Walking around Cudham, Kent

Last year I began a long distance walk from the West coast of England to the East coast but only completed the first half (birth of my first grandchild took priority). At the end of this month I am hoping to complete the second 100 miles so I have begun walking in earnest to try and improve my fitness. This weekend the weather was gorgeous so I set off with my Ordnance Survey map to brush up on map reading skills as well as enjoying a long walk in the Kent countryside.

This is the back of the pub where I had left the car. The hanging baskets and pots were in full flower.

 Violets

With the leaves not out on the trees yet it makes bird spotting a little easier. This kestrel sat still long enough for me to take a quick photo.

This jay was not so keen of having a photo and kept hopping about. This is the least blurred of the photos I took.

There are so many golf courses in this part of Kent you need to keep well away from the fairways.

Not sure who would have planted these at the roadside but I was happy to see them.

The golden yellow flowers of the lesser celandine intertwine with the white daisies

 Yet more daffodils flowering  in abundance by the roadside.

Easy to spot the path across this field.

High fence to prevent you from straying onto private land.

Didn't stop me though as I managed to miss a path and had to scramble through some undergrowth and brambles to get myself back on track. No CCTV here though so that's OK.

This is the clubhouse of another golf course.

It wasn't always dry underfoot.

The path between these two properties is quite claustrophobic.

The primroses and chicory growing side by side.

This walk was about 8 miles and was a real joy on such a beautiful day but I do need to increase my mileage now.

Wimbledon tour and museum (London Museum #18)

A couple of weeks ago I went to Wimbledon to visit the Museum and to have a tour of the famous home of Lawn Tennis. Before arriving at the Museum we spotted this gold post box painted in honour of Andy Murray winning his gold medal at the London Olympics. All gold medal winners were honoured in this way.

Once inside the Museum I was surprised to see both the Ladies' and Men's Singles Trophies.

The Museum was very interesting with film and video footage of tennis highlights. There is also a wide range of tennis memorabilia dating from 1555 to the present day.

After wandering around the Museum we then had a guided tour around the grounds.

It was a very dull day when we were there and here you can see them using artificial sunlight on No1 court ensuring it will be in perfect condition for the Wimbledon Championships at the end of June. Eventually this court will also have a retractable roof similar to the one on Centre Court.

Centre Court with the roof closed. I only wish I had a ticket for this year's championships. You apply for tickets via a ballot but Lady Luck wasn't with me this year.

This is where the cameras will be during the championships but for the moment this one made from box hedging.

There are numerous grass courts but there are  hard, clay and indoor courts as well.

This is court No18 and is famous for having the longest tennis match ever played here. It took John Isner (USA) 11 hours and 5 minutes to beat Nicolas Mahut (France: 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68! in June 2010

The balcony where the winners hold up their trophies.

The championship boards that the players walk past on their way to and from Centre Court.

The stairs up from the men's changing rooms.

Main entrance for the players.

Inside the press rooms.

Just waiting to be interviewed by Our World Tuesday

Tottenham Court road

This is The Rising Sun public house on Tottenham Court Road. It was established in 1730 but rebuilt in 1897. You cannot fail to be impressed by this impressive four storey Victorian pub.

Another impressive building on Tottenham Court Road is Heal's department store. There has been a Heal's store on this road since 1818. This building was built in 1916 selling arts and craft furniture. One of its most distinguished features is the frieze.

Spring in the park

 A walk in the gardens at Dunham Massey, Cheshire, this week.

 The robin was singing away whilst the swans, geese and mallards were on the lookout for visitors with bags of food to share.

Sharing with James at Weekend Reflections

Barbican

This is the Barbican in the City of London. The Barbican is a residential estate built in the 60s and 70s. The complex also contains an arts centre with a range of theatre, music, art and film. Adjacent to the estate is the Museum of London, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the City of London school for girls.


You can walk through the centre and visit the cafe or sit by the water.

Today they had some props on show from the Royal Shakespeare Company. They were being used in an interactive display.

For a large residential estate, it always seems so quiet.