again up early to catch the train,
still a bit cold and overcast,
although I had hopped the weather would improve over the hour or so it took us to get there it was still overcast, but at least it was not raining!
and here we were at the main gate of Hampton Court,
the impressive drive down to the palace,
we had to take another picture or two we have seen the palace so often on The Tudors DVD's,
one thing I did notice was that on every turret or
facade a famous Roman figure was placed there, I wonder if that was in Cardinal Wolsey's original design or a 'add-on' at a later stage?
the lions guarding the entrance,
into the courtyard, but look at the ceiling,
no expense was spared setting up this palace,
make way for the guard,
first into the kitchens,
then the fish court and yes this is where the fish were brought,
another part of the huge kitchen complex,
now that is what you call a fire place,
a place where I am totally out of place,
would you believe it but this is a real fire in the hearth, nice touch of realism,
on to the butchery, so many guests had to be feed which is why the kitchen is so large,
and for the workers that live in, their own post box,
what a wine cellar,
there are lots of little cellars and passage ways,
they look quite light when the flash goes off, but in reality they are quite dark, I jokingly mention that there was the ghost of Anne Boleyn and Diana was out of it quicker than a guided missile! even though I pointed out that Anne was not murdered here but at the Tower Of London on false and trumped up charges she would not go into another small cellar again!
on the steps of the wine cellar,
I think I prefer barrels rather than bottles!
we then went in for the grand tour,
huge staircases and murals every where,
the ceilings were painted as a matter of course,
the good news was that there were no restrictions on taking phonographs, but the use of tripods was banned in case some one fell over one,
large tapestries also hung on some of the walls,
and of course every room had to have an enormous fire place to keep the inhabitants warm,
like this one,
another huge tapestry,
this is one is placed well away from the window, so I guess it is very sensitive to direct sunlight,
a tall bed,
and painted ceiling,
it must have been so easy to get lost in a palace like this, so many corridors and secret rooms,
then outside to the gardens, all of the trees I believe here are yew,
leading down to the pool and fountains, we ducked back inside as it began to rain,
in the spirit of Christmas ornaments for your Christmas tree are already now on sale, Christmas's seem to come round so quickly now days or is time passing faster as I get older?
the original sundial, now brought inside to keep it from deteriorating,
a nicely stocked book stall and souvenir shop,
a sit down at last!
I got told off for taking the next few pictures,
we were told it was OK to take pictures, but it appears there are a few rooms where you can not,
how do you know? you do not unless you buy the guide book where it says you can not, I still think a sign would work better, especially if like us you did not buy the guide!
there are so many small rooms with fireplaces,
and numerous collections of porcelain on the mantelpieces,
then into the yard of the clock tower,
next the apartments of Henry VIII,
into the main hall,
at both ends there are beautiful stained glass windows,
with Henry himself in this one, there is not much more to see in this part of his rooms other than the great hall,
and finally we finish,
outside again on the turrets
more classical Roman faces,
there was a exhibition of young Henry VIII,
and Diana was lucky enough to meet an old Henry VIII,
again make way for the Guard,
by now we were both more than a little hungry with all of that walking, so off to The Prince Of Wales public house,
Diana had a 10 oz gammon steak, beef in a Yorkshire pudding roll for me,
Diana outside the Prince of Wales,
after arriving home it was a quick shower, change and we were out again,
this time to meet up with Mahendra, Sunda, and Depak with their wives for a meal at Nouville Douti near Thornton Heath,
'Hi' from all of us,
Kai and Diana, both the same in blue,
Diana and Depak,
Steve and the restaurant owner,
Steve and myself, two men about town! then home feet up and a good night sleep.
still a bit cold and overcast,
although I had hopped the weather would improve over the hour or so it took us to get there it was still overcast, but at least it was not raining!
and here we were at the main gate of Hampton Court,
the impressive drive down to the palace,
we had to take another picture or two we have seen the palace so often on The Tudors DVD's,
one thing I did notice was that on every turret or
facade a famous Roman figure was placed there, I wonder if that was in Cardinal Wolsey's original design or a 'add-on' at a later stage?
the lions guarding the entrance,
into the courtyard, but look at the ceiling,
no expense was spared setting up this palace,
make way for the guard,
first into the kitchens,
then the fish court and yes this is where the fish were brought,
another part of the huge kitchen complex,
now that is what you call a fire place,
a place where I am totally out of place,
would you believe it but this is a real fire in the hearth, nice touch of realism,
on to the butchery, so many guests had to be feed which is why the kitchen is so large,
and for the workers that live in, their own post box,
what a wine cellar,
there are lots of little cellars and passage ways,
they look quite light when the flash goes off, but in reality they are quite dark, I jokingly mention that there was the ghost of Anne Boleyn and Diana was out of it quicker than a guided missile! even though I pointed out that Anne was not murdered here but at the Tower Of London on false and trumped up charges she would not go into another small cellar again!
on the steps of the wine cellar,
I think I prefer barrels rather than bottles!
we then went in for the grand tour,
huge staircases and murals every where,
the ceilings were painted as a matter of course,
the good news was that there were no restrictions on taking phonographs, but the use of tripods was banned in case some one fell over one,
large tapestries also hung on some of the walls,
and of course every room had to have an enormous fire place to keep the inhabitants warm,
like this one,
another huge tapestry,
this is one is placed well away from the window, so I guess it is very sensitive to direct sunlight,
a tall bed,
and painted ceiling,
it must have been so easy to get lost in a palace like this, so many corridors and secret rooms,
then outside to the gardens, all of the trees I believe here are yew,
leading down to the pool and fountains, we ducked back inside as it began to rain,
in the spirit of Christmas ornaments for your Christmas tree are already now on sale, Christmas's seem to come round so quickly now days or is time passing faster as I get older?
the original sundial, now brought inside to keep it from deteriorating,
a nicely stocked book stall and souvenir shop,
the main quadrangle with fountain in the middle,
a sit down at last!
I got told off for taking the next few pictures,
we were told it was OK to take pictures, but it appears there are a few rooms where you can not,
how do you know? you do not unless you buy the guide book where it says you can not, I still think a sign would work better, especially if like us you did not buy the guide!
there are so many small rooms with fireplaces,
and numerous collections of porcelain on the mantelpieces,
then into the yard of the clock tower,
and a very special clock it was too,
next the apartments of Henry VIII,
up the steps we go,
into the main hall,
at both ends there are beautiful stained glass windows,
with Henry himself in this one, there is not much more to see in this part of his rooms other than the great hall,
and finally we finish,
outside again on the turrets
more classical Roman faces,
there was a exhibition of young Henry VIII,
and Diana was lucky enough to meet an old Henry VIII,
again make way for the Guard,
by now we were both more than a little hungry with all of that walking, so off to The Prince Of Wales public house,
Diana had a 10 oz gammon steak, beef in a Yorkshire pudding roll for me,
Diana outside the Prince of Wales,
after arriving home it was a quick shower, change and we were out again,
this time to meet up with Mahendra, Sunda, and Depak with their wives for a meal at Nouville Douti near Thornton Heath,
'Hi' from all of us,
and from the other end of the table,
Kai and Diana, both the same in blue,
Diana and Depak,
Steve and the restaurant owner,
Steve and myself, two men about town! then home feet up and a good night sleep.
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