A day to recover from the biz of the last week. A day when I didn’t have to go out which was just as well, because my stomach was in pain and decided to alert me to the fact at regular intervals. Something I ate or the change of water, it could be either. However, the upside is it gave me a chance to update both my Flickr account and my blog. Both are now almost up to date. Just today’s photo to get sorted and that’s me done. Aye, there’s the rub. Can’t gee myself to take anything. Nothing of interest here and there’s been hardly any decent light all day, just that Scottish milky sky. No texture, no shadows, no highlights either. Just some garden flowers trying to brighten the day.
Blog
Heading North – 1 September 2015
The day after the day before. Another early rise to pack bags and get on the road North. Said our goodbyes and walked to the station where we were just in time to get the train to Vauxhall. On the walk I spotted a couple of restored classic cars I’d seen on Friday. I just had to get a photo of them.
From Vauxhall we took the tube to Kings Cross St Pancras and walked the ten miles through the station up escalators along corridors and up stairs (always up) until we reached Kings Cross Station. I took the usual and now traditional photo of the roof of the station. Such an icon. After that I managed a few shots of silhouettes on the walkway at the end of the concourse. Soon the train was posted and we were off on stage four of the journey. Comfortable if quite old rolling stock for our run to Embra. Took our time when we reached Embra to get some milk and bread and then it was onto the train to Croy. Phoned ahead and the taxi was waiting for us just as we got in to Croy. Completed stage six and after we had cleared away all the junk mail from behind the door, made some tea and had a seat in our own house.
Nowhere, no offence ND and Hazy, is as comfortable as your own home.
One last thought. When we were on the stage one part of the journey we passed a house with a sign at the front saying “NO Junk Mail”. I wonder if it works.
Notting Hill Carnival – 31 August 2015
Not without a little trepidation, we were up and out to Morden to get the train or to be precise a combination of trains to get us to Notting Hill. The rain that had been torrential through the night had all but stopped as we walked out of Holland Park tube station. Then CD put on his raincoat and that presaged the deluge that was to follow. Ponchos on, we got to the meeting point at corner of Ladbroke Grove and Elgin Crescent and found a dry(ish) spot under a chestnut tree. Met up with JIC and Sim and we were good to go. People were assembling near us and we were standing just beside the booze wagon. What better place to be. After an hour, it looked and sounded like the carnival was set to start when the bombshell hit. Police and licensing board arrived and started to unload all the booze into two box vans. It appeared that the ‘band’ ( the group we were walking with) didn’t have a license to sell, or even give away (!) drink. I seriously thought there would be a riot, but some bloke got on the speaker and told everyone that they didn’t need alcohol to have a great party … and he was right!
After another half hour or so, we started walking. At first there was a bit of confusion because we weren’t wearing the proper uniform. Tee shirt and headband on (Scamp and I refused point blank to wear the shorts), we were in. I reckon I must have danced my clumsy way along the road for an hour before I realised that I was totally sold on this madness. After that, it was just a case of trying to get some photos of the carnival and keeping to the beat. That and avoiding people ‘wining’ in the middle of the road. Until we went to Trinidad in 2014, I’d only seen dogs doing this in the middle of the road. If you don’t know, ‘wining’ has nothing to do with wine, but everything to do with Soca. Google it, that’s my advice.
About 3.30, Scamp decided that we should give it another half hour and then make tracks for home, well, Hazy and ND’s house. CD agreed and after another 20 minutes or so we made our excuses and left the band. Tried to get to Holland Park, but the police said that wasn’t possible, so we made our way to Kensal Green, thence using CD’s excellent knowledge of the Underground system by a variety of lines to Morden where we had started this surreal day. ND picked us up and after dropping off CD, took us back.
Later we shared pizzas because I knew it would settle my stomach. I blame the Coke in the Rum and Coke that had helped fuel our day. Yes, I know, the polis and excise had taken away all the booze, but that hadn’t stopped Sim from nipping out of the band on a couple of occasions to the off license to get a bottle of rum.
