Diana Has A Day Off,

so I will only be making one post today,

and as soon as I post it, we will be out, back to Thursday, as Diana was on a late shift we had breakfast together, a fry up,

'Cheers!', with a a mug of tea, after Diana left for work I started looking through the literally thousands of photographs we have taken over the years, a job I keep meaning to do and separated them into separate folders, like orchids, fish, steam engines, etc to make it easier to find photographs on a select subject, it is going to take weeks, which is why I keep putting it off! 

in the late afternoon as I had to take the now dry sunbed cushions upstairs, I decided to bring the Christmas tree down with me, it must be me, every year it seems to have gained weight! the good news was that when I plugged it in, all of the lights worked! we bought the tree when we first returned to the UK, some 5 or 6 years ago and after the first couple of years I expected to find the lights not working, and then having to check every bulb to find the one that did not work, but hats off to Balsam Hill Christmas trees, the lights all work for another year, (I just hope I do not jinx it saying this!), after my evening meal I watched a BattleBots followed by a Midsomer Murder, during which Diana called so off to pick her up, arriving back home a coffee and a chat about where we are going to go on Friday, after which we were off to bed.

Blog Posted,

and I was on my way out to visit Duncan, 

the bus was crowded, 

and steamed up, so no photographs on this part of the journey, 

at Blackheath station, the builders had been busy in the 4 weeks I had been away, all of the roof on the upline completed, 

just the end for the down line and the major works on the ticket hall to go,

I arrived at Dartford, and typical, the Gravesend train I normally see leaving to Gravesend as I arrive is waiting today, the day I do not need it, today I am visiting Duncan in Darent Valley hospital in Dartford, he was moved there from the nursing home 10 days or so ago, 

there were a number of policemen at the station, I asked one of them where I could get a bus for the hospital, he replied, "over the bridge and down the steps", well I found out he was wrong, the bus stops on that side go back to Bluewater, he should have said do not go over the bridge, go down the steps by this side of the bridge, so back up the steeps towards the station, I guess the policeman was not a local,

anyway I made it to the hospital and found Duncan who was in very poor sprits, the good news was that a doctor explained to me why he was admitted, apparently he was dangerously anaemic, as well as a few other things that were serious, the course of injections he was on could not be administer at the home as he could have a apoplectic attack due to the strength of the medication and a doctor should be readily available, the good news is that on Thursday he is due his last injections, all being well and transport permitting he will be back in the nursing home on Friday, so I will pop down next week as usual, phoning first to make sure he is there, 

after staying for a couple of hours we said our farewells and I was soon back at the station for my trip home, 

next the train back to Blackheath and onto a number 54 bus, it could have been the same one as the windows were just as misted as early this morning, 

I tried a photograph, going past Lewisham High Street some of the pavement has been laid, 

with more paving slabs waiting, 

I was soon waking past Foxgrove lodge, and there he was, 

Rudolph! I must soon make a start on bring our decorations down from upstairs, 

arriving home I continued printing the photographs to put on the wall, and started taking out the ones that I put there a few months ago, 

and there they are, 

all looking good, well I think so!

next time for a read of Private Eye, Diana was on a late shift today,

and had left me a Lancashire hot pot, 

'Cheers!', for myself a Bangers & Cash followed by a Midsomer Murder, at the end of which Diana arrived home, so feet up for a coffee and a chat, after which as we were both tired we were off to bed.

This Is A 'What Is It Post?'

the artwork is in the Victoria and Albert museum,

in the South Kensington Grand Entrance,

and will be on display until 5 January 2025,

well what ever it is it is big, 

and intricately made, so have you guessed yet? the clue is when the display finishes, yes it is a Christmas tree! Anne Lomax designed the installation as a spiralling column that forms the shape of a traditional Christmas tree, according to Lomax, the whimsical installation was designed to "evoke the feelings of joy and child-like wonder" and embody the Christmas spirit, "My design for the 2025 V&A Christmas Tree uses the iconic V&A dome columns as a starting point but gives them an actual playful twist, embodying the 'Christmas Spirit' through a spectacle of light," Lomax said, 

apparently it is well liked, "Lighting up and lifting spirits this festive season, we are thrilled to commission Anna Lomax for this year's V&A Christmas tree installation," senior curator Meneesha Kellay said, "Delighting visitors with her playful site-specific response, Anna has taken inspiration from the iconic columns in our Grand Entrance." the artwork forms the latest of the museum's annual Christmas installations and will remain on display until 5 January 2025, looking at it I feel our Christmas tree will be a tad overdressed!

