Backpackering 10 - Day 4

 

A visit to St. Ann's church in Turton

to see Jenny's memorial garden stone, last visited 10 years ago.

Backpackering 10 - Day 3

 

Onwards to Manchester's Piccadilly Station on the day United play Aston Villa,

reaching Bolton in time for another asian lunch.

My town of birth's townhall 

with a very contrasting modern library.

Backpackering 10 - Day 2

 

A visit to Miniatura on the out skirts of Coventry, for may be for the last time.

Sunset over Birmingham City.

Backpackering 10 - Day 1

 

About to leave for Birmingham,  hale stone!

Lunch, Japanese style, in the Bull Ring 

before setting off to find site's once familiar 

like Art Gallery and Museum

and, of course, where we used listen to the Symphony.

Not so old, Brums trams. 

Plot 3, Cleared

 

The last rake over.

Now for a cunning plan. What to do 🤔.

Plot 3, Progress

Left side cleared,  

path to Flat 9 completed with primroses,

but some roots still to remove.

Plot 2 Traditionalised

 

From mixed pots

to matching pots, Victorian style.

Plot 3

 

The start of the revamp,

at the tip of it.

Happy Chinese New Year

 

The year of the Horse 

Mary-Ann's Visit

 

Breakfast at Coffi Co

followed by the mandatory shadowy along  Esplanade

then home to open our presents. 

Next, walk across the barrage to Cardiff Town.  Was a bit chilly but enjoyed the sun shine.

Stroud

 

An oil painting of the town from the 18th century when it was known for weaving woollen broadcloth. Stroudwater Scarlet cloth, use by the millitary, can be seen hanging in the fields to dry, dyed in the tubs seen by the  river.

But back to today to walk up to the museum via Stratford Park,

to see an extraordinary exhibition of animate wooden sculptures created by an octogenarian using a re-purposing approach. He began by making miniatures and dollhouses.  Is that where I'm going?

With us for the day was grandson Isaac and his mum. 

On the way home on TfW.

New Cabinet Installed

 

New storage for Gek's stuff. Be a tidy play room now. 😄

Burns Night

 

A gathering of the boys for a nosh, haggis, neeps, tatties and, of course, a dram or three.

A Busy Day

 

at the Court.

Cardiff Visit

 

One of the many city arcads, up stairs

and down.

Backpackering 9 - Day 5

Homeward bound through Hyde Park passing swans

passed by boarders

for a cafe brunch, trad for me, mod for Gek.

Opportunity for arty photo taken.

Backpackering 9 - Day 4

 

Walking passed, you know where, and the crowd waiting for the changing of the guard,

on the way to Chinatown to meet up with friends for lunch.

But first, a must do shop at Loon Fung. 

Then, a must do visit to where Gek and I met up 20 years ago this week, the Royal Academy of Art cafe.

Backpackering 9 - Day 3

A walk out to the V&A Museum after collecting Gek's new passport from the Singapore High Commission

Next, a walk down to the River Thames, passing a Henry Moore art work,

to Vauxhall Bridge and the MI6 offices.

on the way to Tate Britain. All a walk for us down memory lane from 20 years ago.

On the way back, a row of  natural sculptures.