Eternal Refuge

Since I was run over the day before my 21st, and then taken to Bart's Hospital, I had wanted to see St Bartholomew-the-Great ... which is one of 2 Churches that were founded in 1123. They were founded along with the hospital & an Augustinian Priory. Rahere was a courtier of King Henry I and caught a fever on a pilgrimage to Rome. On recovery he had a vision of the Apostle Bartholomew ... and hence the Churches were founded.












St Bartholomew, by Damien Hirst (he was martyred by being skinned alive)

Prior Rahere's Tomb



Font 1405

Cloisters (now a coffee shop)

The Lady Chapel - supposed to be where the Virgin Mary visited the Bishop in the 12th Century



For 3 of the 4 years I was at college, I walked across Trafalgar Square every day ... and if I had an hour spare I would have a wander round The National Gallery ... and a visit never gets boring.


van Dyck - Equatrian portarit of Charles I, 1638

Rembrandt - Frederick Rihel on horseback, 1663

van Dyck - Lord John Stuart and his brother Lord Bernard Stuart, 1638 ... Both died for the Royalist cause

Bartolone Esteban Murillo - Self portarit, 1670

Constable (attributed) - east Bergholt Singers, 1800

Constable - Cloud Study, 1821

Constable - Sketchbook, 1814

Vincent van Gogh - Snowy Landscape with Arles in the background, 1888

George Seurat - Le Bec du Hoc, Grandcamp, 1885

Monet - The Thames below Westminster, 1871



Gainsborough - Mr and Mrs Andrews, 1750

Constable - Stratford Mill, 1820

Canaletto - Venice The Grand Canal with St Simeone Piccolo, 1740

These are 2 of the earliest paintings of the collection -

Master of Saint Francis - Crucifix, 1265

Margarito d'Arezzo - The Virgin and Child, 1263

The reason I was in London last weekend was to go to The Cenotaph for the Remembrance Service .... here are a few of the photos ....



Tim sent me this photo!!


I didn't even realise on the day I had actually got a phot of The King ... as it is part of a photo I took -




( Enjoy the morning )

One of the places I went to was The British Museum.  I do love that museum ... and there is always something to see ... something to share with you all ...



200BC .... Ptolomy I

200AD .... Zeus.  That hair is stunning.

100BC ... terracotta group of 2 seated ladies

( And more ... to save your feed )

St Clement Dane




Bomber Harris

Statue of Gladstone







RAF badges on the floor



The Guild Church of St Martin-within-Ludgate



















One of the places I have wanted to visit for a few years is Temple Church and this was the year I got there -



Cast of the effigy of King Henry III







Looking down on the graves

















Geoffry Mandeville .... 1st Earl of Essex, died 1144

William Marshal ... 1st Earl of Pembroke, died 1219

Cast of William Marshal

One of the museums I visited while in London was while I was at Greenwich - The National Maritime Museum

One of the English hero's that has quite a bit of his history here is Admiral Lord Nelson


1799

1800

Letter to Horatia written 2 days before his death

Nelson's knife and fork

Belonging to Nelson ... Worcester 1800

Breeches cut off Nelson when he was wounded

Nelson's Trafalgar Coat ... the bullet hole is visible on the left shoulder

Round shot landed in Victory

Battle of Trafalgar by JMW Turner, 1823

"Souveneirs" of his death



However, there were multiple other exhibits -



1710

6th century seaman's chest

19th century trading Japenese junk

Chinese Geometric Compass, 1850

Captain Cook

Cosmographia 1478

French Map, 1567 (looks upsidedown to our eyes)

ohn Adams 1767 - 1829. Leader of the Mutiny on the Bounty

Mariner's Compass, AD760

"Prince Frederick's Barge 1731

Tompion - muzzle plug of 12 gun from HMS Dreadnought 190


As the afternoon progressed I walked through Greenwich Park to The Royal Observatory ... to see where time is set from













You get a great view down on the Naval college and accross to the rest of London -

One of the places I wanted to see was the Royal Albert Hall, as the weekend I was in London The King had unveiled a new set of statues of his parents.
















Queen Victoria & Prince Albert are in the other niches.


Opposite is The Albert Memorial Both locations are very special to me, because just before my graduation I went to Dad's graduation for his PhD ... he received the degree at the hall, and I took his photo standing infront of the memorial

















And, from there I walked through Hyde Park -

Giro was a German shepherd that belonged to the German ambassador to the United Kingdom, Leopold von Hoesch. As, by this time, the German government was under Adolf Hitler, it has been described as Britain's only Nazi memorial. Flowers are put on Giro's tombstone every February

"Giro"
Ein Treuer Begleiter
London Im Februar 1934
Hoesch.

