Skip to main content

My dogs are barking

It was a long tiring day and yes, my dogs (feet) are barking. (sore).  After my first English brekky of the trip I headed off to catch the number 82 bus down to Oxford St.  I decided to walk to the bus stop a different way this time.  I have been staying at this bed and breakfast for 12 years now but this was the first time I actually walked this way.  I had a brief chat with a lady who advised me to visit the garden of the Golders Green Crematorium and I am glad I did.  I have gone by this place countless times on the little H2 bus that takes me from Golders Green station back here after a long day but I have never visited.  Sorted!!!  She told me the crocuses were out and yes they were....very interesting to visit. 






Maybe some people would be squeamish to visit a place like this unless absolutely necessary but I found it comforting. 

I got off on Oxford St. and headed along Bayswater road crossing into Hyde Park.  I got misplaced as I usually do in that park and got way off the route - that will teach me for deciding to take a diversion from the walk instructions.  I certainly got my daffodil fix! 




I also saw a black swan in the Lido in Hyde Park



When I finally got out of the park I walked over to the Natural History Museum and was horrified to see a huge line that snaked around and obviously would take hours to get in.  I think not!  I asked one of the security guards why it was so crowded and he told me it was the beginning of school break.  Luckily the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit which is what I wanted to see has been extended until May 2nd.  I was advised to book online and then would get in without lining up.  So I will definitely do that. 

Luckily the Victoria and Albert museum was not busy or I should say AS busy so I popped in - to use the loo!  Okay I did take a few photos...



By now I was dying for a hot coffee or tea but every place was packed - the only ones that weren't were the "posh" ones with waiters and I was not dressed for that nor did I want to spend that kind of money.  I wanted a nice casual place where I could sit and have a hot drink and write in my travel journal...alas...it wasn't to be...maybe tomorrow? 

Walked past Harrods and close by I thought I saw a dog on the sidewalk - turned out it was a sand sculpture! 





Near Sloane Square I spotted a church and decided to go in and have a rest as it was open.  There was a large group of people laughing, stretching and making strange noises with an instructor giving them directions.  I figured this might be laughter yoga and thought I should take part but chickened out.  Lucky I did as it was a choir practice.  Oops - now wouldn't that have been embarrassing 


The choir getting ready for a formal practice - when I walked in they were all on the side of the church. 

On I trudged  into Chelsea and then along the Thames which on this dull day looked like gray slate...

I loved the entrance to Swan House along Chelsea Embankment. 


Shortly after this I gave up for the day and took a bus to Victoria station.  I think I did half the walk again trying to find a bus to Golders Green.  There is so much construction around the station and the buses leave from all over the place. 

After a 45 minute bus trip I arrived back and treated myself to a mushroom pizza - oh sorry known as Pizza Funghi in an  Italian restaurant and a glass of white wine.  While the pizza was good I could not  finish it and it left me wishing I had ordered pasta or even minestrone soup.  I needed something warm.  Ah well tomorrow night it's back to something from M & S to bring back here. 

A tiring but good day. 

Comments

Anonymous said…
I bet your dogs are barking - quite the day of touring.

We went to the V&A for the first time this November. Amazing. Love all of the free museums in London. Such a good concept.

Our dogs were barking earlier, but they are the ones that we are taking care of at our house sit. Your sand sculpture dog looked nice and quiet and peaceful. Much more my type.
Laurie said…
Yes I too love the free museums in London. I am so interested in your petsitting as I do that as well. Where are you now? So far I only have had one "gig" and that was in London Xmas of 2014. Hope to snag another here this coming Xmas and lots of other places as well. I belong to Trusted Housesitters and Mind My House - competition is fierce!!! Yes the sand dog was very quiet. :).

Popular posts from this blog

Peeing on fish or a fish out of water

Well this morning we headed off by boat to Siem Reap.  Due to the low water on the Tonie Sap Lake (more like a river until near the end of the trip when it widened considerably) the trip would be an 8 hour one... It was supposed to be boring but ended up as anything but...in no certain order...let's see.... We had a rest stop (turned out to be the only one) along the way and the loo was just a hole over the lake and there were fish circling around underneath.  Yes it was just a hole in the floor...you definitely had someone watch your stuff while you went in or one false move and your camera/purse or whatever would be in the lake.  The fish either like the warm pee coming in or they are pervs and like to see ladies parts.  We were just a few minutes out when all of a sudden there was something flying over me and jumping all over the floor - a little fish!  Guess he wanted to join the tour.  Roger reached down and scooped him up while I hooted and hollered.  Okay it wasn&#

A walk along the coffin trail (and a couple of lakes) in the Lake District

While in the Lake District I wanted to do some light walking but not heavy duty hiking where I could easily get lost and my body not found for days partially eaten by hungry...sheep?  Anyway, you get the drift...not too grueling and safe for a solo walker.  I get a bit nervous when I am too far from civilization. There are lots of books about walking in the Lake District but they seem to be all about walking the fells in remote places...neither Thelma nor I fancied that.  While browsing in the post office/shop in Ambleside one day (if you are ever in Ambleside you must go there - a treasure!) I found a stand of walk descriptions on post cards.  And there I found my walk.  After all who could resist a stroll on the "coffin trail" in William Wordsworth country... I took a look and thought hmm...cafe along the route...that works for me. (with at least the security of knowing there was an available "loo" along the way.)  Okay, I may not have totally followed the

The highlights of my Fall 2023 trip

I'm back home after a great six weeks away. This was a "short" trip for me.  So here we go with an overview of my trip.   London London for me is always a good idea.  I fell in love with it back in the mid 70's and it's been calling me back ever since. Some of the best things in my life have happened in London.  When I learned my two Oz friends Loraine and Linda were going to be in London in the fall I knew I had to be there.  And what fun we had!!  Of course, I did loads of other things as well.  I spent two weeks there from mid September until very early October and then back again for four nights at the end of October before flying home.   After over five years (delayed for two and a half years thanks to Covid) of walking, I finally finished the 126 km Capital Ring.  The picture above is taken at the end of my walk and where I started in May of 2018 at the main door of Streatham Common station just steps from my B and B.  What a walk!  I got to see so much more