Brighten the Day 4
8 Flora and some lyrics to brighten the day.
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“What do you say to an 8 foot tall Budgerigar ?”. “Who’s a pretty boy then”.
“Call that a hair style, check out the hat”.
“I’m feelin’ glad all over
Yes I’m-a glad all over
Baby I’m glad all over
So glad you’re mine.
The Dave Clark Five
“That John Wyndham had a good idea”.
“Purple haze, all in my brain
Lately things they don’t seem the same
Actin’ funny, but I don’t know why
Excuse me while I kiss the sky”.
Jimi Hendrix
“Yellow is the color of my true love’s hair
In the mornin’, when we rise
In the mornin’, when we rise
That’s the time, that’s the time
I love the best”
Donovan.
“Blue moon!
Now I’m no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own”.
Billie Holiday
And, one more time with a song.
“Sunny, Yesterday my life was filled with rain.
Sunny, You smiled at me and really eased the pain.
The dark days are gone, and the bright days are here,
My Sunny one shines so sincere.
Sunny one so true, I love you.”
Stevie Wonder
More Brighten the Day ⇐.
The Tower of London
The view from Tower Hill (just outside Tower Hill underground station). Click here for more about the Tower History, Events Tours and Admission and here for the White Tower Interiors (Armour and Weapons) and here for nearby All Hallows Church (the oldest in London). Visitors can photograph most places except for the Jewel House (home of the famous Crown Jewels). There will be queues for exhibits such as the Jewel House and it is better to arrive early.
Tower Bridge and the Tower itself. The bridge was originally raised by steam powered hydraulic engines but in recent times by an electrically powered hydraulic system . Visit inside the bridge here ⇒.
There is always one of these standing guard.
The tower once had a menagerie.
Those accused of treason would be transported to the tower by river and entered via traitors gate and might then go to the Bloody Tower. Below the tower is the remnants of a torture chamber. Visitors were queuing up.
There are a number of tour guides, all happy to be photographed.
The cage holds some of the tower’s ravens. They are not all let free at the same time. The legend is that England will fall if the ravens ever left the tower. They are very well cared for and locked up at night. They also think they own the place.
The guards are not allowed to interact with anybody but you can stand beside one and have your photograph taken. Should anybody get too familiar, or just because the guard feels like it, he will let out a blood curdling scream and present the pointy end of his rifle. Then there is vigorous marching up and down. It has the desired effect.
The Cutty Sark
The Cutty Sark and the legacy of the great sailing ships
The Cutty Sark is now on show at Greenwich (London,UK). It is the last remaining example of the great Tea Clippers. For more information about the exhibit please click here.
The first of each tea harvest from China to Europe was of great commercial value. These ships were built for that purpose, using a narrow hull and powerful rig. Built for speed rather than large cargo. For more of that history please click here.
The Cutty Sark was recognised as the foremost in its class even though it never quite won the Great Tea Race.
This is another Clipper Ship, Lightning under full sail.
Provided under Creative Commons License by: Bruce Von Stetina
Ships like these and their crews advanced the knowledge of construction, navigation and seamanship. Altogether making travel by sea a lot safer than it used to be. It was once the most hazardous of all occupations. By contrast, going to sea has now become a pleasure to many.
An important principle still remains for all such potentially hazardous occupations. That is, the development of good habit. Often inconvenient in good weather but a vital life safer when wet, cold, tired, in the dark, confused and disoriented.
Such vessels do not remain in service and their builders and brave crews are no longer with us. But, the advances that they made remain. Those ships and their crews may not still roll, but because of their legacy, they still rock.
Thank you for visiting Freed From Time
Straight Up With A Twist
The Cable Car over the Thames, London,UK.
Well, I suppose the builders were grinning when they said they’d give it whirl. I should have known better really.
The United Emirates cable car traverses the river Thames in East London between the Royal Victoria Dock, on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and the North Greenwich Peninsula. It can be found on the Standard London Underground Map ⇒ at sector D8. From Greenwich Pensinsula there is a bus service to wonderful Maritime (Cutty Sark) Greenwich ⇐ which is on another branch of the Docklands Light Railway.
It makes sense to use an Oyster Card (touch in/touch out) as this will also save money on the London Underground/Overground and Docklands Light Railway.
BE AWARE: That if you forget to touch in with a card there is a heavy fine. If you forget to touch out when leaving a station, the maximum charge is deducted from your card.
A video of the view ⇒ shows that although it is partly obstructed by the tall buildings of Canary Wharf and lasts 5-10 minutes (according to time of day), it is nevertheless quite good value for money.
It is used for some commuting to and from work, so it is better to avoid peak times.
Thank you for visiting Freed From Time
Rainbows over Buildings
Even the tall buildings, like the Shard of Glass, are dwarfed by natures great rainbow.
I like the fact that, in all our cleverness, we will never be able to compete with this.
Perhaps such sights will keep things in perspective and help to stop the lunacy of destroying our own planet.
Freed From Time 