It was early bed tonight, because of our tired little toes, but oh what a wonderful day we had. I don’t believe in ‘bucket lists’, but if you have one, add Notting Hill Carnival to it. You won’t regret it.
Kingston – 30 August 2015
Not the brightest day. A late start because ND was at church. He was going to try to get us a poncho, not at church, but in the Poundshop. When he got back empty handed, he suggested we go to Kingston and try to get one there. This was all on the suggestion of JIC who thought we might need them on Monday. Anyway, we got the ponchos and then went for a walk along the river. I met a relation of Mr Grey’s. I think it might have been a distant cousin. He was a rather scraggy looking heron, definitely a dark grey heron. After that we headed home for risotto made by ND, then an early bed for an early rise tomorrow.
RHS Wisley – 29 August 2015
Today started dull, but soon brightened up. Hazy wasn’t feeling too good, so Neil took us to Wisley RHS Gardens. We had hoped that we’d all manage to go, but it was not to be. It was also an opportunity for a longer run in the new car. I do think Scamp quite fancies a Mini as our new car. Not too long a journey and I’m glad that we were not going on the notorious M25.
Paid up and entered the gardens. There was a sculptures display today organised by Surrey Sculpture Society. In total there were 64 sculptures and groups on the walk round the gardens. The gardens themselves were immaculate without being too tidy. I thought at first it would be too much for one day, but we did manage to see the majority of the displays and the statues made an interesting change from the plants and flowers without dominating entirely. Had lunch about halfway round at the cafe ( I hand chicken with tabouleh and it was lovely – must make tabouleh again some time). After lunch we walked through the Glasshouse which reminded me a bit of Kew, but on a smaller scale. It also made me think of the Botanic Gardens at Kelvingrove, but that’s on an even smaller scale, if a bit more interesting architecturally. Came away after about three hours, just as the first drops of rain started. A good day and it shows on the two hundred odd photos I’d taken.
Dinner at Jimmy Spice’s. You don’t have to choose from Chinese, Indian, Italian and American – just have them all. That’s what I did. Well, actually I didn’t have American (burgers) and only a little bit of Italian. Other than that, it’s just stuff your face and work it off next week, all things being equal.
A day in London – 28 August 2015
A day in London. Train into Waterloo and then after wandering around for a while and getting nowhere we returned to Waterloo and got the tube to London Bridge. From there we easily found our way to Borough Market. We were a bit concerned when we found that the front of the market had been ‘poshed’ up, but once we got inside, all was as it had always been. Lots of lovely food from all the four corners of the globe it that’s not a contradiction in terms. Bought some salami from one stall then salsiccia and spicy italian jam stuff from another. Both for taking back up the road with us. Had fresh pasta for lunch from a stall. It never ceases to amaze me how good and varied the food is from these stalls. Wish we had that.
Costa’s for coffee then another walk around. Walked over London Bridge trying to avoid the hoardes of chancers trying to fleece the public with ‘cup and ball’ games. Then past the ‘walkie talkie’ building which has a Sky Garden on the top. Amazingly there was no wind anywhere in town, but around that building there was a gusty wind. Apparently, because the ‘hollow’ side of the building is part parabolic, it focuses the suns rays on some of the streets below. Why aren’t these buildings researched properly before building. After 20 Fenchurch Street we walked to the Tower of London, then across Tower Bridge to find a pub. I had a pint of Naked Ladies(!) and Scamp had a Pimms – well, it is still summer. From there it was back to London Bridge and the trains back to Hazel’s.
Dinner was fish and chips from the chip shop. Foolishly I asked for small chips and a big fish. Big Fish!? This must be the biggest haddock in a fish supper I’ve ever seen.
Hoping to head for a RHS garden tomorrow
Heading South – 27 August 2015
Up and out early to get a taxi to the station for the train to Glasgow, yes Glasgow because we are travelling down on the West Coast line to London. Pleasant enough journey down with loads to eat on the train. Updated our Oyster cards and headed off into the mysterious Underground. Got to Vauxhall and, for once, just managed to catch the connection to Chessington. One big disappointment on the way was that the Harrier jump jet had disappeared from the builder’s yard in Tolworth. Apparently it was removed in January 2015 because the MOD had decided it was a health and safety hazard. Not because they wanted to sell it. Oh, no it couldn’t be that. Such a pity.
