrance there are steps that speak.
The nearest underground rail station is South Kensington with the very interesting Science Museum and the Natural History Museum nearby.
The Tea Rooms
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Foyer
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The Albert Memorial and The Royal Albert Hall
Click on Copyright⇐ or at at top right of page. 14 pics. Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, was much missed by the queen when he died. Victoria was taken by long years of mourning and fell into a long period of personal decline. Part of the queen’s tribute to the prince are the Albert Memorial and Royal Albert Hall. The memorial can be found on Google maps at the southern end of Kensington Gardens. The Royal Albert Hall is just across the road.
The Albert Memorial
The Royal Albert Hall
Kew Gardens Views
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are extensive enough to spend an entire day there. Admission to Kew Gardens includes the TemperatHouses,e Houses, Hot Treetop Walkway and Kew Palace. And here there are Flowers at Kew and Orchids at Kew
The Pagoda requires a further charge, paid at the main gate. When I was there it was £4. I told them that £4 was not enough they’d have to pay me at least 50 quid to go up that.
The nearest rail station, to the main gates, is Kew Bridge (South West Trains). Then turn right out of the station then left over the bridge and first right to the main gates.
Freed From Time 