Sky High in the Smoke.

Tuesday Oct 22^nd London and The Shard

Way back in May this year we had a holiday in Italy. Our trip was booked with a local travel firm it was also was affiliated with a Yorkshire firm. Half way through the holiday the Peterborough people realised the Yorkshire people were talking about the home wards journey a day before we were expecting to go. We had, after all booked a 10-day holiday from their brochure. Frantic emails went back and forth from our driver to the offices of the Peterborough firm and the Yorkshire firm. Oh dear, the Peterborough firm had screwed up proof reading their brochure. We were not too happy but there was nothing to be done but enjoy the remainder of our holiday and sort it once back in the UK. All to soon it was time to return home.At home we found the Tour firm had already pre-empted our concerns and an envelope with an abject apology and vouchers for £40 each had been delivered.

The vouchers sat in the cupboard until I thought it was about time we used them up. I pinpointed two day trips from their excursions brochure and we discussed. The London Shard with afternoon tea was decided on and I rang to book it. I wasn’t sure if we would get seats, as the trip was only two weeks away. No problems the coach wasn’t full. We now just prayed for a fine day.

Tuesday arrived, as did the rain, Oh well can’t be helped. We drove to the pick up point we had chosen and the coach pulled in right on time. The journey was uneventful, driving along the grey wet motorway cheered up by the autumnal tints of the roadside trees. A comfort break was made at South Mimms before we hit the snails pace of London traffic. The one good thing about a slow coach ride through London is that you can take in all the architecture of the Georgians, Victorian and the Edwardians.

'The Navigators' at the Hays Galleria.

Eventually we arrived outside the Hays Galleria and were dropped of with our Courier. Then coach  and driver beat retreated to a distant coach park for the day. The Hays Galleria was named after Alexander Hays who bought the property, then a Brewhouse in 1651. The present buildings were created out of the Pool of London’s Wharf and warehouse complex, where, in past decades, Tea Clippers berthed and all the Perishable goods for London arrived. It was known as the Larder of London. Badly Bombed in World War 11, the area became economically depressed.  A program of regeneration was embarked upon in the 1980’s and the now restored tea and produce warehouses are a maze of independent shops, offices and restaurants and is a fascinating areas to explore. We walked through the Galleria’s central court yard past a fountain with a moving bronze sculpture called ‘The Navigators’. Created by the sculptor David Kemp, it was unveiled in 1987 and commemorates the Galleria’s shipping heritage. On through the massive Port gates to the riverside’s Jubilee Walk. Here you see the last surviving Battle Cruiser, HMS Belfast moored. She is now part of The Imperial War Museum and open to the public. My brother actually served on the Belfast when she was Berthed in Portsmouth before she was decommissioned and dispatched to her present berth on the Thames. A little further along the imposing Tower Bridge spans the river. We only had a short time to explore as our time for the Shard experience was fast approaching.

Part of The Hays Galleria

The Galleria plaque.

HMS Belfast moored in the Thames

Looking to Tower Bridge

                       

A short walk brought us to this new iconic London Landmark. In 1998 the London based entrepreneur Irvine Sellar and his Partners decided to redevelop Southwark Towers in the Tower Bridge quarter of London. The Italian architect, Renzo Piano was approached, and at an initial meeting he apparently spoke of his contempt of conventional tall buildings. He flipped over the restaurants menu and sketched a spire like building rising from the river Thames. Apparently he was inspired by the railway lines next to the site and spires depicted by the 18^th century Venetian painter, Canaletto and the masts of sailing ships.

There was much opposition to the plans but in 2002 John Prescott the then Deputy Prime Minister approved the plans. Funding was eventually obtained from an Arab consortium including the Qatar National Bank. Construction began in the spring of 2009. The 87-story, 310 meter, high skyscraper was to be a slender glass and steel spire. It is currently the tallest building in Western Europe. In early 2011 the Shards Concrete core was topped out at 245 meters, the 72^nd floor.  The floors above -73 to 87 are the glass and steel Spire of the building.

Quite an impressive reflection

The ground level entrance

Level 72 Note the rain splatter floor

The open shards

We really did it!

and it was fun!

The views were impressive even on a grey day.

