Deep and Crisp and Even...

Welcome back to my recently neglected photos blog!  I woke late this morning after a fabulous night our at my office Christmas party (drinks at Windows, a bar at the top of the Hyde Park Hilton with fabulous views over London) followed by a walk round Winter Wonderland and then dinner at the Oxo Tower on London's South Bank...Sadly no photos as I couldn't carry my camera.... anyhow, I woke late (for me) at 8.40 but it was so bright and frosty an beautiful, I made a snap decision to go to Kew.. and I am so glad I did, I took nearly 200 photos and it was perhaps the best visit I've ever had... sit back and enjoy - this could take a while!

 I arrived an hour later than usual, around 10.30. The frost was still heavy on the ground, and the gardens looked beautiful.

winter is a time for renewal and new planning, and they are working on the Broad Walk, for a stunning sounding new long border, to be completed the summer after next. should be good!

 I knew that "my" fountain would be looking good today, and I got quite carried away (these are just a few of the photos I took)

 the Dogwoods were looking colourful today

and the reflections were great too

 and the sunshine catching the water spray beautifully in the air

 still loads of frost on the grass especially

 inside the Palm House, they were spraying the plants and there was a warm tropical misty atmosphere

 back outside, and walked round the other side of the lake where the Dogwoods were reflecting in the lake

 more frosty grass pictures!

 just love the shadows of the trees in the frost

 and the sky, and leaves still so colourful

 off to the Henry Moore sculpture again, surrounded by frosty grss

 the frost was melting on the statue, creating drips - you may need to click on them to enlarge them to see better

 a quick selfie!

if I'd been able to stay till 2.30 they were going to have carol singing in the Orangery restaurant here..
but I was tired after my late night, and had to head home.

Hope you've enjoyed today's photos - I have lots more, but think this will have taken you long enough to look at!

the Tower of London - and Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red

Hi, just home from another lovely day out with Lin, at the Tower of London - we enjoyed it so much last time, and as we didn't get to see everything, we wanted to go back - and to have another look at the stunning art installation that has captured the world (and I think most of them were there today!)

So, forgive me, this post is very picture heavy!
Had an early start to try and beat the crowds.. ha ha ha!! that one failed - everyone else had the same idea... anyway, it was early as I left - barely light:...

 the moon was still high in the sky!

 8.40 am and these were the crowds!! so much for beating them.  So we got our tickets (another queue) and went straight into the Tower

were there were (slightly) fewer people in the way - but you can see them in the distance, lined up along the walkways viewing the poppies.

 one of the famous Tower ravens, cawing away.

 the White Tower

 view of Tower Bridge

 the Tudor buildings in the corner are home to the Constable of the Tower.... and then there came a "make way please" and some men in suits...

 oh look the Prime Minister, David Cameron, and his family (turned out, he and Samantha had planted a couple of poppies, and obviously then had a private tour!)




they got a tour of the Constable's house, which isn't open to the public, this is them on the way back out.








We left them to go on their way, and headed for the part of the Tower where the instruments of torture are - not sure I fancy the rack!

 We went into the Beauchamp Tower, which used to be the prison, all kinds of  medieval graffiti on the walls.

 back outside to view the moat full of poppies.

 and the cascade over the bridge across the moat

 we took another Yeomen Warder tour, this was our guide George.  He was still funny, but not as good as the one we had last time, but there was no sign of him.
The Tour ends in the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, which we missed last time as it was closed for refurbishment. Sadly, we weren't allowed to take photos inside.

 Traitor's Gate, with the poppies the other side

 The Tower used to be home to the Royal Mint, this time we went into the exhibition to see - these are the tools used

 Assay scales to measure the right level of gold or silver

 another glimpse of the poppies from the bridge across the moat

 love the white daisies growing through the poppies!

 the cascade

 then we left to walk round the outside of the Tower, it was very crowded all the way, but for the most part people took turns to get to the front to snap their poppy pics.

 VERY grey skies behind the Shard, luckily while we were there it just drizzled a little now and then

 this had all been planted since I was last there in September

 up to the road now, and glimpses through the railings

 and today's volunteers, planting the final few thousand poppies (the 888,246th will be planted on Armistice Day, 11th November)

 Following the walk round the top, the moat is now nearly full the whole way round

 we took the "high" walk and luckily as I had the long zoom, I could cut through most of the people!

 but I did deliberately keep some in to get an idea of the crowds.

 quite a few people down on the lower viewing walk

but all in all, a lovely lovely day.
Thanks for the company Lin, sorry you got soaked on the way home!