Chelsea Physic garden

We started the day by going to church at Holy Trintiy Brompton- where Rochelle and Simon go.  Home to the Alpha course which I did in the late 1990's with our little rural church. A great service.Holy Trinity Brompton

Then as it was such a glorious day we went to the Chelsea Physic Garden and we had a first ride in a London taxi- much easier for Rochelle who is actually due tomorow.  We had a garden tour- saw the huge shells brought back from Tahiti on Captain Cook's voyage,(now in the rock garden) saw the medicine garden and enjoyed reading the medicinal properties of many herbs- here's an example;  Rosaceae- fragrant agrimony- helpeth the colic, cleanseth the breath and relieves the cough.

 

Chelsea Physic Garden

We saw where School children come to learn about gardens and planting- loved the growing of plants in containers that orginally held the fruit or processed vegetable.

Also loved the recycled weaving in the children's corner.

and the beehives:

and the unusual, loved this mini rockery:

and here's a great quote:
Common Periwinkle: Leaves eaten together by man and wife causeth love between them. 
Culpeper 1653

Portobello Road Market

I wanted to see a market.  It sounded just right(Saturday morning at Portobello Road) a mix of antique shops, new shops, flea market- but the number of people and the glorious sunshine made it hard to walk and browse.

It made me realise how special Camberwell market is or the op shops in Bendigo.  Rochelle wanted me to buy some green thread if I saw any- but nothing like that down these roads- silver yes, magnifying glasses yes, buskers yes, coffee shops, jewellery, clothes yes.
We had a great walk- Notting hill area and then caught the bus back to the local library- where I borrowed some books- gotta read.  Saw a Judith Rossell book there, Kate Forsythe, Isabelle Carmody...

But the sunshine outside was wonderful-people sunbaking in the lush green of a local park- and no jets overhead- a wide blue sky.

 This display of flowers is wonderful- our harsh hot days would soon dry them out.

Oh and I did see a stork fly around to the back of an apartment across the road- no baby here yet...

Natural History museum London

Its school holidays here so we joined the queue to line up to view the natural science museum.  Again the building itself is spectatular.  And so many family groups and grandparents bringing their little explorers to see the dinosaurs.

The gargoyles of wolves and snakes carved into the exterior of the building itself cajoled us as we queued.  Waiting is not something we experience often- bags checked as we go in.  Dinsoaur explorer books on sale for kiddies, explorer hats and backpacks, the butterfly house.  So as i don't really care for the monkey to man exhibitions I discovered the minerals, the vaults where precious jewels and rocks from all over the world were exhibited.

A gold nuggest called the La Trobe nugget from the McIvor gold field in Victoria.

A meteroite rock from Queensland.

This was a surprise- wave worn rocks from Macorna- hey that's a rural town in central Victoria not a wave in sight- I was a headmaster here when 21...

And a tree carving to commerate Darwin's 200th year celebration- along the ceiling of one of the rooms.

 I wrote about 600 words freehand of my fantasy story in the very busy cafe- even with slices of chocolate cake consumed around me and family groups drinking pots of tea and rolls and the never ending supply of sandwiches.

Lastly before catching the tube home again a photo of the Imperial college where my father studied in the 70's.

St.Paul's Cathedral

What a fabulous building and the history- here's a quote: 'St.Paul's Cathedral where Christian worship has been offered for fourteen hundred years.  Sir Christopher's Wren masterpiece was completed in 1710.'

We went in through the crypt and looked at the memorials to famous figures in British history- I liked the one to John Donne (poet and dean) whose effigy survived the 1666 fire of London.

The mosacis were wonderful- a Victorian edition.  So much space, so much grandeur.  One can even have a meal in the crypt area.  Prayers are said on the hour.
I loved the work of Holman Hunt 'the Light of the world' a pre-Raphaelite painter.
Light of the world


We are learning to navigate the tube.
But today was cold- a coat and scarf day.

Then across the millenium bridge to the Tate modern gallery- I liked the postcard size work of Fréderic Bruly Bouabré- 'the cloud horses of celestial animals'- small postcard size drawings and words done in coloured pencil and ballpoint pen.  Very creative.
Tate gallery London

Writing in London

I've had rest time today- time to write 1250 words of that fantasy- its been rewritten, revisited, reshaped for the last three years.  Now after my May Gibbs residency, I've ditched the latest 20,000 words and just taken the secondary character and the most exciting elements of that fantasy to begin again.

The Victoria and Albert museum gave me further inspiration, confirmed, re-fired the ideas that had been smouldering.  Still nothing is wasted- my secondary character is now the main character and one minor character so far has made his re-appearance. 

Red Bus tour

We went on one of those touristy buses- in fact London traffic is red buses, taxis, bikes, vans and a smattering of cars.

I was amazed at the breadth and scope and history in London- the tower of London was a mystery- what preconceived ideas did I have?  We are planning to make a day trip of this attraction.  We loved the details of gothic features in the Westminster building, Big Ben, the short Thames ride, the wonderful history and splendour of St.Pauls- all must do tours shortly.
Hopefully next week, we'll be able to help with the new baby- that's if it plans to arrive then.
Meanwhile we still have trouble with English currency...but revelling in the streets that have little traffic- no traffic noise at all at night...

Victoria And Albert

Forgot to upload yesterday- must be getting tired from so much to see... I wanted to visit the Victoria and Albert museum.  We had a cuppa in the stunning tea room as well as viewing the medieval section- I took notes to re plan that fantasy- I have a writing day coming up tomorrow so will really work on this novel/ idea that has been evolving for three or more years.

The mosaic floors were beautiful and everyone wanted to catch some sun in the courtyard area.