Don't worry. I am still alive even though I haven't blogged in a couple of days.
Simon is now safe in the hospice and though we will see him again tomorrow, this weekend Shirley and I took the opportunity to visit our lovely son Ian and his equally lovely girlfriend Sarah in their new home in Fulham, West London. It was the first time we had seen it.
We slept in the attic room which in spite of the blistering heat outside was very comfortable. The house was refurbished to a high standard by the previous owners and Ian and Sarah have enjoyed their first month living in the property.
It was great to see them. Together we visited The Tower of London for two reasons. Firstly, there was an amazing display of wildflowers in the former moat called "Superbloom" and then, secondly, as the sun was sinking, we attended the ancient "Ceremony of the Keys" which has been conducted every night for the past seven hundred years. It is the oldest extant military ceremony in the world.
We all slept soundly on Saturday night and then at lunchtime today we visited "The Captain Cook" pub in Fulham for Sunday lunch before Shirley and I headed back to St Pancras for our late afternoon train back to Sheffield. It was in fact cancelled so we had to board the very crowded 16.02 back to Sheffield. Thankfully, we bagged two seats.
There's more to be said in the week ahead and of course I snapped a good number of photographs too. So yes, still very much alive as Great Britain awaits the hottest temperature ever recorded in the next two days.
And, by the way, I have never visited a hospice ever before.
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The last photo is excellent, with perfect lighting.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it's not by me!
DeleteGlad you were able to enjoy London before the hellish weather arrives. And kudos for getting from one point to another - it seems travel there is getting dodgy indeed.
ReplyDeleteWell, when you're busy it's tough to keep up with the blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you two got to spend time with your son and his lady. Looking forward to seeing the photos of London. Did you meet up with Steve and Olga?
ReplyDeleteI like the look of The Captain Cook. We have a Fulham here in Adelaide and next to it, a Fulham Gardens which is just another suburb not a big patch of flowers and trees and grass. I'd like to know more about the Ceremony of the Keys. I'm sure google will help me there.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen the Ceremony of the Keys, but I did stumble onto the "superbloom" and loved it. Hopefully it will be just a little bit cooler up where you are!
ReplyDeleteThat top picture looks like a drawing rather than a photo. Is it the searing heat of the sun that has given it that unusual colour quality?
ReplyDeleteEchoing Andrew, the drawing is even better than the photograph. Excellent detail.
ReplyDeleteIt must be lovely to see your adult children moving into homes of their own. My boys are still young enough that living at home is expected while they pursue more education and figure out possible career paths. The way things are going with the real estate market though, I wonder if they'll ever be able to afford their own homes. Maybe my nest will never be empty, gasp!
ReplyDeleteEvidently the Captain Cook pub didn't offer the authentic experiences as you are alive to write about it.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was in hospice care, though at home, before she passed, and those people who do that work are saints.
ReplyDeleteThe first photo looks very much like an artist's impression. The second one is excellent - so atmospheric. It's easy to imagine the Ceremony of the Keys being conducted for so many hundreds of years.
ReplyDeleteWell, now you HAVE visited a hospice. They can be holy places.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen The Tower of London or the Ceremony of the Keys! And sadly, I doubt I ever will. Pretty cool.
Glad you had a nice visit with your son and his sweetheart. Hope your trip to the hospice went smoothly today and Simon is comfortable now.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you were able to get away Neil, think of something completely different and be able to spend time with Ian and Sarah, Please don't worry; hospices are usually remarkably serene places to visit, and if Simon is in the one I think you're referring to, the staff are gentle and kind, and often the volunteers have known palliative care for their own relatives.
ReplyDeleteImagine how hot those uniforms are in weather like you're having now. Ack!
ReplyDeleteI am pleased for Ian and Sarah to have found such a comfortable new place, and pleased for you that you had the chance to visit them.
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I were at St. Pancras and then at King‘s Cross for about an hour on Saturday afternoon, changing from the Eurostar to an Azuma train to Leeds. We could have almost bumped into each other!
And another comment disappears into the spam :(
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