Another year ends

Happy New Year from London

I always like to look back over the year and think about the highlights, which this year would naturally be the birth of my granddaughter. Such a little miracle, she has brought so much joy to the family. Of course, I started this blog to record my attempts at overcoming the challenges on my bucket list. So did I manage any this year? Well yes I did, I managed nine altogether: Walking in Darwin's footsteps on the Galapagos Islands; watching the New Year's Eve fireworks; tour of the Houses of Parliament; finding the London Stone; climbed a volcano; visited Highgate Cemetery; walked around Constable country in Dedham; climbed to the top of St Paul's Cathedral; got onto Eel Pie Island and visited 5 new Museums.  

Another treat this year was meeting up with fellow bloggers:

                                                                                     Gattina from Writers Cramps

                                        Cynthia from I'm retired- adventures of a simpler life.



Marcia from Birds, Blooms, Books etc

Not forgetting all the way from Oz  Andrew from High Riser and Stewart M from Paying Ready Attention

So here starts 2015 bring it on!

Media City

After Christmas I travelled 250 miles North to visit Mum in the nursing home. I am not in my usual hotel but am staying in one close to Manchester United's Football ground. Last night there was still a little daylight left when I arrived back at the hotel so I went for a walk in the freezing but also refreshing temperature after being in Mum's very warm nursing home all day.


 The hotel is very close to the Manchester Ship Canal and Salford Quays.

 Salford Quays is now home to Media City. Covering a large area on what was once the Port of Manchester, Media City is occupied by the BBC and ITV and the University of Salford.

 The light was fading as I walked around but it created some excellent reflections.

 Easy to get here from the centre of Manchester on the frequent trams.

 Close up of the bridge I need to cross to take me back to the hotel.

 Sharing with Our World Tuesday

Manchester Ship Canal

Walking by the River Irwell in Manchester, during the Summer, I had a look around the small churchyard of St Catherine's and came across this large family grave in a rather overgrown part of the graveyard.

Marshall Stevens founded the Manchester Ship Canal which enabled large ships to come inland to Manchester, a large industrial city. When the canal opened in 1894 it was the largest navigable river canal in the world and soon the Port of Manchester although 40 miles from the sea became Britain's third busiest port.

I wonder if the memorial was placed on higher ground so that it would look down over the River Irwell which formed part of the Manchester Ship Canal.

The canal is very different these days being more at home to leisure activities.

The Odeon Covent Garden

The Odeon Covent Garden on Shaftesbury Avenue used to be The Saville Theatre. Opened as a theatre in 1931 and then became a music venue in the 1960s before being converted into a cinema in 1970

The original frieze on the exterior of the building is called 'Drama through the ages'.

Xmas trees

Merry Christmas from London

From outside the Festival Hall on the Southbank of the Thames

The tree of light also on the Southbank. The messages on the tree are to remember a loved one.

From the Houses of Parliament

                       From Westminster Abbey

From outside 10 Downing Street

                                                                 From Trafalgar Square

                                              From Berkeley Square

                                                           From Covent Garden

Merry Christmas from outside the Shard

Finally Merry Christmas from outside Somerset House.