The Ground floor is to be a hotel, restaurant and an office reception. Level 1-2 is to be office and retail space. Level 3 – 28 offices, 31-33 are 3 restaurants. Level 34 – 52 is to be a hotel called The Shangri-la. The opening of this is delayed apparently due to fitting out problems. Level 53 – 65 are Residences and level 68-72 is the viewing area called simply ‘The View’. It was opened to the public in February this year. The experience doesn’t come cheap. Pre booked tickets are £24.95p and tickets on the day are £29.95p. You enter the building at street level and go through an airport security type procedure. Your bags and coat are scanned and you walk through an x-ray portal. We were told to take photo identification but we didn’t actually need to show it. Next was the usual ‘experience’ photo that you could buy later. A short walk followed, through a corridor were the walls screened the Shard construction and the views to come, brought you to the two lifts. The first smooth and rapid ride up is to level 33, then a short hop around the corner into the second lift the whisks you up to level 68. Stairs then took you up to the next level, 69, the indoor viewing level. Or a small lift takes you up to level 72 the outdoor viewing platform. We went straight up to 72. It was quite cold and windy. The area you walk around was glass panelled, no possibility of accidentally chucking yourself off!  But the shards of steel and glass towering to the spire were open to the elements. The 360-degree views were breathtaking even though the weather wasn’t good. By this time there were just rain showers and the cloud layer was breaking up to give some small blue patches. After scanning the views and the usual photo shots from all angles we went down to the comparative shelter of level 69. On this level there were interactive telescopes, free as well, that you could point at the views out side and the screen would tell you what you were seeing.

My postcard purchase from the gift shop

Viewing over, we congregated on the lower floor where all the Shard commemorative gifts were to be found. Sorry to say we gave them a miss and the ‘experience’ photo, Just the one night time postcard was my only purchase  Our courier took us the short walk to the Hilton Hotel were our Afternoon Tea was booked. Although the walks were short I struggled to keep up and by the time we reached the hotel my back knee and ankle were sorely complaining. My first action, once the teapot of Darjeeling was placed on the table (after it had brewed according to the special Twinning tea timers on the table) was to wash down two Paracetamol tablets. Never has a cup of tea been so enjoyed. The food arrived it looked delicious and was duly devoured and thoroughly enjoyed.

My desperately need cup of tea. Mine was Darjeeling and 
Dave's was Earl Grey. Note the nifty timer for timing the brew.

Afternoon Tea Hilton style.

All to soon we were on the coach once again. Our driver took a different route through London. We drove slowly over Tower Bridge, slowly because it was rush hour and all the traffic could do was to go slow. He also took us through the Camden Market route. If I had been several years younger I should love to explore this area of London and many more but now days I’m afraid although the spirit is willing the body will not comply!

Out of London we hit the rain once again and it stayed with us most of the way accumulating in a really heavy down pour when we reached out destination. Good job the car was parked just across the road.

We both thought it was a good day out and not at all scary although I must admit just once me heart missed a beat and the old legs did buckle. I had to grab the steel upright edging the glass panels and remind myself there was absolutely no possibility of falling! 

Summer at the Lido

 In early May before the Peterborough Lido opened 'Himself' and I took a holiday in Italy. Unusually for that region (Lake Garda) it was wet and cool. We did manage some sunny warm days, between the rain though. Our hotel had an outdoor pool, I was assured it was still  too cold for swimming, 18 degree. too cold, nah, a tad cool maybe. Not daunted, I took the plunge and had a lovely swim in the Italian mountain air.

Hotel pool at our hotel in Torbole

 May the 25th eventually arrived. The Opening of our Lido. A ridiculous ceremonial affair with more Council suits than swimmers, all there for the free grub and photo opportunities. No free refreshments from the swimmers though.  Nothing new there.  Over winter our 75 year old Grade 11 listed pool had major repair work done. Last year water was leaking from the pool at an alarming rate so a fancy new liner had been installed by one of the top Pool Maintenance firm in the country. Looked good. We got in. Mmmm.... not so good. The pool bottom was super slippery. First fault. After about a week we notice some bubbling of the liner. Oh dear. After two week it was worse and the dear little children who braved the cool water had found the faults and as kids do couldn't resist picking at the bubbles.

