Nov 11 - Blog Format changed

 Hi

For anybody who was following this and looks at it now, you will notice that the format has changed.  Early on I had complained that I didn't like the format and I would prefer the old format I used.  Here's an example: Pub Ride

When I got home I was able to dig through the old blogs and find the settings that I liked. This format has an index of the posts down the left side so it's easy to look back at a specific date or activity.

Last shot.  I walked the beach this morning  This is why it's good to be back.  At Madrona Point, looking at Mistaken Island and Cottam Point.

Nov 6 & 7 - Final Post

 Hi.

Plane flight scheduled for 17:25, so after breakfast I washed dishes, finished packing up and took the keys back to Carmela.  I left for Heathrow before noon.

The destination of my trip was Heathrow Terminal 4 and Terminals 2 & 3.  One interesting aspect of the run underground was how long it took between T2 & T2&3.  It seemed like they were many miles apart.  It doesn't matter - I made.

Upstairs, check-in quite early and proceed to the Brit Air lounge.  Remember Laura bought me an upgrade on my return ticket so I got royal treatment while I waited.

Finally headed for the Departure Gate and was boarded first.

A hiccup here.  While I organized my carry-on I couldn't find my passport which I had presented about 5 minutes earlier at the top of the ramp.  Panic ensued.  I talked to a Steward who walked back up the ramp to check.  Luckily, on the way back to my pod, I looked behind the seat and it had fallen down there.  Panic over.

If I hadn't found it, they would have removed me and my luggage from the flight (not a happy prospect).

To end: a good fight back where I got some sleep, a night in Richmond where I got more sleep, the Canada Line to Waterfront, the Hullo ferry back to Nanaimo where Laura picked me up.

Yay - home!

(No, they didn't fly over the bridge so I could take a photo)

 

Nov 5 - Buckingham Palace, St. James Park & ....

Hi:

It's now 7 p.m.; before I get into the day I should tell you that WW3 has broken out around here.  Lots of Guy Fawkes fireworks happening.  I can't see any from my unit, but some sure seem to be nearby,

I stand corrected from yesterday.  I mentioned that they were taking down the baskets on the building.  Then, they took out the dead blooms, cleaned up the perennials, and put the baskets back up.  There are a lot of baskets - and they sure add to the building, especially when they are in bloom.

Armed with a dose of 'LemSip' (British equivalent of NeoCitran) and a bunch of throat lozenges, I was feeling better and decided I should head down to Buckingham Palace and St. James Park.

The Wellington Arch

The changing of the guard has ended and the horses are returning to their stables (I assume)

Walking down Constitution Hill to the Canada Gate

In the centre of the plaza is the Queen Victoria Memorial

And a view of the front of the Palace.  Apparently, the flag (barely visible in my shot) means the King is in today, but he didn't rush out to see me. 😉

Fun shot.  The gate on the left is under repair, but they went to the trouble of painting a picture of the gate on the hoarding.  So, I should make their efforts worthwhile by taking a picture of the picture.

Here's the map of the St. James Park.  I am at the very west (left) end of the lake, and will walk around it clockwise and then cross the Blue Bridge in the middle.

West Island

Canadians in amongst the Brits. One of the signs said they were introduced a while back 

and have thrived.  I hope their visas are in order.

This tree seems to be suffering.

The Blue Bridge

Pelicans.  The park personnel feed them fish, 

so they are happy to hang around

This cottage is on an isthmus to Duck Island.

The stake by the Tomato plants reads "Blush Tiger"

A view of the cottage.  It houses the water treatment facilities 

and the pumps for the fountain.

The Swire Fountain

A sign board with a brief history of the lake

A bit more about Charles II

That's my trip through St James park.  I had the sandwich I made, bought a Latte and a goodie and I was feeling pretty good.  So, what the heck, let's go back to the Docklands and take a look at the Mudlarks exhibition.

The Docklands Museum is free, but the Mudlarks is not.  Oh well, I can ask Laura for extra allowance.

There are a lot of pieces on exhibit with a lot of signs describing them.  I can only include a few, otherwise I'll be here all night.

The definition of a Mudlark

A watercolour and the description below

Some of the rings that have been found

Crimes concealed in the river and found

Crimes and 4 photos describing the cabinet

Some comments about the blog, while I'm thinking of them:

-The blog restricts how much the photos can be enlarged.  I can always send you an original if you want.

-A lot of the time my photos are tilted.  Why?  The main reason is I tilt / angle the camera in order to remove glare spots from the lights.  They don't have non-glare glass on the cabinets.

Back to the mudlarking:

Really old stuff!

(I split the cabinet in 2, top & bottom)

This is neat.  There is a video beside this:  

The Mudlark built this replica, wax glued the handle on, 

filled it with water and blew into it.  It warbled!

Daggers

And a rapier, 1594

Intaglios

Four description photos for this cabinet

Boat Bits

There's not a huge amount more, but I should wrap this up - it's getting late.

A video of one of the Mudlark galleries  Mudlark Gallery 

Yesterday, I talked about PLUTO (Pipeline Under The Ocean) and showed you a picture of their video.  Today I went back and recorded their whole video  PLUTO

That's it for this evening and also this trip.  

See you when I get back.

Greg