Wandering the streets of London

After leaving the museum, I decided I would just relax and wander around. I wanted to enjoy London, and not run helter-skelter.

Temple Bar! For hundreds of years there was  a gate of some sort where Fleet Street becomes The Strand. The present structure was designed by Wren, and traitors heads used to be put on spikes on the top of the gate. It was moved in the late 1800's to a park, where it languished until it was brought back to London in 2004 near its original home. It was quite a thrill to see this bit of history back in London!

A statue commemorating Dr Johnson's cat. I have seen Dr Johnson's house before, but somehow missed the cat statue in my previous visit.

Home of the amazing "brain box" Dr Johnson.

Inside St Dunstan's, a church along Fleet Street

St Dunstan's 

Also St Dunstan's

A statue of Dr Johnson, on the back side of St Clements Danes Church.

Catching up: London in May

On my way to New York I spent a day in London. It had been eight years since my last visit there. I decided to go to The Museum of London, which I had never visited previously. It was a fabulous museum. I took A LOT of photos at said museum, here are only a few of the highlights:

Bone items: a spindle-whorl, a shuttle and a pin from Anglo-Saxon London

A skull and some charred bits & bobs (coins, grain & pottery) from when Boudicca sacked London!!

A toy knight, circa 1300. Who knew they had toy soldiers even back then?!

Leather bottles and other such things, Medieval. 

Hairnet and wire for head-gear, 15th Century

Jumping forward several hundred years - a lovely 20's gown.

1910's gown.

This and the following picture are lovely paintings of London.

A dress made for Elizabeth II coronation.

Detail, as well as a toy set sold at the occasion as well.

A 1960's Beatles dress!

I came across this just down the road from the museum.

Lovely St Paul's cathedral, also very close to the museum.

Lion & Unicorn Staircase

In the old Glasgow University campus which used to reside on the High Street in the city centre, there was a well known staircase called, as you may have guessed, the Lion and Unicorn staircase. When the university was moved to its current location, parts of the old university were moved - such as the main gates and this staircase. And just today I discovered where it was - just beyond the beautiful memorial chapel!

The staircase in the old university.

The unicorn (with the memorial chapel beyond it).

I like the face beneath the lion's claws.

Shop Windows

This first photograph is from last week, when I was wandering around the city centre. I just couldn't resist taking a picture of this outfit! It looks so dashing, and somehow Victorian. If Sherlock Holmes had ever done any investigations in Scotland, he might have encountered someone wearing this outfit.

I must add, too, that just a few days later Rachel and I were walking down Great Western Road when we saw a man in a kilt. After we passed him, I asked her what she thought of men in kilts - if it was a good thing. "Oh, yeah!" she replied enthusiastically. I was so glad we agreed on that!

This next item I saw in shop window ONE DAY after the Royal Wedding!

Petals are unfolding: May Day in the Botanic Gardens

I discovered yesterday that the gates to the Botanic Gardens open at 7. So though the sun had long since risen (at about 5:30 I believe, not that I was awake to witness it) I awoke a little before 7 and got myself ready to go celebrate May Day in the Botanic Gardens. I felt sure I could walk around bare-foot and sing May songs, and not disturb anyone.

Of course, the many birds and the squirrels were already out celebrating with song and chatter. It was a beautiful morning (and the temperature was about 47 degrees).

Mostly pigeons were gathered beneath the tree, but there was one seagull and a magpie.

Can you see the squirrel poking his head out?

The Squirrel Nutkin variety, which one sees all over in Glasgow: just a short stub of tail. He came out to wish me a Happy May Day.

My favourite chestnut tree in the Botanic Gardens.

Someone else out early enjoying the beautiful morning.

A variety of thistle, I believe.

Just as I was leaving an interesting fellow came in and said that I must be the fairy god mother. I denied this, but he replied, "Oh, aye. Ye mus' be!" and walked off. 

Last School group at the Hunterian!

Today was my last opportunity of volunteering at the museum with the school groups. Another girl specifically asked to do the wool, so I did wood drilling instead! I don't know if I've ever done this before. But it was a good group - talkative and interested, so that was good. I couldn't have my picture taken with the children, but Jill, the woman running the program, took my picture afterwards. (There's a small bit of wood secured in the larger wood contraption on the table. a stick with a metal tip is held down while one rubs a bow (strung with leather and wrapped around the stick) back and forth. This eventually creates a hole in the wood. A similar process is used for stone drilling, which is another of the activities that we did at the museum.

Domestic Forays

Last week I had an Enchanted April party. I got this from Heather, who every year, invites close female friends over to munch on snacks and watch the very beautiful film Enchanted April. I will say, that the evening went very well. I invited three friends: Patsy (who makes amazing, huge, delicious dinners every fast Sunday for the YSA and young marrieds), her sister-in-law Becca (who spins wool like a dream!) and Rachel. We relaxed, talked, watched the movie and all round had a lovely time.

I made my ginger molasses cookies for the event, and even frosted them. The next day I had lots of left-overs (as it makes an ENORMOUS batch) and I decided to make them into sandwich cookies. They turned out very well. I took some into work and everyone sampled them and liked them. I took a picture:

Then, today, just for fun, I took another food picture. I made salmon cakes (with lovely Tesco Italian herbs!) and had them with brussels sprouts and basmati rice. And here is how it looked:

I don't know that this looks all that picturesque, but the dish was tasty!