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Diary – 2021 October
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All my diary pages going back to 2009
DRAWING & PAINTING:
7 October
A quiet stroll through Beckenham Place Park, it was an overcast day so not many people around.
I think this old fence has collapsed, I hope it wasn't trodden down by anyone! Horse chestnuts everywhere, too many for the squirrels to eat them all.
Lots of places to see, according to this sign post. Brown Teddy says it is always worth reading the sign boards, so we don't miss anything.
This decaying tree trunk looks just like a chocolate bar we used to have, called Flake. More Tree Flakes in a huge pile, I could eat them all if they were chocolate!
We had some visitors as we had our sandwiches in the garden part. This raven was large and had a very loud raucous voice.
This area is where they put all the sawn up tree trunks, it looks like a log jam on some Canadian river!
8 October
At the railway station we saw the Orient Express train go past, full of dining tables with tea sets and table lamps. It goes down to the south coast and loops back to London. We went to Brockwell Park. I just love these little model concrete houses, but they need a bit of painting and patching over winter though, ready for next year.
The Walled Garden is one of our favourites, it has lots of criss-crossing paths, and it is well kept and full of colour.
We sit and wish our garden looked like this!
I must have some of these in my garden, waving ornamental grasses and nodding flowerheads. It looks like the gardeners have been weaving the wisteria stems around each other over the years.
This old tree looked quite dead until we noticed all the new shoots. You can see daylight through the middle of the heartwood. I am sure next year all those buds will sprout up and make a new tree.
On the other side of the park is the miniature railway. This is the end part, slightly sloping upwards so nothing can come off the end of the track. Here are the points, with a small siding to enable the engine to be repositioned.
Here is the points lever, and the main "station" where people would queue up to have a ride.
We took a train to Blackfriars Station, which is on a bridge over the Thames.
Millions of rivets under here! A typical souvenir shop window, with guards, buses, gold crown and of course Paddington Bear.
We walked on the Millennium Bridge, a favourite resting place for the pigeons. Then we went past the recreated Globe Theatre.
We went on to Borough Market, a special food hall absolutely full of shops and stalls selling top quality and specialist foods. There was lots of fruit and veg, cheese, meats and wines, and all sorts of cakes and buns.
Endless variety.
My favourite stall - Keep Your Eyes On The Pies!
9 October
A very foggy, misty, damp and dripping morning. As long as the spider's don't eat my apples! I found a tiny snail on this web, so someone had to remove it, which was not good news for the web. Time to fill some of the big tubs with daffodils, which don't do well in my ground.
10 October
Today we went to Regent's Park. There is always a pigeon or two making use of the water at the top of this fountain, but sometimes it is more of a lookout post.
There are four of these winged lions under one of the giant plant urns. The gardens are very neat and formal, but getting a bit sparse at this time of year.
This is the cascade on an artificial mound. These man-made "rocks" are supposed to look like something prehistoric, maybe fossilised tree stumps.
We had our sandwiches in the rose garden. These pigeons are checking to see if we have dropped any crumbs.
Then we went over a little bridge to the small Japanese garden island.
We like places that have lots of paths winding around. It has a little stream coming out of it.
12 October
Here is the Japanese garden at Holland Park which is near Kensington.
There are lots of koi in the pond, and they like to hide under the stone bridge walkway between the pond and the cascade. The peacock has lost his tail feathers at this time of year.
Further on we saw this interesting fountain. The four spouts of water hit four little cups and the water shoots upwards.
Down the hill at the north end is an area of ferns and sitting corner.
14 October
Today we are at The Hill Garden and Pergola near Hampstead Heath. It was part of a grand house but it is now a public area.
Further along, this area used to be the tennis court for the grand house but it is now a park with pond.
We walked on to Golders Green Park. The pond has been drained for dredging.
Over the humped bridge is a stumpery, with upturned stumps and ferns everywhere. It was very gloomy today, but cool and shady if the weather is hot.
15 October
A day out at the riverside at Greenwich.
This is the view from the top of the hill next to the Royal Observatory, looking down to the Queen's House and beyond that the Royal Naval College. The skyscrapers are in Canary Wharf across the river. On the very far right you can just see the Millennium Dome.
The park is full of very old trees and lovely flower beds.
The beds are a bit thin (and some empty), having just been planted up for the spring. There are still some patches of autumn colour, before all the leaves drop.
17 October
This fuchsia was in a pot but now I have planted it so I don't have to water it in future. I had to clear out the nasturtiums to plant some bulbs, but I don't like to waste the flowers.
Lots of crocus and tulips have gone in. Brown Teddy is delighted with our harvest of apples and pears.
18 October
We went to Uxbridge today, here is where we sat to eat. We walked on and found this weir.
It was very noisy. We walked along the canal for a little way.
19 October
Today we are at Langtons Gardens in Hornchurch.
There is a big conservatory, but we could only look through the windows.
Here is out snack eating spot, watching the geese nibbling the grass in the distance.
This bed has plants made up into a Crown, it is very well done, on a metal frame. The swans followed us for a way as we walked round the lake.
22 October
We went to see the Hanwell Flight of Locks today.
There are 7 locks in this flight, and another one at each end under different names. Some parts are spread out and the middle part is quite steep.
This is the lock keeper's cottage.
These holes are for fire-fighters to put their hoses through the big long wall, in case they needed water from the canal. This shallow ramp is from the days when horses pulled boats, for them to walk out if they fell in.
25 October
Two handsome birds in the park - mandarin duck and a Canada goose who had been snoozing in the leaves, still stuck to him!
28 October
We went to Greenwich to see the research ship The David Attenborough, before it goes off on its maiden voyage to Antarctica.
Here is the crest on the very top "Research And Discovery" with a lion rampant and a penguin. The sailing ship at the top looks a lot like the Cutty Sark, which is nearby. The torch stands for life and the wavy lines must be the seas. I like how the lion is standing on grass and the penguin is standing on ice.
We spent some time watching the river traffic. These glass boats are for people to have a special meal while enjoying the famous views, and staying warm.
We walked through the park. This is the boating pond, which will soon be emptied for the winter. Inside the National Maritime Museum we watched a live interview from inside the Sir David Attenborough ship.
This is Prince Frederick's barge from 1732. It is 20 feet long and had 21 oarsmen. The yellow is all real gold leaf.
Sea monsters and fierce lions.
This is the middle of a plate with Nelson and his famous quote, "England expects every man to do his duty"
30 October
This is a mudlarking exhibition that was held in Southwark Cathedral which is near London Bridge Station. All these things were mudlarked or found in the muddy foreshore by the River Thames. Even this old shoe from several centuries ago!
Here is a comb, pins and thimbles. This yellowy thing is a Thames Potato, a piece of rough brick that has been worn down by the rolling waves to a rounded potato shape.
We went into the cathedral where there was some group singing taking place. At the back end the cathedral cat was sitting very contentedly between the ropes. I am sure he is doing a good job of keeping it mouse free.
We went out the side door into a small garden area. Here is William Shakespeare sitting writing some extra plays to keep the actors busy.
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