A trip to Kingston..!

On Friday, Tony and l decided to go to Kingston and look for a new kettle because ours had stopped working. As it was a nice clear day, we decided to go through Richmond Park and see the last of the Autumn colours. We were not dissapointed and we saw quite a few deer as well which always makes me smile.

Good job it was not rainning today, otherwise someone maybe getting very wet!

When we were waiting in the queue for John Lewis's carpark, you will never guess what we saw strutting around on the pavement? Look closely as it is very well camouflaged.

 It was a hen pheasant...l like to think it had escaped from the nearest butchers!

According to John Lewis there are only 7 days left to post your letters to Santa Clause.......are you listening children?

Remember why we went to Kingston? That's right, to buy a kettle. The image below shows you what Tony did every time l asked "How about this kettle"? Tony would look on his iphone and check what "Which" magazine said about best buy!!!!

 This is what we ended up with...isn't it gorgeous?....if you can call a kettle that!!!

Now l  am off to make a cup of tea in my nice new red kettle, that hardly makes any noise at all! night allxx

Christmas starts today!!

I thought l would start Christmas to-day...even though the rest of London seems to have been celebrating for the last month or so! This was the first Christmas trees l saw, this one was on Kings Road. You cannot see the lights are actually on but they are!

I had been collecting leaves earlier in the day for some dyeing experiments....On Kings Road there were bags of leaves....should have come here first, instead of spending hours in the cold, collecting them!

 I loved this decorated shop window! Window dresser with a sense of humour l think! Ha! Just what we need to cheer us up on these dark, cold days.

This "Arty" Christmas Tree is outside The Saatchi Gallery.....I was laughing so much watching these children, l was amazed the image came out so well! The reason l was laughing was because the children were so excited but were arguing about having to hold a girl/boys hand! Children never change...l remember having the same arguments at about 7yrs old!

Don't you just love this girl's hat and boots? I stood ages in front of her and she never seemed to notice me taking her image. Too busy talking!!!!

 

 Another of the green Christmas decorations outside the Gallery....Very unusual aren't they but l do love them!

 Love this Christmas Tree....although l heard an elderly couple talking about it like this.
"Is it meant to be a Christmas Tree John?"
"Suppose that's what it is meant to be love, do you think it is Japanese then?"
"Maybe it was designed by that artist, whats his name, you know, the man that wears dresses but is married, also rides a pink bike, heard about him on Radio 4. I know... Banksy, that's him, weird bloke; or maybe it was made by school children?"
"I don't know love, it's not like it used to be is it? A tree, a few bits of tinsel did us."
"We didn't have a tree always, unless he managed to get an axe to one on the Estate without being found out. It is a bit much these days, crap, all crap really. And anyway, how would we get that in our front room then? I ask you, what a stupid looking tree; isn't even the right shape".
Then they walked of towards the Tube Station.....!

I would have loved to hear what he thought about this ball!

 Here is the tree lit up later in the evening....still think it is great.

 On the way home l saw this shadow on the pavement, I thought it was wonderful so l took this image.

Last day in Paris

This is the record of our last day here..sob ! I really didn't want to go back just yet. This is a little cafe, just down from our hotel,  really nice french bread and coffee!

This was going on behind us as we had our breakfast. What was so funny was the fact there were two little old ladies in wonderful hats and waving walking sticks and an elderly man smoking a pipe, all shouting suggestions and instructions in French to the workmen!

The comment l will make here is this.....ever watch monkeys or apes grooming each other?

Another Romanian beggar on the streets of Paris.  These men,women and children are aggressive, even when you have given them money it is never enough.

This really was a long passageway with what seemed like a "light at the end of the tunnel" moment.

These next two images are of chalk messages, 2 of about 8 l saw around the centre of Paris. Isn't true love sweet?

There are many sculptured water fountains all over Paris but the way the light was catching the water in this cup, caught my attention.

This next image again made me remember how dangerous it could be trying to cross a non traffic light controlled "zebra" crossing!

Just love the colour and the shape of this leaf and of course the discarded cigarette lighter beside it!

Frozen lobsters waiting to be chosen to be eaten for lunch! Yummy!

