Given the current cold spell I don’t begrudge these little fellows a few peanuts. Midday and -1 outside even though the sun is shining. A few snow sprinkles falling too, although too few to bother anyone.
Grey Squirrel
Although I put the peanuts out for the birds, the squirrels (and Wood Pigeons) eat the bulk of them. They are always cute and entertaining, so small price to pay for their company.
Since filling the feeders this weekend we are being visited by tits of the Blue, Great and Long-tailed varieties.
Long-tailed Tits
This morning, there was also a Nuthatch getting his fill of sunflower hearts.
As always, the Robins are policing the garden. In the summer they typically, aggressively, chase off any other visitors to the feeders. Perhaps, due to the cold, they are being a little more magnanimous and just observing from a distance.
The Wood Pigeons sit like vultures in the trees. Observing the comings and goings of all the other birds. Since they can no longer land on the feeders, they are relegated to hoovering up the scatterings of their smaller brethren.
Petersfield is a market town in Hampshire, England. It is 17 miles north of Portsmouth.
Petersfield Heath Lake is a popular spot for mums and their kids as there are playgrounds and a cafe along with nice walks around the shoreline. Boats can be hired and the lake is also popular with fishermen.
A short while ago, I had the great pleasure of going for a walk with my granddaughter Becky. We chose to visit Emsworth, a short drive from home. Becky is 21 and, as with all my grand children, always perks up this grumpy 66 year old.
Emsworth is a small town in Hampshire on the south coast of England. Driving along the A27, Emsworth forms the border with West Sussex and lies at the north end of an arm of Chichester Harbour.
Here are a couple of snaps, taken during our stroll on a brisk November afternoon.
It was my wife’s birthday a couple of weeks ago and as a special treat I took her up to London for a bit of sight-seeing, a meal or two and a show. We stayed at the Citadines Hotel Trafalgar Square which, although not cheap, is very handy for all the touristy things in our great capital city.
Citadines Hotel Trafalgar Square
A surprise notification of a parcel delivery delayed our departure, causing us to arrive in the late afternoon. On arrival we were efficiently checked in, and soon installed in our room. As we were meeting up with our granddaughter and her husband later for a meal we didn’t immediately head out to explore. Our decision was cemented by the fact that it was raining outside. We therefore, elected to relax a little, with a cup of tea.
Later that evening we met up with Hayley and Nick, at Skylon where we had a very enjoyable meal.
To start, Gerry had Pressed Watermelon (with Avocado, Shimeji mushrooms, yellow baby plum tomato, lemongrass, chickweed), Hayley had Smoked Salmon cannelloni (Creme fraiche, gribiche, salmon caviar, chervil). Nick and I both elected to have the Pan seared foie gras (Pickled cherries, apricot gel, toasted hazelnuts, oats, nasturtium leaves, cherry blossom).
For the main course I had Scottish Angus Cross beef fillet (Wild garlic, grelot onions, crispy shallots) while the others all chose the Roasted Lamb cannon (Crispy belly, wild mushrooms, baby artichokes, cherry tomatoes).
A hard act to follow but none of us could resist having a dessert. Gerry, a sucker for strawberries, had the Gariguette Strawberries (Elderflower meringue, rose jelly, strawberry sorbet) while the rest of us plumped for the Iced Cappuccino Souffle (Bailey’s chocolate bon-bon). Gerry’s dessert looked fabulous ….
Skylon – Gariguette Strawberries
All of the food was superb and even better, that evening, there was a fifty percent discount celebrating Skylons new chef. Suitably sated and buoyed by a great evening we trudged back over the river to our hotel for a good nights rest.
The next morning we headed out to do a bit of touristy exploring. Our initial target destination was Westminster Abbey. Neither of us having been there before, despite many visits to London.
Whitehall – London
Travelling on foot we strolled through Whitehall Gardens, situated between the Whitehall buildings and the embankment….
Statur – William Tyndale
Statue – Sir Henry Bartle Frere
Statue – Sir James Outram
There are three statues within Whitehall Gardens. They commemorate William Tyndale an English scholar who became well-known for his translation of the Bible into English, Sir Henry Bartle Frere a British colonial administrator who had a successful career in India eventually rising to become Governor of Bombay and General Sir James Outram an English general who fought in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Looking across the river we had a distant view of the Shard seeming surrounded by the many cranes that dot the London skyline.
Shard – London
None of those cranes are anywhere near the Shard, just an illusion of perspective.
Also across the river is the iconic London Eye, towering over the nearby buildings. Principle amongst them is London’s County Hall.
London Eye & London County Hall
As you can see from the sky, the weather was very dull. Although, thankfully, not a drop of rain.
As we strolled along the embankment we came across the Battle of Britain Memorial Sculpture. A very striking work which certainly captures the emotion and horror of the times.
