Miscellanea

This is a bunch of quirky stuff and each has no real connection to the other, but I thought they’d be worth writing about.

Whenever we’ve traveled by train or bus through the countryside over the last few weeks we’ve been lucky enough to see brilliant fields of yellow blossoms. It is oilseed rape, but they make it into canola oil.

When the woman that gives the tube announcements gives info at a station, instead of saying get off here for the British Library, or exit here for Buckingham Palace, she says “Alight here for Royal Albert Hall and the Museums.” It automatically makes me sound graceful.

Queen Elizabeth has two birthdays. One is on April 21st, her real birthday and another is always the 3rd something in June. Don’t know why. Shakespeare’s B-day is April 23rd and that is also St. George’s Day. St. George is the patron saint of England and lots of people go around wearing dragon hats.

The parish church just down the street from us is called St. Mary Abbot’s and I love it. It’s right on the corner of Kensington High street and has a little hidden garden behind. There is always someone inside to greet visitors and they are called Church Watchers. Every now and then I go inside and one of the Watchers explained to me why there are these little pieces of wood that slide out from the pew into the aisle. They were for gentlemen to rest their hats on.

One of my favorite things about our street is that there are a few schools in the neighborhood and everyday a bunch of little girls in their uniforms go down the street. I’m guessing they are headed for Hyde Park. Some of them are carrying hula hoops which seem to be making a comeback here.

When we were in Cambridge with the Stevens we decided to pay the entrance fee to go into Trinity College. Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, Tennyson and many others belonged to that college. The written guide drew attention to a statue of Henry VIII a ways above the main gate. You wouldn’t notice unless you were told, but a few years ago some students climbed up and took the staff or whatever out of his hand and put in a wooden chair leg instead. I guess it was considered a great prank and so they’ve left it there. See photo.

Like any other big city, there are a lot of interesting people. Especially on the tube. See photo of red girl.

Even though we’ve been here several times, we have never gone across the street from St. Mary Abott’s to the roof gardens. I’ve known they were there but never gone up. A bunch of dept. Stores are underneath and the gardens are on top of six floors. Richard Branson bought them and has turned it into something really wonderful. One can go visit as long as there isn’t a “function” going on. There is a great view, trees, streams, flamingos and ducks.


I went to Berkeley Square the other day just to look around and saw a little yellow car recharging, I guess. See photo.

When we went to Kew Gardens with the last group, we took the girls that won the “clean room” competition to lunch. Sally picked a Michelin-rated restaurant. I don’t think these girls had ever had that kind of a dining experience.

Last but not least, (I’ve got more but this is getting too long), Iggy has a new girlfriend. Her name is Lizzy and she came from the Buckingham Palace gift shop. They make a great bear pair.