I keep going to London!

Today is about meeting friends to practice Spanish and one or two other things.  It is another lovely day and though the bike ride to the station is exhilarating the train is it's usual crowded, stuffy self.  I am boring myself now.  Here is a rose.  It arrived in a pot for our 50th birthday party eleven summers ago and is still flourishing in the garden.  I am told we have good soil for roses ie clay.  Who knows.  But thanks to W&S for a long lasting present in one of my favourite colours. 

Next I have a nice if rather hot walk in Hyde Park, which once again makes me feel close to Mum.  I want to have a look at the new pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery.  It has been designed by Jose Salgas and Lucia Cano.  It is made of plastic around a metal frame, like a colourful caterpillar which you can enter.  The critics have not been kind but I think it is fun.  

Here is a close up of a wall. 

Inside is quite stuffy but you could cool off with a fruity drink

I head off to get on the Victoria line at Oxford Circus and get entangled in the Gay Pride, but can successfully cross road. 

I am going to see the garden at Freedom from Torture in Finsbury Park.  This is an organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation and treatment of refugees and asylum seekers most of whom have endured torture and organised violence.  The garden has been created as a form of horticultural therapy.  It is lovely, especially as there is running water I can put my feet in.  It may be possible to work here but that needs some thought.  

Later I breathe sea air by the Thames and meet friends with whom I can practice Spanish. 

I am now enjoying a pint in Reading waiting in the warm evening for my connection.  Quite a day.  

Home at last, 5

More fed up as FGW, Network Rail or both muck up my journey home.  T of N heads off to Fleet in Hampshire for a beer event ( how does he do it? ) and I go home via an urgent mission for rabbit food which involved a steep hill and Phyllis!  We are both so fit!   Now cooking pasta and thinking of Declan's work.  Here is more.

In London for the day, 4

After lunch with our lovely girl and while still in Mayfair, T of N points out the work of Stephen Cox.  See golden blob below. 

And here we have Figure Emerging in Apple Tree Yard. 

Next T of N is at the Red Lion having his free pint.  Read why there are so many.  Red lions, not free pints! 

We wander along to The Mall Galleries and the New English Artists, no photos allowed.  Then I walk and T takes bus to Leon on the Strand.  I love the minty tea. 

In London for the day, 3. Schools Show contd

  

Here is Matt Ager.

In London for the day, 2. Royal Academy Schools Show

This show is really great.  For further info and sales contact joanna.thomas@outlook.com

Rebecca Ackroyd's work below is doing very well.  

And here is an episode of Macy Dott

I love the work of Declan Jenkins. Here we have Declan observes Doglan amd Doglan observes Declan 

In London for the day.

It seems to be the first proper summer day.  It is warm and sunny as I set off, jacketless, on Phyllis the bike.  I wonder why she is squeaking but we make it to the sun drenched station.  TofN is faster than me on two wheels and arrives a little later.  Once again we take the lovely new 09.24 big train.  We chat to a friend as far as Reading where she dismounts for work.  Shortly afterwards we grind to a halt just outside Slough. Signal failures again and we will be late.  This happens so often.  The infrastructure is falling to pieces.  Time to moan on twitter.  Or meditate.  Or just get on with all the stuff I have with me, counting my blessings I am not on the sardine can that is the 09.00.  

There is a bit of a bonus when we finally arrive at Paddington.  The Festiniog Railway team are here promoting itself.  There is a replica of a lovely top of the range 1920s carriage.  I have tears

in my eyes thinking about my many childhood holidays in Anglesey.  Trips on the Festiniog were always the highlight.  

Some beauty from Old Headington Open Gardens

Another trip to Oxford.

I arrive early, having decided I will survive the pollen and so take a wander in Christchurch Gardens and again reflect on the times I walked around here in my breaks when working at Luther St. 

Next, I go to the Unitarian Church at Harris Manchester Chapel and enjoy the service which focuses on inclusion and lack of dogma, fear or guilt.  After lunch with my chums we go to Old Headington Open Gardens and start at St Andrews Church, the oldest building in the area.  There has been a dwelling here since Saxon times but the current place of worship dates mainly from the 14th C. 

Parts of the chancel and the arch below are Norman.  Wonderful. 

Continuing the ecclesiastical theme, here is one of the homes we visit on the Friends of Old Headington Open Gardens trail.  This is Croft Hall, the original 1836 Baptist Chapel, now a private residence. There are original gravestones set into the stone walls.  

Return to 'Laahte' Land

It was depressing to realise I have been institutionalised in the South.  Of course I still say 'bath' and 'raspberry' correctly but the problem is that the Latte had not come to the UK when I left the West Midlands.  Unless I missed it, of course.  So now I talk like a Southerner and don't know what I can do. Going back there is not an option. My lovely girl works in London and anyway it is so cold.  There was a harsh wind when I left Yorkshire after a brisk walk into Penistone.

Traumatised by the slow pace, lack of internet access or rubbish collection on cross country, I staggered off the local train and immediately removed my thermals (socks that is).  Twenty minutes later after lugging my suitcase uphill, I am in sweat and wish I could unpack the suitcase and get into shorts and T shirt!  It's a long thin island so 6 degs warmer down here.  Lovely to arrive home to a clean tidy house and present. 

Hoping S's graduation went well and that my other lovely friends and family have a great weekend. Now it's summer in the home counties before my trip to see my friend in NYC.  

Something has appeared in my house. 

Circular walk from Slaithwaite to Marsden

We head off via Holmfirth, which I visited frequently as a girl, for Meltham, where the Spanish class is held.  Once again I enjoy a good refresher with the lovely Lynne at The Modern Language School.  Then we head to Slaithwaite and enjoy lunch at the Nordic style Handmade Bakery by the canal.  The brie and cranberry toasted sandwich was great.  Skillfully made courgette and carrot salad.  

Fortified, we head uphill and walk towards Marsden.  Where there are fine views down to The Huddersfield Narrow Canal in the Colne Valley.  

Here we are looking back onto Slaithwaite.  

We pass weaver's cottages and soon the mills and chimneys of Marsden come into view, as I land in a boggy marsh in my new shoes. (Muddy socks removed)

There is a fair bit of up and down, and we are ready for a cup of tea on arrival.  Nice to discover the Marsden Moose which has very good lemon drizzle and lovely staff.  They are asking for feedback and I suggest proper tea pots and good social networking.  

Returning from washing the feet in the loo, I learn a new Yorkshire word.  

We return via The Huddersfield Narrow Canal.  This is twenty miles long and runs from Huddersfield to Ashton under Lyne.  It is the highest navigable waterway in the country.  It also has the longest canal tunnel, Standedge.  Sadly we do not have time to look at this. That is for another day! 

Then is home to a luxurious hot bath followed by stir fry and Saltaire Pale Ale.