This building has been here for hundreds of years... I wonder where No.9 went! If you see what l mean!

I found that wrecked bikes and motor bikes were a familiar sight around the back streets of Paris but this was the only one l saw in the "Centre" of Paris.

I wonder if this water gun was broken, which was why it was thrown away? or because a mum/dad had had enough of getting wet? Ha!

Now the yellow and blue arrows l saw all over Paris have come together but I still have no idea what they mean!

It is such a shame that these two really rather nice cushions, made with very expensive material, were just thrown out on the street. I would have taken them home if l lived in Paris. A bit difficult for me to take them home to UK with all the "other stuff" l was already planning to carry home!

Us being vain again..Hello!

Want one or both actually but again... no home with space to which to carry them. Also, when l suggested it to Tony, his face said it all! Ha!

"Do you think this electric light bulb hat suits me darlings"? I saw this lampstandard in the entrance hall to a block of flats...interesting!

This is the passage to a row of shops off the main street. At night this is closed off from the main street by big, heavy doors. If people live above the shops, they enter by using a code that is on the main door. This also sound-proofs the flats a little, because they have the door and the passageway between them and the road.

Isn't this building beautiful? The French do love their gilding!

This homeless "area" was beside a Church in Central Paris....very public!

It does amuse me that, on this tiled space down in the Metro, there is only one seat placed in the centre! very weird! Sitting on the white tiles, believe me, is very cold!

 Sad day...on our way home and guess what...Tubes are on strike in London. Oh happy days!

Another walk through the streets of Paris.

I was fascinated by this sculpture, each time we went past it in the bus. So...l had to get off to go and see what it was. It was actually an advert for a shop!!!

All over Paris l kept seeing these blue arrows and, as yet, l have not found out what it is all about!

Then we came across this amazing clock sculpture. It is made up, as you can see, of loads of round clocks all of different sizes and set at different times. It is outside Gare St. Lazare (SNCF railway station). The artist was Arman, it is called "L'Heure de Tous" 1985.

These steps are the ones that lead up to this station's entrance...fun aren't they?

This is the view from the top of the station's steps and the "foetus" tells you there is more than likely a Catholic Church around here somewhere!

Then, just around the corner, l spotted another sculpture but it was behind wire and wooden fencing as there was work being done to the surrounding area. I think it was probably created by the same artist but l couldn't see. The detail in the suitcases is remarkable.

 

You often hear people in Britain complaining about the state of our roads but they have more than likely never driven in Paris!!!

Don't you just love this building? Yes l know l am not a religious person but l love Churches. Why?....maybe it is because of the smells, the stained glass windows, the beautiful paintings and so on. The actual building itself is just outstanding.

 

Isn't this a beautiful window, just imagine how long it must have taken to create?

Oh...this certainly says how someone is feeling about a certain man in France!!

I wonder what these arrows are meant to signify?

As we were winding our way back to the hotel, we came across a whole street of violin makers..such beautiful looking instruments.

Wow..this guy is wearing a lot of yellow isn't he? He was checking every waste bin he passed and filling  his plastic bags with what he found.

Just so you remember this is me taking these images...a nature image from Paris!

I think these Art Deco decorations over this Metro Station are wonderful. Made me smile every time l went down the stairs to the station.

Don't you think this woman is amazing?

Police here on bikes and l also saw Police on roller blades, cars and motor bikes and a few on foot. They are going to get you wherever you are!

Can you see this guy's Lego watch?...weird!

Very ethnic place Paris...great.

Want petrol.....? Last time l saw something this old was down a very small road in Scotland!

Anyone want a mirror...a shop that just sells "stuff" for men and their shaving activities!

 Oh! now l see not only blue arrows l am now finding yellow arrows too!!

 Yes you are seeing correctly..a fire engine acting like an ambulance! Water hoses have been taken down from the appliance to make just enough space for the stretcher!! And we in UK moan about our NHS services. Think again people!

 Love this very simple but beautiful tattoo.

We went past this fresh fish restaurant every night we walked back to our hotel......it always looked so inviting and the smells were very fresh...wonderful.

Goodnight people xx