A Splash of Colour

Lest We Forget.

I sit beside a fallen tree, looking across my field that has been transformed, these past years. My once lush, emerald pasture has been replaced with a patchwork of myriad browns. My once proud trees lie twisted and broken, like so much mangled machinery, spread without any thought or care. 

Diffused sunlight causes the timber frames and mangled steel of rotting machines, to appear to dance before me, like ghostly silhouettes on the uneven ground. 

Water, which fills the pits and troughs, reflects the dull, colourless sky, adding to my sombre mood. My heart feels heavy. Nothing moves. Nothing lives.

But, suddenly, there is clarity. The droplets from the fine rain, acting like a lens, focus my attention. Among the detritus, at the edge of the field, is there movement? Do my eyes deceive? I resist blinking, trying to focus on the apparition before me. Finally, I blink and the form takes shape. The shape of a man. A man who is staring at me,  as though he can see into my soul. 

My body aches as I rise to my feet. I feel the figure watching me, as I make my way into the field, if it can still be called that.

My progress is hindered by the thick mud, which sucks at my boots, threatening to pull me down into the bowels of the Earth. The figure before me turns, heading toward the centre of the quagmire, seeming to float across the surface. My breath becomes laboured, as my ageing body fights to keep me moving forward. As we get closer to the centre, the figure seems to undulate in-and-out of focus. A wave of nausea sweeps through me as the figure turns and holds my gaze. Tears fill his eyes as he dips his head. With a last great effort I step forward, throwing my arms around him, but he disappears and I topple into the mud. 

The sun, which has finally won its battle with the clouds, breaks through and warms the ground around me. And as I fight my way up and out of the decaying ground, I notice a splash of colour. As my eyes try to focus and my mind works to make sense of everything, exactly where the figure had stood, is a flower, swaying in the gentle breeze. 

The sun illuminates the thin wisp-like stalk, topped with blood-red petals. Somehow, against all the odds, surviving in the mud and detriment... a poppy.

Trafalgar Square: Nelson's Column

Nelson's Column.

Whenever you visit Trafalgar Square it is impossible to miss Nelson's Column, on its pedestal, surrounded by four bronze lions. However, getting a good view of Lord Nelson, at the top of the column, is not so easy.

Nelson's Column.

It is strange, now, to think that when the square was being designed it was to be named for King George IV, in celebration of his ascension to the throne. When this was changed and it was decided to name it after Lord Horatio Nelson the plans still did not include a column, nor fountains.

Erin and Keilyn sitting with one of the bronze lions.

National Covid Memorial Wall

National Covid Memorial Wall.

The National Covid Memorial Wall stretches for a third of a mile along the Albert Embankment, from Westminster Bridge to Lambeth Bridge.  It was a risky idea as it could be interpreted as criminal damage, as no permission had been granted.

National Covid Memorial Wall.

The first hearts began appearing in March 2021, when members of the 'Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Campaign' arrived and began painting hearts on the wall.

National Covid Memorial Wall.

At the time of writing there are almost 250,000 hearts painted or drawn onto the wall. The idea being that there be one heart for each person who had Covid listed as a cause of death on their death certificate.

A staggering figure, that could have been much worse.

Horrible Histories: Terrible Thames

Keilyn and Erin ready to board the Horrible Histories Terrible Thames cruise.

Friday October 28, 2022.

Erin and Keilyn, both, are really into their history and love reading the 'Horrible Histories' books. So, when we spotted a 'Horrible Histories' ferry sailing the River Thames, we just had to take a trip on her.

Looking across the River Thames towards the Terrible Thames boat tour.

With the vessel, 'Silver Sockeye', due to depart at 10:45 we made sure that we were there in plenty of time, so that we could be at the front of the queue to grab the front seats. We headed upstairs and sat at the front on the port side, with the stage just in front of us.

Erin and Keilyn on the stage with Tower Bridge as a backdrop.

County Hall

 

The County Hall from the River Thames.

Thursday October 27, 2022.

I have visited The County Hall, to see the London Aquarium, The London Dungeon and other attractions housed within the building, but I had never stayed in this iconic location. So I was over the moon when Emma booked us in to the Premier Inn for the night, during a recent trip to London.

Most of the building is private property, but if you speak nicely to security, and the building isn't too busy, you can go into the main foyer for a quick look around.

The County Hall at night.

Besides that, the building is pretty much off limits to the public. Still, it was great to see inside areas not normally accessible and the view from the hotel room wasn't too bad, either.

At night the entire front of the building is lit up, making for a striking light display.