Arrived at Chessington and met Neil in his new car. Very nice it is too. Home to meet Hazel and then a long catch up.
A mixed up sort of day – 26 August 2015
Today started with rain. Torrential rain, not just ordinary rain, but real thunderstorm stuff, luckily without the actual thunder. The upside of this was that the rain washed all the seagull crap from my car – I wasn’t looking forward to washing that off myself, so thank you rain. Got an invite to a retiral night for teachers at my old school who had seen the light at the end of the tunnel and recognised it as sunlight or who had moved on to pastures new. I was quite glad that I’d been invited. I know I’ve really enjoyed this last year, and will happily tell them that. I went in to school to hand in my acceptance, but there seems to be a lot of long faces there and a realisation that this is not what they signed up for.
Had lunch at Milano and spoke to an ex-pupil of mine who works there part time. Found that she had recently graduated and was now looking forward to the ‘World of Work’ as it is euphemistically known. Scamp and I have often said that we wouldn’t like to be young now, with all the difficulties that includes. She, the ex-pupil seemed so happy and I could imagine how she saw her opportunities opening up before her. Good luck to her, I’m sure she’ll need it.
Drove around looking for a subject for PoD and found it after I’d left the school. It’s a statue of a stag made from what looks like steel reinforcing bars and stands at the front of a local powder coating company’s offices. It took a while to get a decent angle on the sculpture, but with the help of the excellent Snapheal Pro, I managed to get rid of bits of building and fence that were obstructing the view. Snapheal Pro is worlds away from the clumsy healing brush in Lightroom 5. Come on Adobe, get your act together and improve this.
Dancing at night, but no drag of a drive in via the M8. This time we travelled in comfort by train and subway. The only what to travel! Well done Scamp for suggesting it. Well worth the extra expense.
The cloud lifts – 25 August 2015
Dragged myself to the gym and swim today. Maybe the exercise began to get those endorphins moving again, but I came away feeling a bit better. After lunch and sliding into torpor again, Scamp suggested we go out a coffee. That did the trick. I felt so much better after that. Perhaps the caffeine works better than the endorphins. While we were out, I took some 
photos of an old stone walled barn for a painting. Unfortunately, the roof of the barn has fallen in, but I think I still have some prints dating back to the days of film in which the barn roof is intact. If not, I’ll just have to imagine it.
After we came home, I went out for a walk around, yes you guessed it, St Mo’s. It’s great having this little bit of wilderness on my doorstep, so to speak. Anyway, today the light was the subject. Yes, I saw a deer and also 
some damsels and dragonflies, but the light itself was just great today. I tried to get some photos of grass stems by the wee pond and oh, the sparkle from the water was a sight to behold. I hate the word ‘Bokeh‘, which really just refers to out of focus light in the background of a picture. In the olden days we used to call it an ‘Oofery‘. It 
means the same thing without resorting to a foreign language. Well, I soon decided it was the Oofery or the Bokeh (you choose which one is most apt) which was the most interesting part of the picture and proceeded to shoot some more vegitation with the sparkling light behind it. After that I went in search of other subjects that would look good in this good light. The cloud had lifted. All it took was a bit of exercise and a cup of coffee. Scamp’s good at these things. I should listen to her more often … perhaps.
Oh, did I mention It’s all about the light?
Monday Blues – 24 August 2015
Have you ever had one of those days when you just don’t feel settled from the time you wake up? That’s how it was for me today. I just couldn’t settle down to do anything. I was a fidget!
Eventually I went out for a walk late in the afternoon and finally got some stuff done. It was still a bit breezy, but I got some insect pictures and some flower pics too. Instead of using the 70-300 lens, I used the much more reasonable and useful 105mm macro. Horses for courses, that’s what it’s all about.
Salsa as usual, but boring dance moves. Couldn’t get interested.
Tomorrow WILL be better
