Sunday, I Am Now Starting To Catch Up With The Posts,

so here we go with a visitor,

on the roof of a neighbours house,

one of the ducks was back in a clear blue sky,

so summer clothes on,

and we were out,

going in the opposite direction of so many people going into the park,

on the way out we stopped by the side garden of Foxgrove Lodge,

to admire the white peonies in flower,

we made our way past the green,

down to Londis,

to drop off a parcel,

then a wait for a 227 bus, opposite Pierluigi,

in no time we were half way up Crystal Palace hill, where we alighted and went into Crystal Palace Park,

the bee garden on the top of this abandoned building,

has really taken hold,

in the distance, 

tents and crowds,

behind us the mast,

the Crystal Palace transmitting station, officially known as Arqiva Crystal Palace,

we made our way around the cordoned off area,

we thought about a ice cream, but when we saw the queue, we decided to pass,

in the distance,

a few buildings that all that is left from the Great Exhibition of 1851, it would have been so wonderful to be able to go back in time and visit, but there it is,

but this is what we are here for today, the Antiques Roadshow, it was today being televised from the park, it was a ticket only event and Diana had, you guessed it! ordered two tickets, 

we were soon checked in,

and passing so much top end equipment, 

and of course the presenter of the show, Fiona Bruce, who is one of the country’s top journalists and presenters,

we continued walking past more equipment staying out of the sun,

we often watch the show on television, people in the area are asked to bring in their 'treasures' and a number of experts give the opinion on the value, or lack of it, on items brought along,

each table has its own expert,

specialising in their chosen subjects, porcelain,

or whatever they are knowledgeable about, 

this gentleman about books of cards,

whilst this table,

specialises in military buttons, 

tables every where,

we stopped on the way to the stage,

where open air concerts are held,

looking to one side, the queues at some of the more popular tables seems endless,

thank goodness it was a nice day,

after having their treasures appraised many stayed for filming to begin, 

on this table something caught my eye,

on the table a Cood bottle,

the Codd-neck bottle is a type of bottle used for carbonated drinks, it has a closing design based on a glass marble which is held against a rubber seal, as you might imagine so many were broken by kids to get the marble inside!

we neared the stage,

where a few more tables had been set up, 

looking behind us lots of people waiting,

all of the people,

did not seem to faze out the local geese!

we followed others,

over the small bridge to the stage,

where more experts were giving their opinion on items brought in,

looking back it was a beautiful day,

the crowds enjoying the day and the sunshine, we then made a move, what happens is that after everyone's items have been seen, the experts put forward what they consider are items to be filmed, the presenter then makes the rounds as the program is recorded, that will start in a few hours, so we were off,

past the band and on our way,

exiting the cordoned off area,

a quick look at the fishing pond in the park, it is still out of season, so no fishermen today,

it was in December 2022, that we walked along here,

at the Lightopia at Crystal Palace, and saw fearsome creatures like this at night, 

we were soon heading downhill,

and past the stadium,

and soon nearing the football pitches,

not full sized ones, these for the local kids teams,

past the World War I & II memorial,

and playground,

we were nearing the farmers market,

and there were a lot of stalls here,

at least twice the number of our last visit,

the fresh vegetable stall was the first we passed,

as it happens it was quite crowded,

a cake for Diana?

all of the stalls putting on a great show,

like this one,

we were spoilt for choice,

everything looking so nice to try,

like these cakes from Popina, 

and nice they looked too, 

Diana's favourite stall, Filipino street food, but not today,

I was tempted, but did not give in!

if scotch eggs are your favourite, this is the stall for you!

I should not say it, but I knew we were nearing the cheese stall from some distance away,

the sign says it all,

and natures nectar,

honey,

shopping and looking over we passed the park café,

and made our way to the bus stop,

for our journey home,

passing the church we popped into Marks & Spencer for a few items,

and then the station, where we bought our tickets for tomorrow,

and guess what?

after what must be nearly a year,

the footbridge over the track was completed,

all aboard!

we were soon passing the side garden at Foxgrove Lodge,

the potted rhododendron,

putting on a good show,

as well the bi-coloured peonies,

now opened,

what a lovely day out as we neared home with clear blue skies,

it was soon time for my read and sherry, I was still reading Labyrinths by Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo, for tonight, A Note on (towards) Bernard Shaw, I then made a start on the longer than most A New Refutation of Time, which I have to admit I found heavy going, so no change there then!

'Cheers!', all of me this time,

as we tucked into the kebabs we bought when we visited Keston and the Holwood Farm Shop, where we bought them, 

followed by a slice of chocolate cake that our neighbours Steph and Dafydd had bought for us,

delicious! as were the kebabs, after which it was time to pack for tomorrow, after which a Midsomer Murder, before we were off to bed.