Poppy!

Just planted the Cast Iron Poppy Feeder Dish amongst the emerging grasses in the back garden - a gift yesterday from Graham and Danielle - purchased at Stewart's Garden Centre in Christchurch - where we always go on my visits. Indeed, a visit would not be the same with a time in Stewart's - one of my two favourite garden centres - the other one being Matthews Plants at Harlow in Essex! Many thanks for the gift - it looks great and brightens up an area that tends to be all green

Didn't we have a loverly day the day we went to Christchurch!

Heather and I drove to Dorset on Saturday to spend the day with Graham, Danielle and Family. These shots were taken on a cold and blustery morning on the front at Christchurch, where we enjoyed coffee and toast. Next stop Stewart's Garden Centre - where we always go when we visit. Indeed, I have a Privilege Card so they greet me with a smile - honest! In the distance shot you can see the Needles on there Isle of Wight. As Terry said, Needles you cannot thread, Freshwater you cannot drink, Ryde where you have to walk - all places on the Isle of Wight.

Borough Market

A visit to my favourite London Market - Borough - to buy Melton Mowbray Pork Pies from Mrs King and some special teas to take to Dorset when I visit my eldest son, Graham, and his family. Snd somer crusty bread for my lunch and supper! Rather cold and windy, so I did not stay for long. But a good visit nonetheless.

London Marathon 2018

The London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April was run on one of the hottest days in April. I walked from St. Paul's Cathedral at about 12.30pm to Blackfriars and after sussing out things, I found the best position for photography - right over the runners and leaning on a parapet. I have concentrated on some of the fun runners - from the man running as a tree to the lady in a yellow dress and the brown bear. How they coped with the heat is beyond my understanding, but the crowds along the route were such a great encouragement. A lady standing near me had a pair of hand-clappers - made of plastic I would guess - which she used to great effect without having to clap her own hands, whilst a steel band further along the route kept the bystanders entertained. Great fun!

London 22nd April 2018

Exiting from St. Paul’s Central Line Station the first thing I spotted was this bench. Moving onto the churchyard, the plaque on the bench seat gave a different perspective on life. I always pause to admire the statue in the sixth shot  - it is called The Young Lovers. Next I watched as a Japanese photographer set up a wedding scene - the two children on the parapet above the bridge were clearly intrigued as to what was going on and why. Then to the Cathedral for Sung Matins followed by Eucharist. At the first Canon Pastor Tricia Hollis spoke of the appalling events of the past seven days - from the anniversary of the Stephen Lawrence murder to the manner in which the Windrush folk had been treated. A day for much thoughtfulness. Then to watch the last stages of the London Marathon in the heat. My sympathy went to the runners and walkers as they sweltered.

Flowering cherry trees burst into colour in the warm sunshine

The flowering cherry trees - which burst into full flower as the temperature climbed into the seventies last week - were planted at St. Peter's Aldborough Hatch six years ago to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Consecration in 1862. The species Prunus Amanogawa is a columnar or upright tree with pale pink flowers and bronze foliage in the spring, with the leaves turning green in summer and orange and red in autumn.