It Was Diana's Day Off,

so first thing we were out, 

and as usual I took way too many photographs, so today I am only making one post, so here we go, glad rags on, we were soon on a crowded number 54 bus, 

alighting at Blackheath, past the church,

and time for a quick pose, 

on the heath in case you get lost, 

much to the delight of the crows I had a few peanut's with me,

on the other side of the heath,

we made our way thorough the gates, 

and past the gate house, 

we saw these rather nice flowers,

with the rather grand name of Indian Summer Princess Lily, (Alstroemeria),

Diana closed in for a close up,

in the distance this avenue in the summer is really popular, 

looking along the avenue, 

in the spring this is a mass of cherry blossom, 

a quick pose, 

as we made our way towards, 

The Pavilion Café,

2 latté coffees and a cake for Diana,

all set, 

time to tuck in,

well I had too!

snack finished, and we were on our way, 

walking towards the observatory, 

and the viewing point, 

the Maritime Museum in the distance, 

one of the most photographed views in the park,

I would guess, 

Diana had to have, 

a couple of posses, 

to our right the observatory, 

and to the left 

the 4 chimneys of the power station and the O2,

the new grass slop, 

now completed, 

well I just had too, 

and a close up,

one from Diana, 

looking back the statue of General Wolfe, 

it was crowded as we made our way down the hill,

we neared the power station, 

and museum,

difficult to see in the haze, the masts of the Cutty Sark,

at ground level,

Diana enjoying herself,

we neared the gates to the park,

Diana going through the right hand side, 

who said that? looking good behind bars!

in the distance, 

the Cutty Sark, 

a few visits ago we had a nice meal here in the garden of The Kings Arms,

if you want a typical East London meal, this is the place to go, Goddards,

we made our way past the square, 

towards the Cutty Sark,

looking through the archway, 

a part of the Maritime Museum,

we neared the Cutty Sark,

the stern of the vessel resplendent in its gold livery, 

I have often thought, 

this could be a way to overcome,

my fear of heights, 

yes those are real people up there!

it is a course you can enrol in, it is called Cutty Sark Rig Climb Experience, yours for £55.00 each, 

we made our way to the bow of the vessel, for the non-nautical, the pointy bit at the front,

where the name of the vessel is,

beside it the entrance to the underwater pedestrian tunnel across the River Thames,

we went to the ticket office for our trip up river, 

on one of the Uber boats, 

on the other side of the river, Canary Wharfe, 

a pose as we wait for our boat, a slight increase in price, for my discounted ticket as a OAP up from £5.50 to £6.70,

our boat in the distance, 

but it parked up by a coupe of barges, 

to make way, 

for these two vessels to dock first, 

this one not ours as it was going down river, 

on to the jetty, 

as we waited for passengers to disembark,

the Cutty Sark behind us,

 

we thought this was ours, 

but it was not to be,

here was ours coming in stern first,

nearly there, 

mooring ropes in position and we were onboard, 

and swiftly going past locks in the river leading to tributaries that lead into it, 

lots of river side developments,

as we speed towards the centre of London,

at this point there is a ferry for foot passengers across the river here, 

the journey upstream was remarkably fast, 

in the distance our goal, the Walkie-Talkie building,

a bridge over a tributary, 

in this development a crane has been left, 

I did not know the other side of my UK family was in town,

a paddle disco/restaurant boat, 

Tower Bridge, 

under we go, 

and out again, 

in the distance the Shard, 

in front of it the moored HMS Belfast, 

on the river bank behind it, 

Hays Galleria, 

and this is where we are going, the Horniman, 

but first dock at the jetty, 

and a walk ashore, 

with a quick pose,

or two, 

HMS Belfast, 

opposite the Walkie-Talkie building,

in we go, 

to the pub, 

we had already reserved a table, so time to pour,

'Cheers!', as our meal arrived,

two large haddock and chips,

eyes down and tuck in, 

Diana pointed out the message on the bottle, 

included in our meal a free spritzer for Diana,

which she said was rather nice, the bill including a lemonade for Diana came to £71.70, if the spritzer was not free that would have added a further £11.90 to the bill,

we then went for a walk along the embankment, which was packed,

 

time for a pose, 

or two, 

well I just had to,

the sunlight gleaming off of my head, 

it was a hot sunny day, 

almost opposite us the Tower of London,

a last look at Tower Bridge, 

and the Tower of London,

as we made our way back towards HMS Belfast, 

behind it, 

the Walkie-Talkie building, 

time to turn left, 

into the Hay's Galleria, 

and admire the The Navigators, by David Kemp, no relation, (as far as I know), the piece is a rivet-covered bronze sculpture with the face of a man and the body of an industrial-age ship, The Navigators is actually an enormous kinetic machine, the 60-foot sculpture was installed in 1987 during the renovation of Hay’s Galleria, which saw the conversion of the old wharf into a shopping centre, as an side when activated, its oars move through the water at its sides, David is a British artist best known for his large assemblage sculptures, 

He lives on the Atlantic coast of West Cornwall where he scavenges for interesting bits to make his art from, about his art he says: “I make things out of things, big things, little things, old things and new things. I like to recycle things, and find new uses for things that have been thrown away. Some things say something about their surroundings, and other things become something else.”

a short walk over the road to London Bridge Station,

and a shopping opportunity for Diana,

in Oliver Bonas, 

we were soon hurtling towards Beckenham Junction,

the mini roundabout almost finished, hopefully it will cut down on the appalling number of accidents that took place regularly here, 

past the snail mail box and home for a wash and brush up a bit of a relax and a sandwich before making a video of the clips that Diana took during the day,

and here it is, also for a bit of fun, 

I added some music to this take, next I was out again, 

I was on my way to meet with Steve, 

in the Moon & Stars in Penge, we chatted the night away, until it was time to say our goodbyes and make a move for our homes, I was lucky with the buses, so arrived home in no time at all, Diana has already gone to bed, for myself I was just in time to watch a Have I Got A Bit More News For You, before I was off to bed.