This week’s photograph is an interesting piece of ecclesiastical architecture in Saint Augustine, Brookland, Kent.
This looks to be a decorated window on which a Tudor form has been superimposed, apparently as part of a chantry chapel. It is a real challenge to photograph as the sill is above head height, there is a big built-in cupboard in front of it, plus two disused box pews (used for storage of things like cleaning mops!). The only way you can get square-on is to invade one of the (raised) disused box pews. It’s a pity the glass is so dirty as the colours of the trees through the window were lovely and would themselves have made a good shot.
Click the image for larger views in Flickr
Tudor Window July 2009; Saint Augustine, Brookland
Here’s one from years ago (like 2008) when I went to London Zoo — and yes, for some unknown reason they let me out again!
No story to this, just a pretty picture!
As regular readers will have noticed we were in Oxford yesterday where I spotted this mega cup. It was in the window of Alice’s Shop in St Aldate’s, almost opposite Christ Church. It is absolutely magnificent and I reckon probably holds at least a gallon (4.5 litres) because, yes, that is a normal sized cake stand next to it!
Click the image for bigger views on Flickr Mega Cup 25 August 2013, Oxford
OK, so here’s another recent shot for this week’s photograph. We have a rampant passion flower just outside out back door which produces some glorious flowers. This is from a couple of weeks ago.
Click the image for larger views on Flickr Passion Flower Greenford, August 2013
Meet Tilly … the latest addition to the household. She arrived last Friday evening. She is about 12 weeks old, the last remaining kitten of one of our neighbour’s two cats’ recent litters. Although they aren’t brilliant pix, these are two of the first photos of her.
Needless to say Col. Harry H Katt RN(rtd), 86, of Tunbridge Wells is not at all impressed and is manning the barricades with his old Boer War musket and some rather unparliamentary language. Later today he will be auditioning for the next Victor Meldrew series.
Well you can’t blame the poor old by really; it must be the cat equivalent of giving grandfather a random 5-year-old girl to live with him. I’m sure some accommodation will be found in due time, with the assistance of the UN peacekeeping force.
Talking a few minutes ago to a friend at Eton I was reminded of this photograph. It is an old one, from 2001, and was in the foyer of the Farrer Theatre at Eton College — clearly a student piece! Everyone found it rather amusing and admirable. Enjoy!
Another instalment in my occasional series documenting some of the underbelly of Britain. Britain which we wouldn’t like visitors to see and which we wish wasn’t there. The trash, abused, decaying, destitute and otherwise buggered parts of our environment. Those parts which symbolise the current economic malaise; parts which, were the country flourishing, wouldn’t be there, would be better cared for, or made less inconvenient.
I’ve blogged this “yard” before in Buggered Britain #13.
As you can see, it doesn’t materially improve with keeping.
Early yesterday (Sunday) morning I went photographing in central London. It was a glorious bright, warm, sunny morning in which the Albert Memorial, in Kensington Gardens looked absolutely stunning.
Later in the morning the Italian Gardens at the NE corner of Kensington Gardens (near Lancaster Gate station) were equally delightful, if rather more populated by the time we got there in mid-morning.
Italian Garden Kensington Gardens, London; 28 July 2013
Blimey it’s over five years since I went to London Zoo. It was an interesting, if not eactly cheap, day out. And I couldn’t resist wandering off to see the meercats.
Meercats are just so comic. I’m sure they know they’re being photographed! This one was looking away, heard my shutter and immediately turned its head and looked hard straight at me with an almost Roland Rat questioning look as much as to say “‘Ere, was that you taking my picture then?”. I almost expected it to follow up with “You can’t do that, ya’ know, I’m an international licensed character, I am!”
This week I thought we’d have a couple of photos from our visit to Kew Gardens last week. For me one of the delights of Kew at this time of year is the Water Lily House which houses a collection of spectacular tropical water lilies. On a hot day, as it was when we visited, the Water Lily House has to be one of the best saunas in London. So this year it is also being used to grow a super display of chilli plants, some with enormous red fruits up to 6 inches long! But it is always the water lilies which I love; they are just so spectacular.
Click images for larger views on Flickr Two of the many Water Lilies on show
Water Lily House (Montage) Kew Gardens, 8 July 2013
Although by Kew greenhouse standards the Water Lily House is small (that pond is just 36 feet in diameter) it is a delightful Victorian purpose-built greenhouse (it was completed in 1852). And that pond is also teeming with small fish which keep the algae and the mosquitoes at bay.
Eccentric looks at life through the thoughts of a retired working thinker
