Tower Bridge

Last weekend was very cold but beautiful.


Sharing with James at Weekend Reflection

Globe Head Ballerina

  This is a side view of the Opera House in Covent Garden. I'm sure a number of you will have walked past it numerous times but have you looked up?

If you looked up you would have noticed this life sized ballerina spinning inside a giant 'snow-globe'.The sculpture 'Globe Head Ballerina' was based on a photograph of Margot Fonteyn. The dancer has a Victorian-style globe as a head reflecting the international work of the Royal Opera House and the universality of ballet as an art form

The artwork is by Yinka Shomibare who also sculpted' Nelson's ship in a bottle' which was show cased on the Fourth Plinth from 2010 to 2012.

The interesting thing about this sculpture is that it was installed in June 2012 and this is the first time I have noticed it which is probably the same for numerous others. A worthwhile piece of art? Hardly, if no-one notices it's there.

Scadbury Park

Last weekend I went for a walk around a local nature reserve called Scadbury Park. It was cold with a sprinkling of snow that had turned to ice overnight but it was good to be out in the fresh air.

The pathways were frozen and care was needed. I am doing another long distance walk in April so I need to increase the length of my walks.

It is a three mile walk around the nature reserve so I went round twice.

It is a three mile walk around the nature reserve so I decided to go round twice and then home for a welcome cup of tea.

The Temple Church

The Temple Church is one of the oldest churches in London. It was built by the Knights Templar and the round church dates back to 1120. The Templars were an order of crusading monks founded to protect the pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. The Temple Church was their headquarters in England and was designed to be similar to the circular church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

      

Walk inside and you can't help but be impressed.

Grotesques and gargoyles were put in place during Victorian times.

Cast of the effigy of King John (1166-1216). The original effigy is in Worcester Cathedral.

The Temple Church

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

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In 1608 King James VI and I granted all the Templars' former land between Fleet Street and the River Thames to the societies of Inner and Middle Temple, two of London's Inns of Court. Every barrister in England and Wales must, to this day,still belong to one of the four Inns. 

To Mark the 400th anniversary of this event a stained glass window was commissioned. It shows the scales of justice are suspended from the sword in the centre. Either side of the crown are the symbols from the Coat of Arms of James VI of Scotland and I of England: the three lions of England, the Scottish lion rampant, the Irish harp and fleur d'lys of France.

The left and right hand lights are the symbols of the two Inns.The  Pegasus of the Inner Temple and the Lamb and Flag of the Middle Temple

The inscription states' Repaired and Beautified 1687'




The stone staircase takes you to an upper gallery where you have views of the nave.

The church was also used for the filming of Dan Brown's 'Da Vinci Code'

Reflections in Ljubljana

So many beautiful reflections whilst walking alongside the Ljubljanica River in Slovenia.

Sharing with James at Weekend Reflection

'Tea Darling'

 This weekend I was out on one of my Above the Underground walks when I  came across this Vintage tea shop. It was my lucky day. I was ready for a sit down and I hot drink and noticed a sign outside the Questors theatre near Ealing Broadway tube station. Always keen to avoid the coffee shop chains this seemed an opportunity not to miss.

To my mind the only way tea should be served. Poured from a china teapot into  a china cup with another pot of hot water to top it up. I ordered a homemade apple tart to accompany the tea and it was delicious, absolutely oozing apple. My mouth is watering now as I think about it.

Being in a theatre the furniture and decor are stage props brilliantly arranged to catch your eye.

Thank you Pam for your delicious tea, cake and company.