Stuck For A Christmas Present Idea?

well if your family or friends have a plain wall, how about a poster?

not just any poster but one they may never have seen before like this one, Rosalie saw before her eyes a tree of marvellous beauty, a print by Virginia Frances Sterrett, 1920 it is one of many offered by The Public Domain Review there are so many categories, the above from Illustrations, as an aside for the story of Rosalie have a look here, 

from the oceans, Louis Renard's Fish, Plate XI, Louis Renard (after Samuel Fallours), 1754 from the category Under-the-sea, 

perhaps my favorite set Japanese-woodblocks, this one Bamboo and Rising Sun, Utagawa Kunimaru, 1829 in any event there is a huge choice, I have to say for us, all I do is every few months print some of the photographs we have taken on our travels, but what a nice and different present to receive for Christmas, well I think so.

Wednesday Is here Again,

so I will be popping down to visit Duncan, 

but this time I telephoned the home where he is staying to find out if he was back from hospital, which I did, but I was told he was still in hospital, so I will go to the hospital today, so there will only be one post today, and as soon as I post it I will be off to visit Duncan, hopefully I can find my way by bus and train, back to Tuesday as Diana was at work and I had nothing planned, I decided to make a start on changing the photographs on our wall, I choose the theme of waterlily's, all of the photographs I had taken on our travels, but they all contain backgrounds that I did not want, so back to teach myself 101 on how to remove the background and replace it with black, 

like this, 

the same, 

for these three, 

even though I say so myself, 

I was quiet pleased with the result, 

a tad time consuming, 

but I thought the end results were worth the effort, 

I liked this one, 

with a insect on one of the petals, 

and I had to have one, 

with a bee or is it a wasp? in it, 

for a new theme in a few months time, 

I might choose fish, 

or perhaps, 

motorcycles? in any event good fun and it kept me busy, I will continue with the waterlily's if I have enough time when I return today from Duncan's visit, back to Tuesday I stopped playing with photographs when Diana returned home, after our evening meal it was time for a couple of Antiques Road Trips before a 2 hour Midsomer Murder before we were off to bed.

I Am Only Making One Post Today,

as there are lots of photographs, 

first thing I was out, into a not too chilly day, and thankfully the wind had died down,

off of the bus here, the Beckenham Beacon, I was in for my annual eye check up, every year the NHS writes to me to have my eyes checked for any problems that diabetes might bring on, 

thankfully all was well, so out and on my way back home,

past the Foxgrove lodge at the entrance to the park, I mentioned I had lots of photographs to post, 

and here they are, 

Diana a sent me these, 

from her trip to Boracay, 

Mum, 

Lynn and Diana,

left from Clark Airfield, 

a remnant of when the Americans had a base here, it is the nearest airport to Diana's family home,

OAP's were allowed to board first, so Diana and Lynn not missing a trick followed Mum,

a quick selfie,

and first on the plane, 

and in no time at all,

they were in Boracay, 

and off to their hotel, 

Henann Garden Resort,

they will be here for a few days, this is when I was holidaying in Thailand, 

the room looks and was comfortable, 

it had a nice beachside café, 

and pool,

the joys of being, 

by the seaside!

time for the evening meal, 

Diana with a very risqué outfit, not that she wore it other than for the photograph!

into the pool for a night time dip,

and moon bathing, 

next day to the beach, 

and a bit of kayaking, 

back to the hotel, 

for a bite to eat, 

Lynn all smiles, well they all were smiling so much, 

back to the beach, 

what a view!

relaxing for the afternoon,

a real sand castle, 

group pose, 

and this is the hotel,

relaxing in the sun, 

and a bite to eat, 

by the pool,

what better way to spend the day?

group photograph, 

and one of Diana, 

time for a snack,

then all dressed up for the evening, 

for a meal in the restaurant, 

by the infinity pool,

then on to the patio by the restaurant, 

for a fire show,

which is held nightly, 

next day off!

for a boat trip,

to some of the nearby islands, 

life vests on, 

and it is time for some snorkelling, 

then off the boat, 

at Crystal Cove Island,

for a couple of photographs, 

it looks so nice here, 

and everyone is having fun, 

a quick swim,

and splash around, 

on the beach, 

before another pose, 

and walk around, 

before a meal at the Philippines favorite fast food outlet, 

Jollibee, 

the days just flew past, 

before it was time to leave, what a wonderful break for Mum, Lynn and Diana,

back to the UK in the late afternoon we were out, 

to the cinema, 

stock up on goodies,

and we were off to our seats, 

time to tuck in before the film, 

as you might have guessed Diana was hungry!

any minute now, 

and this is what we were here to see, Gladiator II, I will not comment as it is new out and you may not have seen it, but I will say was we both thoroughly enjoyed the film, after which we stopped off here, 

Miso Noodle Bar in Beckenham,

although not a drinking day, I had a beer, 

we were not that hungry, so just spicy spare ribs,

sesame seed prawns on toast and a seafood noodle dish for Diana the bill came to £40.50, after which we arrived home,

 for the start of the latest Wolf Hall, which was very enjoyable before we were off to bed.