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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Lots of moments to capture... getting ready to head off to Greenwich to see the Cutty Sark and to see the newly renovated Queens House.  A longer post will be written next month!

A Short Greenwich Post - Blame the Phone!

Many times I have walked past this wall at Blackheath on my way back to the tunnel when my Grandad was alive.  This was the first time without him and another first with Miss Teen.  The blackened brick gave me comfort with the memories of this place so firmly etched in my mind by him.

(I have to make a note here that the photos this time were with my Samsung phone as I left 'Big Bertha' at home, so I am sorry for the quality this week)

For the first time EVER it rained when we arrived.  NEVER have I known it to rain when I'm there, maybe because I was so happy following my Grandad in the past that I didn't even notice, or maybe because I just LOVE, Love, love walking in the rain.  However, as soon as we emerged from Greenwich Market after having a small bite to eat, the grayness remained but the spots of rain kept mainly away until we left the pier later.

 Thanks Grandad!

Usually we have at least one other person with us when we head down to London, but this time we agreed that it will just be me and Miss Teen this time, and I have to say it was incredibly enjoyable as we are so similar with our outlook on life and what we like to do.  We haven't had a trip together for a long time and with her in the middle of her GCSE's and Prom preparations, things have been a little stressed at the moment.  To just happily walk in a place that she now shares her love, it was a welcome and relaxing trip.

Unfortunately, after going through the shots taken with my phone, not a lot came out as I wanted due to grey and gloomy day, so the ones on show today were the best of a bad bunch - such a shame, but I will just have to go back soon with Big Bertha!

The Royal Naval College with The Queen's House in between.

Thank you so much for all your comments and emails.  As I said before, things are very stressed in the household at the moment, and my blog is my little escape to share the things I love, so to hear from you gives me the positive inspiration I need to get through the busy weeks.

My Perfect Place in Greenwich, London

This is the spot.  The spot where the most wonderful, intelligent, interesting and knowledgeable man would say to me ...

"So, where shall we go on our journey today?"  

It was a grey and rainy day but living through memories of my Grandad and walking through the beautiful landscape of Greenwich, London, I didn't even notice. (My past posts on this place are here)

With many photos to go through and tell the story, I have a couple of days of recounting old memories of happy days in this most beautiful part of London when I was with the most gentlest of men.

Until next time, have a wonderful rest of week.

The Tall Ships Regatta at Greenwich, London

For those dear Readers who have followed me for a while, you will know how dear to me Greenwich, London is.  It's my happy place, an area filled with nothing but sweet and smiling memories that tend to kiss your cheeks as you walk around the old buildings with the distant voices of past family members speaking to you and sharing your journey.  How I wished my dear Grandad was still with us just imparting his knowledge of this area with such enthusiasm and deepest love.  In my mind he was walking with me, Mumsy, Miss Teen and her friend Miss B.  I would have loved to have kept saying, 'Hey, do you remember...?', 'Why was this place called...?' and a million other questions, but instead, I just calmly kept talking to him in my thoughts.  So, Grandad, are you with me?  As you kept saying when we came out of the foot tunnel 'Where shall we go on our journey today? Do you remember?  Well, let's just stay near Greenwich beach and watch the sails come along the misty River Thames.  Does this remind you of your childhood watching the ships come in laden with exotic spices and food from across the seas?

The misty and darker skies can't dampen our spirits, along with the hordes of people that are visiting the Tall Ships Regatta.  Grandad, have you ever seen Greenwich so busy?  I can imagine many many years ago that this was a regular sight.

The romance and beauty of these ships hide the hard work and cramped conditions taken on by those on board.

You knew how I used to love to look at the bare bones of things, what was beneath the surface.  To see the masts, the ropes, the gathered up sails, is such a treat today.

Just standing here made me think of all the times I have stood here before with you by my side and Grandma smiling.

One by one, each ship passes, just like the years we enjoyed together.

Each one being different.

Each one bringing with it sweet memories to savour.

Just carrying on with their journey.

Different views through time.

With ropes showing the different pathways that we took along the way.

Can you remember the times we used to stand here and look across at the Isle of Dogs as the redevelopment was going through the motions over the years?

Then walking into the Painted Hall and looking at the ceiling from the mirror on wheels to save my neck becoming stiff?

And then there was our favourite place, The Queen's House.

Can you remember when me and Grandma got told off for eating our liver sausage and cucumber sandwiches on the terrace here?  Just one bench placed with such a beautiful view, why waste it?

Well, here is the idea that we obviously gave them for this empty place... afternoon tea!

Can you remember when we used to climb the tulip staircase and you used to tell me about the ghost that frequented it?

Then looking over the bannister on the first floor to the beautiful hall beneath us.  Our hands had touched this so many times.

The mesmerising geometric shapes.

 And the familiar statues.

The happy views across to the Royal Naval College.

And then, a painting.  A painting that means so much to both me and Mumsy.  The last time I stood in front of it, you were with me.  This was hard, so so hard that you were only with me in spirit this time.  But, there it was, in an empty room just waiting for me to teach your little game in front of it.

Were you smiling when I said 'right girls, walk left, walk right - see their eyes follow you?'

Now, go to the top of the room, see how long the table is?  Now walk closer, see it shrink?

The Somerset House Conference was painted in 1604 and I was so worried that this was no longer part of the collection.  Grandad, it is still there and now your grandaughter knows the game to pass on to her offspring!

It is lunch time now and time to just sit in Greenwich Park and have a little picnic.  We are happy with a burger and soft drink, however nearby it was Champagne and M&S picnic food!  A far cry from our liver sausage and cucumber sandwiches from times gone by!

A last walk along these cobbled stones under the Queen's House.  How many times did we walk along these, gradually wearing our shoe leather out?

And there's Mumsy, sitting on a bench in the same spot we used to sit at.  Your daughter had not sat here since she was a teenager and was so happy to be here once again.

The view from the bench hasn't changed!

But let's go and do some people watching!  The Naval Officer...

The colourful marching crew...

The skipper shouting his orders...

And, no, is it?... or in Miss Teen's words 'It's J, J, J, J'... couldn't get the words out... speechless.  It's Jack Sparrow, or could it actually be Mr Johnny Depp!!!  We could only wish, but Grandad, he was brilliant and looked, sounded and acted just like him!  He even gave Miss Teen a bit of a show for her to film and blew her a kiss at the end!

But it was nearing the end and time to say our farewells.   The Cutty Sark in its renewed glory was something you didn't get to see, but would have loved to have witnessed.  Also a spot of entertainment to make you smile.

Still looking beautiful and again your knowledge would have been let loose around here.

So Grandad, we will be back soon to walk with you, but until then, may we leave you smiling with Grandma by your side at the bench in the place we used to sit.

The photos this week had to be edited a bit due to the misty weather which was unfortunate, but it was an amazing day and one that I would love to go to again.  We will be back at Greenwich soon and hopefully a more sunny day, but if you want to see Greenwich in its full glory, please read my post here on a sunnier day.

Can I also say at the end of this very long post, thank you so much for your wonderful birthday wishes, you are all so lovely!

Have a wonderful weekend and week.

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