Battle of Britain Memorial – London
Battle of Britain Memorial – London
Battle of Britain Memorial – London
By now we were in sight of the Palace of Westminster, aka the Houses of Parliament.
Elizabeth Tower (aka Big Ben)
Elizabeth Tower (aka Big Ben)
We arrived at Westminster Abbey shortly after eleven AM and joined the throng making their way inside this ancient building.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
Not unexpected, but security is tight and, from the notices, I was concerned that my camera bag might be deemed too big. However, after a short wait in a queue and a cursory check by the security guard we were in. Unfortunately, no photography of any kind is allowed inside the abbey. So the previous shots are all either outside or in and around the cloisters. However, they do make photos available for download, free. So here are a few ….
The Quire – Westminster Abbey
Tomb of the Unknown Warrior – Westminster Abbey
Tomb of Mary Queen of Scots – Westminster Abbey
Tomb of Elizabeth 1 – Westminster Abbey
The Nave – Westminster Abbey
The High Alter – Westminster Abbey
After so much history and culture we were not a little peckish. So we partook of a rather nice lunch in the Abbey Cellarium Cafe where Gerry had the Bream and I had the Chicken & Leek Pie.
After lunch we strolled over to Covent Garden. Enroute we passed the Cenotaph and the Monument to the Women of World War II. The Cenotaph was originally a temporary structure, erected for a peace parade following the end of the First World War. It was replaced in 1920 by a permanent structure and designated the United Kingdom’s official national war memorial.
The Cenotaph, Whitehall, London
Monument to the Women of World War II
The Monument to the Women of World War II depicts 17 sets of clothing and uniforms around the sides, symbolising the hundreds of jobs women undertook in World War II, and then gave back for the homecoming men at the end of the war. They include uniforms as worn by the Women’s Land Army, Women’s Royal Naval Service, a nursing cape, and a police overall.
Also along the route we passed Downing Street, Horse Guards and the Coliseum Theatre, our venue for later this evening.
Coliseum Theatre
Horse Guard
Covent Garden is a district of Westminster and is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market which is now a popular shopping and tourist site. The district is a mix of independent shops, street performers and historical buildings, theatres and entertainment facilities, including the London Transport Museum and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
As we arrived there was an escapologist reaching his grand finale. We spent an hour or so browsing the many shops and stalls intermittently being entertained. There was a juggler ….
Juggler – Covent Garden
…… a contortionist or, as he would have it, a Yogi ….
Contortionist – Covent Garden
And then while we were sitting having a cup of tea we were entertained musically by an opera singer, followed by a string quartet ….
Opera Singer – Covent Garden
String Quartet – Covent Garden
Impromptu Dancer – Covent Garden
After a super day we headed back to our hotel to freshen up before heading out to the theatre where our day was completed by possibly the best show in London at the moment, Bat out of Hell, the musical.
I was both astounded and disappointed to discover that my last “View” was posted just over a year ago. I know that we have been busy and there have been other more recent posts.
Admittedly, the conservatory has been rebuilt and we did take off to Australia for three months followed by a month in France and a fortnight in Antigua. There have been several lesser UK based jaunts. However, we have also spent time at home and I have had my camera to hand. So, feeling suitably ashamed, here is a compilation of pictures taken over the last few weeks. We are now into the UK summer season and the garden plants are growing like crazy.
First up then is a regular subject, squirrels. Once again we are being visited by the albino variety.
Albino Squirrel
As you can see they do have the requisite pink eyes.
Albino Squirrel
Here in the UK squirrels are sometimes referred to as tree rats. The example above is the most rat-like squirrel I have ever seen.
Of course we do have an abundance of the grey variety. Just a few days ago there were four greys in the garden. Of course my camera was out of reach and since these guys were raiding the bird feeders, any movement on my part just scared them away.
Grey Squirrel
Grey Squirrel – So hungry after eating the bird food, it’s eating a stick
Grey Squirrel – So much ginger it’s almost red
Grey Squirrel – Softening a bread crust in the bird bath
Grey Squirrel – Taking the rays
I thought that the pure grey squirrels would have attacked the albino, but apparently not. Judging by the shenanigans going on, high up in the trees, I believe the albino may have found a partner. Maybe we’ll see some piebald babes around this year.
As I mentioned earlier, there are many flowers on show already. So, just a few snaps ….
Iris
This Iris was discovered in a shady overgrown area of the garden. It was not planted by us and, as we are the only owners of this property since it was built, we have no idea how the Iris arrived. Pretty though.
We have a few rose bushes, which we did plant….
Rose – Iceberg (I think ?)
Rose
Rose
…… and a few other plants that we bought as plugs for potting on ….
Marigold
Gazenia
Marigold
Marigold
Petunia
And finally, for now ….
We don’t know what this is. The plant is a climber and for the moment it is in a pot on our deck and is entwining itself around the handrail.
WrAnTz 