Gloomy. That’s all that can be said for today. It’s been gloomy all day with that blanket cloud. Even so, I decided to go for a short local walk this afternoon, a path that cuts through a golf course. No colourful little flowers here, but plenty of trees and autumn leaves.
Some songs about London. Now, that’s novel, isn’t it?!
Having walked quite a stretch of the Thames Path in the last few years, I’ve walked on and by a number of bridges crossing the River Thames. So today I would like to share some with you. With one week left of NaBloPoMo I wondered if anyone wanted to see anything specific about London. Maybe a museum, gallery, area of London. If I have it in my back catelogue I can share it, or it might be something for the future when travelling and visiting places becomes easier in the UK. Do leave me a comment.
At this time of year when I miss the sea and the sunshine, I thought it would be nice to revisit some of these places and bring back the old magic of summertime. Do you have a favourite season? I think you can guess mine!
To be part of NaBloPoMo this year is difficult, especially for a travel blog when one is supposed to be spending more time indoors. We are half way through a four week lockdown, and the weather hasn’t exactly played ball. We are told not to use public transport unless we need to, yet people with cars can drive where they like to visit open spaces and gardens. We don’t own a car so I can only walk or use public transport. So far I have only used the bus for short journeys. Today I used my legs for a local walk along the railway cut and my local park.
If you look there are still points of colour around to brighten up a gloomy day, which today has been. I knew there was rain on the way, so I got out in the morning. By the time I was walking home the rain was spitting and it has just got worse as the day has gone on.
Anyway, enjoy the photos.
This is the 133 year old bridge that has been closed to traffic and pedestrians since August this year as it has become too dangerous to cross due to micro-fractures in the cast iron pedestals. The bridge was designed by Joseph Bazelgette, a famous English civil engineer. This is not the first time the bridge has been closed. A few years ago only pedestrians were allowed over. It was considered too dangerous for heavy traffic.
The closure of the bridge has caused a lot frustration for local people living either side of the river as they have to drive so much further. It is particularly bad for school children who would normally cross to reach their schools. There have been talks about having a ferry crossing, but it all seems to be taking an age. This time round boats cannot even pass under it, so it causing havoc with Thames cruisers who have already lost money due to Covid pendamic.
I don’t know why they can’t just send in the army. They’d build a temporary bridge in a few hours. It’s what they do! I realise there is a huge expense involved in carrying out the reparis to the bridge, but everything takes so long.
I know this stretch of the Thames quite well, especially as I used to go there weekly to meet with my my writing group. One of the cafe’s we use overlooks the bridge. William Morris (Arts & Craft movement) lived further along the tow path, and his friend Emery Walker lived at 7 Hammersmith Terrace. Of course all both places are closed to visitors at the moment, much like the bridge!
Should you wish to read the latest about the bridge you can read it here.
I last posted here about Cheam in January this year when I visited Whitehall house. This time I was on the Cheam trail before setting off for a walk through two nearby parks. The trail begins at Whithall House and along the road to The Rectory, the middle of which is either medieval or tudor in style and is said to be haunted by the ghost of Launcelot Andrews, a former rector.
Over the road is the war memorial, behind which is the library, but long before that it was the site of West Cheam Manor. It was demolished in 1796. Just around the corner is St Dunstan’s Church, built in the French Gothic style . The lynch gate is neo-Gothic from 1891.
Lumley Chapel is what is left of the old church, part of which is from the 13th century and is another Grade II listed building.
The churchyard at St Dunstan’s is large and interesting and very photogenic!
Next to the church is The Old Farmhouse a 16th century building with later additions. It is thought that the house was used by priests attached to the church.
The Red Lion pub is one of the oldest pubs in the borough. Built in the 17th century. It is now a Grade II listed building.
Somehow I missed The Old Cottage, which I believe is now a shop. I took a photo of a parade of shops and thought the cottage was the one at the end, but I think its perhaps on the corner by the main road junction.
Nonsuch Park is beautiful with many pathways to walk. It is also home to Nonsuch Mansion built between 1731 and 1843 by Joseph Thompson. There are gardens and today the cafe was open, but only for takeaways. The queue was quite long. More inmportantly the toilers were open!
This is my recording studio! Basic, yes. Actually I was trying to record a voice part for a virtual choir, and here you see my laptop (ear pieces plugged in to listen to the track) and my Tablet hanging from the top of the laptop to record the video and voice. On the left is the scribbled words to the song.
This was all done in my bedroom, the only room I could record in. I had to wait for the downpour of rain to stop as it was very loud on the window and would have interferred with the recording. It took several goes, but I got there in the end.
I don’t get to much live music, but I do love it. I’m not keen on musicals, but I do enjoy a concert, including classical. I’m not keen on huge venues, I prefer smaller ones that are more intimate. I can remember seeing The Eagles at Wembley back in the day. More hearing and seeing. Then we had to leave before the end to make sure we could catch a tube home.
You might wonder what this has to do with London, but all the venues I visited have been in London – Wembley, Fairfield Halls (Croydon), The Rose Theatre (Kingston), Wimbledon Theatre, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Shepherds Bush Empire. I’ve also enjoyed some nice musical evenings in pubs. I’ve never been to musical festival like Glastonbury. The nearerst I got to one of those was when we all went to Cornwall for the Eclipse back in the 90’s. Across a field there was a music festival. We could hear the thump, thump of the music. from the caravan site. Apparently my nephew was there!
I enjoy taking photos at the concerts I do get to, though in those early days my camera wasn’t as good, or I was too far away. I’ve been through a range of cameras over the years. My first attempt was with my dad’s Box Brownie (that ages me!), but my first camera was a Kadak Instamatic with two settings (sun and cloud) and a place to stick the flash bulbs on! I think it cost me around £6. Wow, hasn’t the world of photography moved on?
The above photo was taken in London a couple of weeks before national lockdown in March. I may have posted this photo before, but I do like it.
The weather this weekend has been appalling. It rained virtually all day yesterday, and the wind picked up. Rain was beating upon the window like crazy. This morning began the same and my heart sunk. But although now as I write (11.15am GMT) the sky has cleared and there are blue bits up there, I see angry clouds forming again. This looks like another stay-at-home day.
So, today I thought I’d post some weather pictures – interesting skies and different types of weather. Hope you like them.
My London+ 