Giant gull

Part of 50th anniversary of Festival of Britain.
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Heartfield

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Inlet

Walking home encountered this.

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I'm a wreck

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In Claridge's loo

I took this picture of myself in Claridge's Hotel loo.

Glistening St Paul's Cathedral

It just rained - what my English grandfather would have called a "clearing shower" - the sun came out immediately afterwards.

This is Southwark Bridge, approaching from the east -- it was taken before the one of St Paul's and it's still raining. The water is really choppy. The bridge was a brilliant green, but it doesn't show in this picture.

There is a rainbow in the picture above. It's just difficult to see, but it arcs over Southwark Bridge. Maybe it is easier to see if you click on the image. The sun appeared while it was pouring with rain.

Ferryman's Seat on the South Bank on the side of The Real Greek restaurant between the Millennium and Southwark Bridges. Until 1750, wherrymen ferried people across the Thames because London Bridge was the only other way to cross.

I must have walked by it hundreds of times, but didn't know about it until I read about it this week in "Secret London: An Unusual Guide", a book given to me by a friend.

The picture above and the ones below are in the Secret Garden. I love it there.

South Bank and Thames foreshore

I walked along the South Bank on my way home today after a visit to the Garden Museum in Lambeth. These are some of the things I witnessed. This woman was drawing in the sand with her umbrella. It was a very strange day weatherwise. Sometimes it was pouring with rain and cold, at others it was sunny and hot. So some of the pictures are a little dark.

 

Palace of Westminster

Thames boats from Lambeth

View of Westminster Abbey, Westminster Palace, boats, on the North bank of the Thames from Lambeth on the South bank.
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Cap'n William Bligh's resting place

This tomb is in the knot garden in the old 16th century churchyard of St Mary-at-Lambeth, which was converted into a museum in 1980. It is inscribed on one side sacred to the memory of William Bligh, vice admiral of the Blue, also a navigator, who died Dec 7 1817. Bligh was also captain of the Bounty, famous for its 1789 mutiny. The other panels have inscriptions to his wife and family whose remains are also in the tomb. The tomb of plant-hunter and gardener, John Tradescant the Elder (c.1570-1638) and the Younger (1608-1662), are also buried in the garden.

The knot garden and its surrounds are planted with species introduced by the Tradescants, according to the Garden Museum website.

On my way to the Church I passed Bligh's former residence on Lambeth Road.

... and also the Imperial War Museum.

This picture taken on Union Street shows how rainy it was today.

Miro's Majesties

King, queen, prince
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