Liberty

Before our appointment at the US Embassy on Thursday we had some time to spare and went to visit Liberty.

It is a long time - maybe 35 years - since I have visited this amazing shop.  It seemed to have shrunk - or perhaps the scale of department stores generally has increased over time!

It was decorated for Christmas of course - perhaps not as traditionally as might be expected.

The LED chandelier was impressive from above and below.

Plenty of Christmas decorations on sale..

And the biggest chocolate coins you have ever seen..

Such a beautiful place...loved it more to visit than to shop though..

Stratford in Winter

A visit to Stratford on Avon today - for shopping rather than sightseeing but there was time for a couple of shots of the rather chilly looking river and canal.

This area is so busy with visitors in summer but today most people were rushing by.

Interesting light through the tiny canal tunnel under the road.

Marylebone Station

A visit to London to renew our visas at the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square.  

David arrived from Toulouse and I from Leamington and we met up at Marylebone Station. It was good to see each other after three weeks.

I don’t think I have ever visited Marylebone before.  No photos but the decor in the ladies loo seemed to reflect the fact that one of its main claims to fame is on the Monopoly board!

On arrival alongside the platform was an impressive collection of bicycles, though few seemed to be in use..perhaps due to the weather.

A quick look at the outside too before we went on our way..

At the end of the day, David had his first cuddle with new grandson Charlie.  They seemed to get on...

One year ago

A year ago today we were in Seattle where we visited the famous Pike Place market.

As well as Fish and seafood there were amazing displays of fruit and vegetables.

And a stall selling floral decorations including ‘Christmas Reefs’ (sic).

We attended a performance of ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the historic theatre adjacent to our hotel.

We also visited the Museum of Modern Culture with its extraordinary pink clad exterior.

And we marveled at the intricacy of the creations in the ‘Gingerbread Village’ at the Sheraton Hoteland the fantasy costumes in the Museum of Modern Culture.

The year has passed so quickly!

Changing Times

Ginty and Emma are adapting well to the arrival of a new human in their lives..and Ginty proves to be very tolerant!

(No babies or pussycats were harmed in the taking of this photo!)

Redwing or Fieldfare?

In this very cold, snowy weather, the berries on the pyracanthus bushes have become attractive food for many birds.

Small flocks of Redwing (as above) and/or Fieldfare perhaps both) together with other thrushes and blackbirds are waiting patiently high in the trees before swooping down when the coast is clear to get their fill.

This bush was covered with beautiful red berries before the snow.  I think that this is a Fieldfare enjoying these.

But I think that this is a Redwing!

There are rich pickings for the blackbirds on the snow too.

Any advice as to identification welcome - but lovely to see these winter visitors.

First Snow (2)

Yesterday I posted David’s photos of the first snow of the winter in Virginia but today was Theo’s first ever real snowfall!

He was keen to look out of the window and wonder at it.  A little more trepidation when he went out in it..

He soon got the idea and ran around in what was, for him, quite deep snow.

With his Mum and Dad he built a large snowcat and also enjoyed throwing a few snowballs!

Baby Charlie did not go outside today but he did get to see his first snow..