The Lido in it's lovely setting with the Cathedral in the background

Brenda enjoying her first outdoor swim of the season

One morning a week later I called the new Manager over and asked if the liner was guaranteed. She said yes. Why? so I showed her. That morning several of the maintenince crew turned up with Vivacity Suits all kneeling on the side with their heads inches from the water! The Pool firm was contacted and a few weeks later some remedial work done to get the pool through the season.

MY changing cubical for the summer, note the fat swimmy thing!

It's been a wonderful summer season. The new Management worked hard to make it successful. The newly refurbished cafe worked well. The water temperature has been pleasant through out. There has been the usual few hiccups but mostly we managed to get them sorted. We even managed to get a shower curtain across the second shower. It's only taken about six years of asking. Although it was a door we originally asked for like the first shower. The hot weather did cause the drains to pong slightly but some extra scrubbing by the lifeguards helped sort this problem.

All too some the season came to an end and our End of Lido Annual Picnic came round. 3.30 on the last Sunday its a fixture we don't like missing as some of us only swim outdoors and won't step foot in the indoor pool. We will have a Christmas 'do' to meet up again before next year.

Add caption

All of us are regular Lido swimmers, rain or shine, mostly early morning so we get our swim before the kids ( who like to scream 'It's freezing' and their families arrive.  The picnic went well after some table shuffling and chair snaffling. We all bring food so their was a goodly selection on the table. As you can see despite our sadness at the end of the season we all enjoyed ourselves and had some good banter.

Ronnie even decided she was going to enjoy the water to the very last, donning her wet costume and going back for a last swim.

My swim this morning in the Indoor Regional Pool. Ugh! Through the doors, the chemical smell hits you. In the changing room, nearly fainted with the heat. In the pool. 31.5 degrees should have bought soap! Not many swimmers at 9am definitely more in the Lido at this time! Swims is exhausting waters too hot. My knee prefers the cooler water that makes it feel more normal. Oh well only another 8 months to a decent swim again. Think positive the exercise keeps me moving.

An Afternoon Out

All this week we have had some pleasant weather. Neither too hot or too cold. Himself wanted an outing but various appointments meant we were occupied until yesterday. So after a light lunch we headed North along the A1. We weren't going far just to a small village south of Grantham. We had made this trip some months ago but forgot to do the proper research and found the gardens closed. That trip finished at Downtown the large outlet store near Grantham for some retail therapy.

This trip we were prepared, research done before we headed out. The 400 year old gardens we were aiming for are now in their 13 year of restoration work. The 12 acre site, once the magnificent grounds of Easton Hall the home of the Cholmeley family since 1592  was completely neglected and overgrown. 

                        

A view of Easton Hall and terraces in 1901

Sir Henry Cholmeley bought the Manor of Easton in 1592 and built this house overlooking the River Witham. That hall survived until the beginning of the 19 century. In 1805 the house was enlarged and parts rebuilt by Sir Montague Cholmeley. Later yet another rebuild took place by another Sir Montague
 During World war 11 the Hall was requisitioned by the Army and a unit of the Royal Artillery were based here. During this time the Hall was subjected to considerable damage. After the war there was no manpower of money available to do the repair and restoration work needed and the Hall was demolished in 1951. The beautiful landscaped grounds were lost to undergrowth scrub and wild Alder trees

The remains of the elevated front of Easton Hall

The Gate House entrance to Easton Hall Grounds as it is today.

The Cholmeleys of Easton Hall

A new garden planted on the site of part of the old Hall

The Cedar Meadow.
Many of the magnificent trees from the early Parkland Landscaping have survived. 

The terraced steps down to the river walk and the walled garden beyond

The River is the Witham that flow out to the Wash through Boston. Its badly overgrown and the Rivers Authority are wading about in it doing some much needed cleaning and restoring. Hazel sticks are being used to line some of the bank for the small fish to spawn safely in.

the Victorian stone bridge spanning the Witham to the Wall garden beyond

 The Victorian stone bridge was not visible before the restoration began and the Yew tunnel in the garden  is slowly being tamed. A rose garden and orchard are newly planted in the Walled garden over the river.
Its quite a steep decent down to the river and the walled garden I decide not to risk the walk and elect to sit in the sunshine and wait for 'Himself' to have a ramble around.

On his return we amble around the other gardens that have been recovered and recreated. The vegetable garden is  still productive with runner beans taking pride of place

A bean walk through.

