Out For Our Sunday Morning Walk,

so cold weather gear on,

 for the walk to the 227  bus stop, we are normally at this one going to Bromley, but today we have the town hall behind us,

 as we are going to Thicket Road in Crystal Palace,

 we walked past the car park,

 and this ugly yet to be finished building,

 and arrived at the lake,

 two of the Canadian geese were camera shy,

 but not these Tufted ducks, (Aythya fuligula),

 who came looking for food,

 but alas we had not brought any bread with us,

 the two geese were still not ready for the camera,

 then off we went,

 one duck following us in hope of a meal, 

 in the center of the lake, boats moored that you can hire in the summer,

 one of the trees that line the waterside had been cut back, in the distance our first glimpse of the dinosaurs,

 they were commissioned in 1852, and are still here today

 this view brings back memories, I sat at the waters edge here on my first fishing trip, back in the 1950's fishing was allowed, and caught my first fish, a perch, I can still remember it today 

 as we stopped, 

 a couple of coots, (Fulica atra), came by looking for food, 

 the bird has large feet, evidently helpful in swimming and walking over floating plants like water lily's,

 this chap has the right idea for taking pictures of the birds,

 feed them! 

 we are now at the far end of the lake, looking back to where we came into the park,

 and we are getting near to the dinosaurs,

 one of the three monkey puzzle tress, (Araucaria araucana),

 that are at this end of the lake,

 a better view of some of the 'monsters' as one visitor cried out,

 it is a shame that they seem to go through stages of interest, then years of neglect, then interest again,

 at the moment some are being repaired,

 a look back at the third monkey puzzle tree and we were off again on our walk,

 at this point,

 there is quiet a collection of the concrete animals,

 a quick pose,

 by Diana,

the crocodiles seem to have been refurbished,

 and the Plesiosaurus, 

 the snouts on these looking like the Indian Gharial Crocodile, (Gavialis gangeticus),

 next there were three, 

 mighty beasts,

 looking down, 

 and at us,

 one of these is particularly famous as guests were for one night invited to dine inside one of them,

as shown in the illustration, and the menu?

Soups: Mock Turtle, Julien, Hare

Fish: Cod and Oyster Sauce, Fillets of Whiting, Turbot à l’Hollandaise

Removes: Roast Turkey, Ham, Raised Pigeon Pie, Boiled Chicken and Celery Sauce

Entrées: Cotolettes de Moutonaux Tomates, Currie de Lapereaux au riz, Salmi de Perdrix, Mayonnaise de filets de Sole

Game: Pheasants, Woodcocks, Snipes

Sweets: Macedoine Jelly, Orange Jelly, Bavaroise, Charlotte Russe, French Pastry, Nougat à la Chantilly, Buisson de Meringue aux [Confiture ?]

Dessert: Grapes, Apples, Pears, Almonds and Raisins, French Plums, Pines, Filberts, Walnuts &c, &c

Wines: Sherry, Madeira, Port, Moselle, Claret

the date of the feast, December 31st. 1853, for more about this totally unique meal, there is an interesting article here,

 I ma guessing as it is winter the pumps that provide water for this fall,

 have been turned off, with any luck they will be working in the summer time,

 a last look at the island,

 and it appears that work on the many broken dinosaurs is continuing, I have to say it, I am surprised that some enterprising paint manufacture does not stump up a few tins of paint and paint them, think of the publicity they could create from that stunt, and the story could even go worldwide!

 we are now opposite the moored boats,

 where the red deer are,

after taking this photograph,

 we noticed this little chap looking at us,

 Diana took his picture, 

 and without zooming in,

 tried to see how close I could get to him, 

 very close as it happens,

 a map of the lake, for more details of the park, here is it's website, 

before we go, going back to the dinosaurs if you have time here is a longish talk/video about them,

 a last look and we were off home,

and for our Sunday lunch,

 Diana had cooked a turkey roulade with pork, leek and bacon stuffing, along with pigs in blankets and a selection of vegetables, delicious!

 'Cheers!', 

 for dessert a sticky toffee pie for Diana,

 a sherry trifle for myself,

in the evening it was time for a film, so we continued with Sir Anthony Hopkins, and watched Hannibal, and with the end of that we were off to bed.