Peter Pan In Kensington Gardens

Today I scanned a few colour slides from April 2007
When I was living in Leinster Mews, Michael, Heidi, Emily, Oliver, and Alice visited me. It was imperative that we should take a trip into Kensington Gardens, and

Oliver,


Heidi and Alice should stand beside the Peter Pan statue;

and Oliver

and Alice should climb it.

Emily probably took this photograph of me and my grin;

she stood with her brother and sister beside No.100 Bayswater Road with its blue plaque recording J.M. Barrie’s residence there.

James Matthew Barrie, a Scottish author, was the creator of Peter Pan. There is much available information on the internet. I have chosen a link to the Encyclopaedia Britannica site.
The Royal Parks website has this to say about the statue:
‘Celebrating Kensington Garden’s famous fictional resident, the bronze statue features Peter Pan surrounded by squirrels, rabbits, mice and fairies.
You can find the Peter Pan statue to the west of the Long Water, in the same spot as Peter lands his bird-nest boat in the story, ‘The Little White Bird.’
Peter Pan creator and local resident JM Barrie was inspired by Kensington Gardens. He commissioned Sir George Frampton to build the statue which has been a favourite feature of the gardens since 1912.’

The railings of the gardens along Bayswater Road W2 form a weekend art gallery where painters of varying quality market their works

The afternoon we enjoyed a visit from Margery and Paul. We had a good and entertaining catch-up.
I have always thought that Jackie’s splendidly spicy Spanish omelette was the real thing. This evening I learned that it is not. Apparently the genuine article merely contains potatoes and onions. Jackie’s however, contains no potatoes. But it is stuffed with peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, and whatever else takes her fancy. This evening it was served with sautéed potatoes and five varieties of baked bean. The Culinary Queen drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Merlot.

0 comments

  3. That’s a great grin! I think Jackie’s version of Spanish Omelette sounds much more tasty than the real thing. I sometimes make a similar thing but just call it an omelette. Clearly I must up my game!!

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  6. I saw this 44 years ago when my son was 8 months old. It has been a consistent part of my memory of London. I also remember the fenced in playground somewhere nearby – tall wrought iron fence with a most English sign at the gate. “Adults not admitted unless accompanied by a child.” I think I got it correctly – I wonder if it is still there.

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  7. Well, where do I start?
    One, I remember going to see the statue when I was about that age, so this was a nostalgic moment. Thank you for that.
    Two, Jackie’s omlette is clearly superior to the wishy-washy Spanish version. Perhaps the Government could send the two of you on a trip to teach them the recipe..
    Three, is that the same shirt you have been spotted wearing in recent photographs?
    🙂

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    1. 1. So pleased to trigger the memory.
      2. This might be an idea.
      3. Similar, but not the same make. I certainly owned the current two then -they are about 25 years old.
      Thanks very much, Quercus

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  8. What a beautiful place! The statues are wonderful! It looks like everyone had fun AND made good memories! 🙂 And I love visiting art galleries, too. 🙂
    Your smile is a world-brightening-smile, Derrick! 🙂
    I love this post! I watched two movies recently about A. A. Milne and I found out that he, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir J. M. Barrie, and George Llewelyn Davies were on a cricket team together. 🙂 Isn’t that so wonderful!?
    Oh, my, that omelette (and your whole meal!) sounds perfect! 🙂
    HUGS!!! 🙂

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  9. What a great photo of you, Derrick. You’re looking the slightest bit devious. 🙂 I loved the photos of everyone around the statue. A spicy Spanish omelette sounds delish!

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  15. Wonderful picture of you and the kids. When I was young, Peter Pan was one of my favorite books. In a way, it’s a rather odd story, but that might be why I liked it so much and read it over and over.

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  16. Your grin says it all. What a wonderful neighbor you’d be. Wish you lived next door, Derrick… I’d come knocking to taste those omelettes!

    Reply

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