The Potting Shed. 

Theres also a garden called The Pickery where flowers and vegetables grow together and a lovely Cottage Garden. As it is getting late in the season many of the flowers were past their best but there were still bright patches of colour.

Sweet peas despite being almost over still perfumed the air and the gardens were alive with bees and other insects.
The awnings behind 'Himself' is were the little tea shop is so a rest with refreshments were just the ticket. We had a lovely cold Belvoir organic Elderflower cordial (from the estate of Belvoir Castle just a few miles away) to wash down yummy lemon drizzle cake and coffee and walnut cake.
We then just had time to go into the History room where the history of the Hall, the family and the garden restoration is documented. I resisted buying any of the plants for sale in the stables courtyard and the garden related goodies in the small shop.

A really pleasant afternoon but we must remember to made the journey again next year to see all the plants at their best. maybe early June. Thats a date.

If she's a Witch then What a Witch She Was.

The frenzied tweeting, face-booking, partying and the hijacking of Harold Arden’s classic hit song by so many so called ‘upright citizens’ as well as the usual army of unwashed Anarchists this week over the demise of Margaret Thatcher has filled me with horror and disgust. 

Why do these specimen from the  Human Race emerge from their  sofas to spout such evil about a dead person. If they felt so incensed about their treatment from the Government, YES THE GOVERNMENT not just Margaret Thatcher why didn’t they joined a political party and make their voices felt at the time. All this noisy rhetoric after she has passed away smacks of cowardice and is is patently not relevant now. The old saying goes ‘If you can’t say anything good about the Dead then don’t say anything at all’. Most of the Labour Party adhered to this at the House of Commons Tributes and absented themselves. Well all except that failed Actor Glenda Jackson who made a spectacular derogatory speech. Remind me what has she done during her political career?

I wasn’t a particular fan of The Iron Lady and If I remember correctly, at the time I was a member of the Liberal Party and canvassed for them in Local Elections (before they became Liberal Democrats). All my Boys were affected by the politics of the Conservatives of that time. There were very few jobs and no Apprenticeships for the young people leaving school. The poorly paid, six month Government training programs never led to job offers they were supposed to. “Himself’ was out of work through redundancy for three years during this time as well. So I had no cause to love the Conservatives at the time. But the country was in a mess and difficult decisions need making. We tightened our belts and managed. 

At that time the General Public were also making noises against the Housing Rates. The locally raised taxes to pay for community services. A fairer way forward was thought out. Instead of raising money by taxing your home they taxed individuals. The people hated it and rebelled, even though it was actually a faired way of raising money. BUT the policy was the Governments not MARGARET THATCHERS alone. 

We’ve moved on from those times. Gone through more times of boom and bust. The Labour Party of the last Government were no better They spent money they hadn’t got, so we were deep in debt, sold off the Country’s Gold reserves and robbed the Pensions.

Many of these people making such insulting and evil protestations this week were not even born or were little children at the time. I cant think their education has actually covered Twentieth Century Politics, so how much do they really know about those times.  How many of these louts actually go out and vote, not many I bet. If they never voted they have no right to shout. Remember she was a woman who bucked the trend and got a  University degree became leader of a Political Party and Prime Minister against all the odds when Men ruled the roost.

OK Rant over.

 Now shall I sign myself Disgusted Of Peterborough?

Spring Slowly Emerges.

Oh Gosh April already. My blogging intentions have slipped once again. Maybe its my resident youngest with a lapsed laptop that spends much time on my office computer that is the cause. No I can't blame Him because I'm using my laptop to write this. It's been too long since I've blogged regularly and now I can't remember how to upload photos!!! Too much time on my new tablet playing mind numbing addictive games and facebooking. 

Since Christmas we have been subjected to some ferocious cold weather. But on the bright side the snow, here in The Boro. has been relatively easy to deal with. Other parts of the Country have been almost up to their necks in snow and ice. Severe night frosts and icy winds have have kept us tucked up indoors. 

The hedgerows and my garden have suffered. Normally the row of Hornbeam trees lining the foot path at the rear of our house would be in full leaf by now. There still isn't a bud in sight. The hedgerow shrubs, Blackthorn and Hawthorn are just beginning to show their fresh bright green leaflets and the blackthorn is finally a mass of snowy white blossom.

