A Walk In The Park

Although my virus has definitely improved, it is still taking a while to clear my head, so, when I set out this morning to scan another batch of Elizabeth’s returned prints, I couldn’t face sorting them, so, instead, scanned a group of carefully catalogued colour slides from March 1973.

On a walk in Westminster’s St James’s Park I made some pictures

St James's Park 2

St James's Park 1

of the view looking west from the blue bridge, decades before the London Eye was to dominate the horizon;

St James's Park 3

of briskly striding wrapped-up walkers, with Westminster Abbey in the background;

St James's Park and Pigeons

Pigeons on Branch

and of perching pigeons and other passers-by.

Against the background of the apple tree that featured in Becky’s Book, I photographed

Matthew 1

Matthew 2

Matthew.

Becky 1

Becky 2

and Becky.

This afternoon Helen, Bill, Shelley, and Ron came fro a late lunch which extended into the evening, when we watched the first day’s highlights of the final Oval Test Match.

Jackie offered a choice of excellent meals well up to her usual standard. There was a tender beef casserole, mashed potato and swede, with crisp carrots and green beans; and there was choice chilli con carne with superb savoury rice. I enjoyed small portions of each. Desserts were lemon tart, profiteroles, and forest fruits strudel. We could take our picks. Assorted red and white wines were imbibed.

Australia, finishing on 287 for 3, had a better day in the cricket.

48 comments

    1. She did spend all morning this time. When we met again after almost forty years apart, I told her I was ‘an ace curry chef’. Little did I know I couldn’t hold a candle to her.

      Reply

  5. I have come to think of certain pictures as “lost views.” Things change or get built and a view to trees or something else gets blocked. Love these and of course your beautiful children.

    Reply

  12. As always, love the shots of the children. Would you illuminate me on what “mashed potatoes and swede” might be?

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Laurie. Swede is, like, potato a root vegetable, although of greater density than the spud. They are chopped up and boiled separately then mashed together with butter until a creamy consistency is achieved.

      Reply

  13. I wasn’t familiar with ‘swede’ either, although if Wiki is accurate, we call it a rutabaga here in the U.S. Last night, I burned our dinner, but yours sounds like it was delicious, and food shared with friends is always nice.

    All of your photos are terrific. I love the differing light in the first photo – how the sunlight on the horizon line is so bright compared to the foreground. The water in the second photo has an iridescent quality that is quite beautiful, especially with the reflections seen in it. The children were adorable little ones. And, I’m no fan of pigeons, but I love that shot.

    Cheers 🙂

    Reply

    2. Robin, I should have looked at your comment before asking Derrick if swede was like a turnip. A rutabaga is a sort of cousin to turnip, I think.

      Reply

  15. Last time I visited my dad we walked through here. Bitter sweet memories. I may be in the UK for a short while in December on my way to France. I wish we could meet and go for a walk. I think walking is perhaps the best thing ever. I hope that’s never marred by the high rise atrocities down by the Lambeth area. Hope you are feeling a bit better. Peppermint is good for clearing your head, as is a hot bowl of water and inhalations. Xxx

    Reply

          1. Oh you live in heaven? I should have known! Yes! This explains the breadth of your imagination in part! How far is Hampshire from Wiltshire? I will be there too a bit.

Leave a Reply