Now off to catch plane

If any one can tell me how to get pictures and captions to match I'll be most grateful. I have tried moving them around, using more spaces, etc but then blog does it's pown thing.

Last Week in London

Band concert in St James' Park

Frank Gehry building in Hyde Park


Emma

Hyde park

Chelsea Physic Garden

Joseph Banks in his rock garden

Samuel Johnson's House

Charles Dicken's House

Back in London

I am now getting organised to return home. I wish Qantas had not made the news so prominently last week however...

I attended a Prom Concert at the Albert Hall - wonderful experience - young Russian pianist played Rachmaninov, saw an exhibition about Hadrian at the British Museum, had a cream tea in Fortum and Masons, went to a service in Westminister Abbey, walked around Richmond Park and walked up to the dome on St Paul's.

On Saturday I walked along the tow path beside the Thames - from Richmond. On Sunday I visited the Chelsea Physic Garden established in 1673 to train the Apothecaries. Linnaeus visited and Joseph Banks acquired his knowledge of plants there. Extraordinary - has about 5000 species. The rock garden is listed because Joseph Banks bought the vocanic rocks back from Iceland. He obviously did not need to travel light and as the garden is on the Thames they were delivered there.

I then went to a band concert in St James' Park - sat in a deck chair.

Walking through History

Weavers Cottages






Woollen Mill

Remains of fountain at Roman Villa

Stone age mound

Path along disused canal - about to go for 3 miles underground. We went over the top.

Owlpen Manor

I had a great week in the Cotswolds walking. The tour guide was terrific, the group was 6 Americians and myself - interesting.

We walked about 8 miles a day through fields, woods, and along canals. I was one of the fittest members of the group.

We saw 2 stone age mounds, an iron age mound, ruins of a 4th century Roman villa, barn, still used, built in 9th century, churches, fine houses, weavers cottages, woollen mills and beautiful gardens many very productive.

Visit to Julie and Stuart at Hereford

Lunch of mussels and prawns in Cardiff.


Keep at Cardiff Castle

Abbey Dore where we saw A Winter's Tale

Llantony Priory

Hay on Wye - the booksellers village.

Killpick Church

The planned canoe trip was cancelled due to all the rain and fast, high river however we managed to amuse ourselves.

We also went to an organ concert in Herford Cathedral with Dame Gillian Weir, saw King John's, of Magna Carta fame, tomb in Worcester Cathedral and visited the museum of pottery of Royal Worcester and a cider museum in Hereford.

Images of London

Seen while walking around Islington

Gay Pride March (tamer than Mardi Gras)

Charles Dickens lived here

Thames Barrier

St James' Park

Weekend with Thomas & Gregary in Hertford

Drive along lanes and villages of Hertfordshire with Thomas

Gregary with Billy

High tea at Hanbury Manor

Lee River in Hertford

More Paris

Heloise and Abelard lived here (not recently)


Fire appliances seemed to be blocking streets all around my area on one Tuesday - no obvious fire or emergency - (For Val)






Opera Bastille (new opera house)

Chagall ceiling of Opera Garnier

Lunch

Breakfast