My poor garden is in a sorry way. I'm still not too sure how many plants I've lost because of the  weather. Some of the lavenders are looking very sorry for themselves. My little Daphne bush that I nurtured from a seedling that is normally in full flower and smelling delicious had buckled under the onslaught of the cold and has now been consigned to the compost. My lovely evergreen Trachelospermum Jasminoides, that perfumes warm summer evenings, is looking very poorly. I don't think it's going to be retrievable. The soil is crusty dry from the repeated frosts and very where looks freeze dried.

The pond is full of sad looking pools of frog spawn jelly that have been encased in ice too often for the tiny black dots inside to survive  Unless we have a second batch of hardy more sensible frogs arriving there will be no tadpoles and tiny froglets this summer.

Yesterday the sun was trying to break through the grey cloud layer. I should have gone swimming as I usually do but my internal pipe work was playing up so I decided to sit quietly knitting while they unknotted themselves. By the time 'Himself' emerged from his cocoon they were back to my understanding of normal and I was feeling more myself. The sun had almost conquered the clouds and the weather was looking quite encouraging for a change. 'Himself' decided we ought to go out.  Fair enough. I had discovered a site on Facebook I'd made a mental note of 'worth a visit'. A place in Northamptonshire called Beckworth Emporium. It looked interesting. So we Googled the directions and set off with 'Mr Tom' the Sat Nav as a directional backup. It was an easy and pleasant drive. Traffic was light so no holdups. 

The Emporium looked an inviting  neat and tidy place from the outside. It turned out to be quite a small but upmarket Garden center with a large, very comprehensive, upmarket food hall, and a large area selling what I would call 'Yummy Mummy' tat, or posh bricabrac. The Emporium's cafe/restaurant took up two very large areas of the site. It had won two awards last year for their cuisine. Apparently they employed eleven chefs. Very soon after midday the queue for seating snaked around the Emporium. Another hour passed and I decided I needed to eat. By this time the first people who queued had eaten so the wait for seats didn't take too long. The food was well worth the wait. I just had to ask the waitress what the dressing was on 'Himself's' salad. He thought it was delicious and the salad was the best one we both have had for a long while.

Repleted with good food we separated.  Himself to wander around the Garden section again and me to smooch around the food Hall. Very soon I had a trolley full of goodies unseen in The Boro. Some oat bread that turned out to be the most delicious we've tasted. A bottle of the versatile dressing (you can even dizzel it on icecream!) that made the lunch salads to die for. Fresh meats from Hambletons farms and  a selection of fresh fruit and veg. A Cartmel original sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce. A jar of Skippy peanut butter. DJ's favourite that's impossible to find, and finally some hand baked biscuits and cakes. The small trolley was overflowing, so off to the Checkout. Mmmmm 90 pounds. Maybe I'll have to give Oundle Farmers Market a miss this month!!!!

Time Flies past.

 It's now well over a year since I last put any thoughts to these pages. As I'm going about my daily life I mentally write reams for this blog, but when sitting staring at the blank computer screen all memories of these rudimentary mental scribblings have flown from the aging grey cells. However now the urge to write has come back maybe I can keep this going once more.

A few months ago I decided to changed my ancient mobile phone that was rarely switched on let alone used, to a new smart phone. A new phone needed to be the cheapest one I could find. I mean it's hardly ever used so why pay tons of precious cash on something that sits idly in my pocket. Anyway after much research I eventually decided on a mode and a contract. Getting to grips with this little beast is quite challenging,  especially as the mobile phone companies seem to have decided that as everyone in the world today has a phone and are au fait with their use so no accompanying instruction manual is necessary. 

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

 It's taken so much frustrating valuable time clicking about the small fiddly instrument to learn about it's little inbuilt idiosyncratic ways. Some of the problem was, that after accidentally hitting the right sequence of buttons to arrive at the desired outcome I then couldn't remember how the devil I arrived at the solution. 

My next move is to search the pages of must have (really?) apps for a suitable one to turn the little  blighter into a dictaphone, then maybe I can record my absolutely brilliant  'in head blog thoughts' as they occur. Then, just  maybe, when I sit in front of  this screen the thoughts can get streamed effortfully onto the screen.

Or just maybe I'm living in 'cloud cuckoo land ' once more.