In London for a day

Had "business" in London yesterday. Can't say where, with whom, or what about yet, but the organic biscuits were delicious.

As I walked down Bond Street, I passed this statue of Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. I always admire it for the characters it portrays so well, but seldom do the two gentlemen have the seat to themselves - there is usually a tourist of some kind sitting in the middle. Yesterday morning, however, they were able to chat face to face, and I was pleased to take their photograph.

Over in Great Marlborough Street, I finally got to take a photograph of the art deco facade I've meant to have a close look at for ages, having seen it in a book but never noticed it whilst walking past. Of course, my eyes are normally fixed on Liberty's window! But look up above the Caffe Uno shopfront and a beautiful architectural feature is revealed.

Finally, standing in a doorway in Jermyn Street, having come out of the back door of Waterstones bookshop, I stood in the doorway of a shirtmakers to put up my umbrella and spotted these two sights (sites), which stand next door to one another. I thought the contrast so great that it was worthy of (two) photographs! With hindsight, I should have taken one of the join as well.

Update on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 9:53AM by Gill Thomas

Returning to my blog entry several years later to remind myself that of course, I was at St James Palace, enrolling a new member of the WI.

The tulips progress

Monday morning and the sun has just struggled through some pretty dense cloud, so I rushed to take today's tulip picture.

Had been to Swindon and back before 9am and had hoped to get a great deal done today.

Note the phrasing "had hoped".

Just another concert

We set out a bit earlier than usual for Birmingham yesterday afternoon, to allow time for a bite to eat in Bank before the concert. Whilst waiting for our table, who should come in but friend, textile artist/embroiderer and WI colleague, Lesley Wilson, wearing the wrap she'd begun to knit whilst we co-chaired at Denman College last summer. Wonderful!

I suppose that not every concert can be a great concert. Last night's was fine, but not quite as memorable as others. Anne Sofie von Otter was "indisposed" but I'm not sure that even she could have redeemed Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" for us.

Walking back to the car park following the concert, however, we thought how attractive the canal looked, with the reflections of the bridge in the water.
This part of Birmingham is really buzzing, and at 10pm is really only just coming to life!

...but I never realised they could be scented

Further to my post about tulips yesterday, I notice that the bunch I have at the moment have a distinct fragrance. Have never noticed this before! They are still standing upright but have opened slightly.

I love tulips

At this time of the year I love to have a vase of tulips in the house. They are the only flowers I love for the whole of their time in the vase - from the minute they are taken from the wrapping, all tight in bud, crisp and fresh until their very last straggly droopy day before they go. (Didn't the chap in Calendar Girls say this too? I need to check the DVD!) I think this week's bunch of tulips are particularly lovely and the markings on the petals quite remarkable.

I have intended, for some time, to take a daily photograph of a vase of tulips, to record every stage of their progress, from fresh-in to throw-out.

This seems like a good bunch to feature.