EN: "Giro"
A faithful companion!
London in February 1934.
Hoesch.






It isn't far from St James park ... which brings back great memories as while at college we usually had our lunch there, so 4 years of good memories.





Memorial to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth


Back in 1979 we were evacuated from the building that we were using for our college due to a Bomb Scare from theI IRA.  I walked to Westminster Abbey, and in the ground between that and St Margaret's the Field of Remembrance was set up by the Royal British Legion.  Afetr that I went every year I lived in Essex (used to meet up with a couple of WWII veterans).  And, every November I have been to London I have been back -








Granddad C (and my 2 veteran friends) served in the Northamptonshire Regt

Granddad W served in the Coldstream Guards between the 2 wars

Dad served in the Home Guard durung much of the war.

On the first afternoon/evening I went for a walk along The Thames near The Tower of London ... I visited St Magnus the Martyr which like much of London was rebuilt after the fire of London in 1666












This is the crest from the Guild of The Coopers' Company ... myself and my 2 brothers went to the Company School ... so we can all spot this crest easily.


As I said I walked along, enjoying the views -

The Shard





Old Billingsgate Market








One of the places I also visited was The Merchant Navy Memorial I have a Great-Uncle who was in the Merchant Navy during WWII, and was actually "sunk" 3 times ... however survived, and in fact he was at my baptism in 1976. Those from WWI who had no known grave are listen within the memorial, and those from WWII are listed on the walss around the edge. Overall there are more than 36,000 names listed.
















In front of the Memorial is the location of Tower Hill ... ie the site of public executions of high profile criminals from 1381 to 1780, with at least 120 executions taking place here.




Part of the remnant of London Wall ... the lower section built by The Romans in AD 200





Right, more to come at some point

Did you miss me?

I had a great trip to London ... A few new locations, and a return to a couple of places I had been to some years back. And, yes, I went to The Cenotaph ... and will admit it was the only time I got cold.

All in all a great trip ... and you have been warned that there will be loads of photos to come!

I worked this morning ... in fact I am working every morning this week, so that is good news for the bank balance.

Now, I want to get some photos edited, and hopefully post a few a bit later. But before I start that ....



14 – Loosen Up Lighten Up Day: Do you need to loosen up or lighten up?
Ask my brothers/nephews and they would probably say “yes”. But I am happy being “boring”




Did I miss any news - if so, let me know.

So, until later x

... Sorry I did!

Yesterday I was asked the same question twice.  The 2 people asked for The Obesity Clinic.  That is help in a seperate building no more than 10 mins slow walk away.  However both the patients, who were in their 30's, thanked me, and stepped slightly away where I saw them phoning their lift to pick them up and drive them down there.  I know there are a lot os levels to weight problems, and I myself will never be slim & slender ... but something as simple as a slow stroll would certainly help them (as neither had mobility problems)

The joy of working with people!

On another note my brother sent me this latest toilet location, as we both visit London ever year.  And apparently there’s A ‘Loo With A View’ That Suspends Visitors 100ft Above The River Thames and all I can say is ... NO WAY ... in fact, I would prefer to wet my undies!


And finally, before I do the questions (and yes I am behind as life has been busy) I thought I would share some of the icons I have made for assorted comps over at DW.

This set is for Challenge 168  of your_favourites
This theme was Oscar Winners.
I am a huge Audrey Hepburn fan and love her first film, Roman Holiday, which she won an Oscar for. The King & I is not actually a favourite film ... but the character played by Yul Brinner is ... especially as I also saw him on stage.



These are for itsabattlefield -
Assorted Quick Battles


And Small Battle 7, with a theme of St Patricks Day



And these are for period_drama with a theme of dark




And now, let's do catch up on the questions.  I know I still owe you photos from my trip last weekend, but haven't yet sorted them.  So will do them soon.



29 – World Piano Day: have you ever taken piano lessons? What is your favourite piece of piano music or song?
I tried learning the piano as a young teen, but could never get to grips with reading more than one note at a tims.
Dad played piano to a high standard all his life, and I love some of the pieces he loved as they bring back fond memories ... so it has to be Chopin Polinaise in A

30 – Virtual Vacation Day: if you could go away right now where would you go?
I have a couple of trips booked, but I would join my nephew in Australia.  He sent me some photos today and it looks like they are having an amzing trip

31 – Crayon Day: have you any fond memories of using crayons? What were your favourite colours?
Yes I have crayoned off & on ... but being colourblind I prefer geometric patterns now.



Right, let's get on