From Little Acorns - A Trip to Greenwich, London

And so November begins.  The trees are now almost luminous with their dying leaves giving out all the sunshine that they have received during the summer months.  The delicious rusts and reds are an absolute joy to my eyes and heart, along with collecting the autumn bounty from the crispy floor.

I hope you enjoyed the Capture and Share moments nearly each day in October.  I LOVE, Love, love the Autumn as you know and it gave me a chance to just be with my camera and not worry too much about the words.  Thank you all so much for visiting, your comments and emails, I have really enjoyed reading them and hearing about your own autumn/fall.

So, to start off November and back to a "normal" blog post for me (don't forget to click on the links for more info), it has to be... wait for it...

L O N D O N

I had a specific task.  I wanted to get one of my 50 B4 50 list items - an acorn from Greenwich Park in memory of my Grandad (his story is here and also in my header bar) and also to grow these into oak trees that originate from my beloved Greenwich.

Guess what?

I got a few!!!!

With the wonderful backdrop of the Queen's House and the Royal Naval College, there is no doubt where these have come from.  I am so incredibly happy to have these in my possession and they will be a very protected part of my garden (in pots of course until we find our forever home).

But let's not just converse about acorns.  How about taking a look at the newly renovated Queens House?  Are you sitting comfortably dear readers?  Is the tea warm and the cake all ready?... then let me begin...

The Queen's House was designed by Inigo Jones in 1616 at the request of King James I who needed a suitable apology after swearing at his wife, Queen Anne of Denmark,  after she accidentally killed one of his dogs on a hunt.  Sadly she didn't live to see the finished building and it was left to Queen Henrietta (Charles I's wife) to finish this wonderful piece of architecture (not personally of course).

The Queens House has been shut for the last fourteen months while renovations took place.  It's been hard for me to keep away and I've been worrying what changes would have been made but I can happily say that I was more than pleasantly surprised with the works that we saw.

The tulip staircase has always been an incredible sight, and lots of memories for me walking up these with my Grandad who always told me about the ghost that haunts it.  It was the first of its kind, a self supporting, geometric spiral stair. (Update - If you watch Now You See Me 2, the end had me in tears of happiness as they descend from the Tulip Staircase).

Richard Wright,  a Turner Prize artist has designed the beautiful gold flecks on the ceiling.  I wasn't sure at first, but with the sun catching the paintwork, it was magical.

I loved the way this reflected on the walls too drawing your eye to the view outside.

And what a view of the Royal Naval College.  Charles I's wife, Queen Henrietta, insisted that the Royal Naval College was built in two halves so that her view of the Thames was uninterrupted.  The gap between the two domes is exactly the width of the Queen's House.

Beneath us, the beautiful hall with its geometric design.

And here he is... Inigo Jones, who also designed the Banqueting House, Whitehall and Covent Garden Square.

Looking up, as I do, you couldn't fail to notice the beautiful, intricate ceilings above our heads.  The designs were exquisite.

The Queen's House has also secured this famous painting of Queen Elizabeth I.  The Armada Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I was bought for £7.4 million.  It was painted in the 1500's and was owned by Sir Francis Drake himself.

We sought out  The Somerset House Conference which was painted in 1604.  I visit this painting every time I come to the Queen's House and so I was glad that it was still here,

Outside the leaves are falling... so happy!  This shot is perfect to me - autumn leaves and Greenwich in the background with the Docklands beyond.

Walking along Greenwich Park's tree avenues in comfortable autumn sunshine was just perfect.  Still in leaf but the colours starting to catch the rusts and yellows.

Our journey then went from the Queens House and a pleasant lunch at The Gate Clock, a short ride on the Thames Clipper and then a walk to St Paul's Cathedral, on to the Museum of London to hear my Grandad in the exhibition again and then off to the pub - The Old Bell Tavern, in Fleet Street where Sir Christopher Wren's stonemasons used to have a drink or two.  A great day with fantastic company where time just passes far too quickly.  Don't you just cherish having friends like that? 

Sunset was upon us and St Paul's Cathedral looked absolutely stunning.

The autumn sunset giving off a golden glow that was making the rush hour stampede just stop for a moment.

But, it was time to get back to Kings Cross and the journey back home.  It is always hard to tear myself away from this place, but I'll be back soon!

And so today we're off to get sparklers, marshmallows and sausages for what will be quite a noisy evening...

Remember, Remember the 5th of November - if you are celebrating Guy Fawkes Night this evening, be safe!

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