We Had A Quiet Day,

in the late afternoon,

it was warm clothes on,

as we were going to spend the evening outside,

we were off to meet Steve and Kai,

and make our way to the night attraction at Kew Gardens, naturally it did not go according to plan, a fire on the tube network meant we were more than a few miles from our destination, we were told to take a bus, we waited for 20 or so minuets, the bus sailed past us and all of the others waiting at the stop as it had 14 people taking up the space of 33 due to Corvid restrictions, so a taxi it was then!

we finally arrived at the Christmas night display at Kew,

and in we went,

a quick pose by Diana,

and we started our walk,

at first just white displays,

for quite some distance,

but we knew from last year,

that more colourful displays were just around the corner,

the sign on the ground says it all,

there in the distance,

past these smaller trees,

a huge illuminated tree,

with neon lights travelling up from the roots,

it was too good to miss!

we started on again,

leaving the neon tree behind us,

the first of the illuminated buildings,

as we walked closer,

the interior changed colour,

in time with music,

which was being played over loudspeakers,

the show and music,

lasted for a couple of minuets,

then stopped and started again,

we passed some of the many tall, 

illuminated trees,

then food!

the girls were hungry,

so chips it was then,

the first food station was opposite the in garden shop and restaurant,

if you have watched Avatar,

you will recognised these dandelion like seeds,

into the first tunnel,

that changes colour,

as you walk through it,

well I had to have a pose,

and Diana had to have another one,

in the summertime this avenue is a mass of cherry blossoms,

now in winter,

LED lights take the place of the blooms,

one more pose,

and we were on our way again,

passing this building,

guess who lives here?

Santa of course!

we continued,

by now the girls were hungry again, the sign above the stall says it all,

luckily the rain was holding off,

two hot dogs to go,

Steve helped Kai out with hers,

not so Diana,

she ate the lot! good job I was not hungry,

we walked some more,

but this was one van that we could not walk past!

under a ceiling of lights,

it all looked so nice,

marshmallow anyone?

this was the first of the huge set pieces,

a transparent wall of lights,

surrounded the viewing area,

then to the sound of synchronised music,

the show began,

from nothing,

to crescendos of sound and light,

it was spectacular,

there was a similar display last year,

but this one was so much better,

as with all of these things,

it is a learning curve,

improving and evolving,

from year to year,

every colour of the rainbow, but predominantly red,

and blue,

we all thoroughly enjoyed the show,

looking back to it,

we continued our walk,

as the show started another cycle,

the girls took a pose in one of the picture frames, in the back ground are the light torches using real flames, I will end here this is the first of two parts to this post, if I post too many photographs it takes time to type and add photographs, so if you want to see more of our visit and a video that Diana made of it, have a look at part two by hitting the 'older posts' button at the bottom right of this page.