Walk Tall!

Hi folks,

This is the last in the present series of my trips to London.

You are looking at, I kid you not, a Boris bike decked out for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  See below and find out how you can use one for free in London.

Back to the Gherkin built on the site of the badly damaged Baltic Exchange in St Mary's Axe......

The bottom bit, we had never seen the building close up......

Sue bless her, wanted a picture of her touching the base??

Back to Boris's bikes......

Off he goes...... you can hire a bike free for 30 minutes then pay on a rising scale.

Cor, isn't London is getting like New York.

This is where Sue used to work, it was Lloyds Banks' City Office, it is now an enormous Restaurant.

Right back to London Bridge, ah, this looks like the right way. 

The Monument, built near the start point of the Great Fire of London and "NO", I did not climb the 311 steps inside, this is as close as you are going to get.  Anyone who wants to have a view from the top can see someone else's pictures on the Internet. (might have a go next trip)

On our way towards Tower Bridge from the other side of the Thames we past the Shard and being as we hadn't seen it from this angle I had to stop and have a snap.  I noticed the crane from the side has gone and the top glass points have been fitted, it is now all ready for the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics.... be it an empty shell, it looks finished.

Last one of the Shard from London Bridge, back again to see how she is getting on it a month.

Thanks for dropping by.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Banking Sector, who got us into trouble!

Hi folks,

As we continued out walk around the city we came across Paternoster Square, the Gate Way has moved as it caused traffic congestion in 1878. Not a lot changed then!

Inside was a private square finished in 2003 owned by Mitsubishi, not a lot of people know that.

With more shops and statues in private land. A security guard, (in his yellow coat) so every body could see him.

Sculpture of  a Shepherd and his sheep. Bronze and fibre glass by Dame Elisabeth Frink. (more useless information). Not quite wildlife Eileen.

Well there is a hose pipe ban but there were eight people watering these plants. See the Bowser, I wonder how they filled it up, now let me guess, a hose pipe.

Row of shops with a Sundial that caught my eye.

Never seen a Sundial with GMT on it

BIG BIG shops in London, no boarded up windows here. This bloke is just about to step on a ant.

Royal Exchange, used to be where you could get your money laundered!

The Duke of Wellington.

Royal Exchange

Lloyds of London, I really wanted to capture this building but it was covered in sheeting for alterations..........shame, still maybe next time.

Old and New, well 12years old,  (This was capped off when I last was at Guys)

Well where to next, the big thing in the last picture gives it away.

Thanks for dropping by, hope you enjoyed it.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

St Paul's London

Hi folks.

Monday was my trip to London for my check up so not wishing to waste the day we went on a walking tour of the capital starting with St Pauls and many other sights.

We where blessed with fabulous weather.

Looking across from the South Bank we could see this Cathedral sticking out almost obliterated by 

other buildings which I think is a shame.

So we went to get a closer look and about 20 minutes later arrived. This is the South Entrance as shown in the image above but without all the clutter. Loads of tourists about so caught this at a quite moment.

This Sculpture intrigued me it was behind where the last image was taken, showing St Pauls in the reflection. We has a lot of fun with this image ducking and diving all around it to get the right spot.

If you look closely the ball  it has fuzzed my head and the Bus. A worker on the gardens was intrigued at what I was doing and laid flat out on the grass so that he did not get in the shot, you can just see his blue boiler suit beneath me that made for a bit of a laugh.

South entrance, detail of the Sculptures. This seemed to be its best side or the side that looked best from the ground.

West front entrance with Queen Victoria in her gated area, no not the lady with the green bag.

Time marches on, close up of the clock on the West side. If you look closely you can see the bird with no head bottom right.

The sculptures on the west face were a bit dilapidated and in need of repair. Note the Eagle with its head worn away. There are a few cracks developing as well.

Look at the angels wings.

We where thinking of going in but at £14 each we decided against it as you could not take photographs inside either. Bit of a shame really still you cant have it all, at least the weather was nice and it was just great just to be alive.

Loads more of London for another day.

Oh and the check up was fine although I have to go back in another month.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Medway Barge Sailing Match Start.

Hi folks,

Wasn't sure if I was going to this as it meant an early start on Saturday morning to get to the start at Gillingham Pier. As I woke at 5.15am I decided to chance it, so loaded with my camera off I went to the start and arrived at 6.30 am. It was very misty but there was wind so I thought it would clear for the start but at 7am it was still about so some of the images show it.

This was taken the day before as we had to go to Gillingham on Friday anyway. This shows the ornate gate at the side of the Gillingham slip with a Barge.

The main reason was for me to take my own picture of the Edith May which I sailed on last week. Here she is in all her splendour tacking before the start.

Coming towards the pier just before the start.

Off she went, with all the other

There were three classes of boats taking part.

Heading down river into the sun, three more vessels taking part. Due to the mist they started to fade but it was a wonderful sight.

This one was just about to tack towards the start.

Under way.

Sailing off into the sun on their way to the Medway Buoy in the Thames Estuary then back to the Pier, approximately 29 miles in total.  Results of who won? Well there's a question, I have checked the web but it looks like a phone call will have to be made.

At 7,15am I was on my way home for breakfast.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Hothfield Horses

Hi again folks,

After doing a survey for the Ranger and having a chat we continued around the bog via the path to get closer to the Horses.

Last time, a few weeks ago when they escaped we got right up close and personal but this time we had a fence to contend with.

This one having his afternoon tea that goes on till bedtime.

Having a fight with an old tree  and making a load of noise about it.

Well that's it from Hothfield Heathland till the next time.

Thanks for dropping by.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Hothfield Longhorns

Hi folks,

following on from yesterday.................

These are beautiful animals and by following the path we came across them in their splendour.

As it was hot,this seems to be the best place to be and he stayed there in the bog all the time we were there.

Young calf

Loving the shade of the trees.

I was getting brave at this point but I should not have worried. By the time he had got up I would have been long gone.

The one on the right reminds me of that baby Mammoth in Ice Age.

Bull at a gate springs to mind

Who's been in the mud then.

# View from the cattle across the bog, what's that in the distance? last few tomorrow.

Hope you liked your visit to Hothfield Heathland.

Thanks for dropping by.

nite nite, luv Mike XX