We are in London at the moment: On a St Valentine's Day/Week holiday. The weather hasn't been too bad and the flooding in surrounding areas has subsided somewhat. All is dry in London.
We lunched with AGA's niece the other day and tomorrow we breakfast with a cousin of mine. For the rest it is just us two, enjoying life.
The other day we happened across a parade inspection of the guards of the Household Cavalry:
(They are in their winter uniform).
And we visited the Museum of Gardening at Lambeth:
The museum is set up in the old St Mary-at-Lambeth church, on the right of the gatehouse of Lambeth Palace.
In the gardens at the rear of the church, we saw the tomb of Vice Admiral William Bligh; he of the Mutiny on the Bounty fame, as well being a one time Governor of New South Wales:
The famous plant hunters, John Tradescant Senior and Junior are also buried here.
And we also came across this cheery Lambeth robin, busy in nest-building mode:
That's all for the moment as I am writing this 'on the hoof' so to speak.
I hope you enjoyed this post, coming to you from the heart of Hammersmith!
It's a amazing photo of a robin with spring in its mind.
ReplyDeleteThank you Andrew,
DeleteI am a very amateur photographer. When I saw that robin I was snapping away and he sat there patiently turning this way and that. Once I had finished he flew away and probably thought: 'that's my good deed done for the day!'
I so want to visit London someday!!
ReplyDeleteI think that you should - you won't be disappointed.
DeleteLambeth garden is a fascinating place. I would love to have a month to pore over their archives. One of my greatx3 Uncles married William Bligh's sister. Our mother was big on defending his reputation. I'm glad he found a peaceful resting spot.
ReplyDeleteDear Susan,
DeleteI'm with your mother as I also think that Cpt. Bligh has been given a bad 'rap' over the years.
Dear Kirk,
ReplyDeleteThose are splendid winter coats, and they look big enough to keep both man and horse warm!
My town of St. Petersburg, Florida was the home of the H.M.S. Bounty, the ship that was recreated for the movie in which Marlon Brando played Captain Bligh. The Bounty was a big tourist attraction here for many years. Unfortunately, the ship sank in a terrible storm recently, and the captain (who had misjudged the weather) was lost.
Dear Mark,
DeleteThose coats were a very nice colour too.
When I was on the Underground the other day I saw an advertisement for St Petersburg and some place called Clearwater and I thought: that's Mark Ruffner land!
Yes, Clearwater is about half an hour from me, and it's famous for having very nice beaches. It 's also the headquarters for Scientology, which generates a lot of publicity the city could do without!
DeleteHi Kirk,
ReplyDeleteWishing you and Aga a lovely time in London! The museum sounds interesting. Will have to remember it for when I visit London in summer.
Madelief x
Hi Madelief,
DeleteThe museum is not huge - but it is interesting. I really enjoyed it. The garden was in winter colours and so not that interesting but I bet it is fab in the spring and summer.
Kirk
x
Very cool :)
ReplyDeleteI might not have gone to a Museum of Gardening back in the days when spouse and I lived in the UK, but I would certainly have gone to explore St Mary at Lambeth Church next to Lambeth Palace. So why isn't it used as a church any more? And why are visitors not directed there these days? I am assuming the church architecture is still intact, or laregly so.
Dear Hels,
DeleteThe church was deconsecrated some time back and was going to be pulled down but was saved by a couple who discovered the tombs of the Tradescents - a famous plant hunting/gardening father-and-son duo from the Elizabethan-Stuart period.
It is not a huge museum but well worth a visit. It is also has a very nice café.
I saw on the Internet that it is the burial place of Ann Boleyn's mother but I didn't see any reference to it when we were there so perhaps it is now lost.
How wonderful the Household Calvary look - that red cloth for their coats was traditionally made in the valleys around where I live. We have a wonderful oil painting in our local museum c.1785 showing the scarlet cloth drying on the hillside. The red dye was made from crushed cochineal beetles, and navy blue made from woad. Another spin off was the bright green cloth used for billiard tables.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of the robin - that must be one for framing.
Glad you are having a good time in London.
H used to work just 2 minutes up the road from Lambeth Palace at the UN building IMO. Being a maritime agency the building was designed to resemble a ship.
Dear Rosemary.
DeleteThank you for your kind comments, that photo is indeed one for framing. I am always pleased when a 'snap' turns to so well!
We are back now and did have a nice time. We war very lucky with the weather.
My cousin's father-in-law was in the Household Cavalry and they kept his breastplate and helmet, well polished, on a wooden stand next to his painting. I always found it slightly unnerving!
Hello Kirk:
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to think that you are enjoying what we are certain is a well earned break in London. Thankfully it appears from what you write that it has stopped raining, at least for the present.
We have known The Museum of Gardening for many, many years [previously it was called The Museum of Garden History] and it, with its little garden, has always been a favourite spot.
Dear Jane and Lance,
DeleteWelcome back!
We were very lucky with the weather once we got to London, despite nearly touching down on the runway at Heathrow but then flying back to Dusseldorf because it was too stormy! (We flew out the next morning).
I also liked the Museum of Gardening and I particularly like the little café they have!
I would love to visit the Museum of Gardening. Had never even heard of it. Next time in London! You visited "Captain" Bligh and my in-laws just met some of the descendants of "Mr." Christian. Small world.
ReplyDeleteDear Mitchell,
DeleteYou would like the Museum. Spring or Summer would be a better time to go though as the garden is now wearing its drab winter clothes.
Oh Kirk, you fortunate, fortunate man - to be able to travel hither and yon whenever the mood strikes. Thank you for sharing your trips. I visited London many years ago and still have such happy memories. It is a wonderful city.
ReplyDeleteDear Yvette,
DeleteI do like visiting London. There is so much to see and do there!
I am once again jealous and yearning for a trip back to London. Seeing Lambeth Palace reminds me of all the conservatism of the church in the UK. Back in Hamilton Peter has been helping organise the consecration of the first woman bishop who was ordained as a priest in the COE. A far cry from the ABoC's traditional turrets of Lambeth.
ReplyDeleteDear David,
DeleteI do like London. My family moved there in the 18th Century and never really left. Even though my house is far, far away in Melbourne, my heart still remains in the City.
Lovely London post! Thank you for sharing! And that bird shot is outstanding! Aloha from icy,snowy New York State!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Hula La,
DeleteI am particularly fond of that photo and I think I might even get it framed! We have no snow to speak of for the entire winter so we are feeling rather lucky!
Kirk
Nice photos, Kirk! I love this busy robin!
ReplyDeleteI miss London very much, I spent interesting days there some years ago.
Have a nice weekend!
Dear Nadezda,
DeleteLondon is a lovely place. I do so enjoy visiting but I must be honest and say that I wouldn't want to live there. When we visit we enjoy walking around and seeing all the lovely sites ( and doing a lot of shopping too!)
Kirk
Hello Kirk! What a wonderful posting-- it's so nice to visit your blog again! Our winter is particularly horrible this year, so it's a treat to come along on a virtual tour of London with you-- it's been far too long since I've visited... Perhaps this summer?! It would be such fun to visit the Museum of Gardening-- I've never been there, but it looks perfect for my husband and me...
ReplyDeleteWarm regards,
Erika
Dear Erika,
DeleteIt's always nice to see you. I must say that the Museum of Gardening was interesting. Not a huge place but a very exhibition and a very very nice tearoom! I expect the gardens are lovely in the summer.
Bye for now
Kirk