Another Cold Day

Another Cold Day In Richmond Upon Thames

We are so lucky to live in such a convenient part of south London, surrounded as we are with parks and gardens, shops and restaurants. Richmond Park,  Bushey Park  and  Hampton Court Palace are all nearby and the Thames riverside walks and much commonland surround my home, yet we are barely ten miles from Central London with its wealth of shops, galleries, theatres and historical sites.

This week has been very cold  -  the trees are bare and the grass is crisp underfoot yet little shoots of spring flowers have appeared and there are even some daffodils flowering along the roadside verges. Mr Whizz Kid is away once again saving the world so I had a little outing with friends to Richmond. The drive to Richmond from my home can either go through Bushey Park or through Richmond Park, both equally enchanting - we choose Richmond Park.  I took these photos along the way  ...

Map of Richmond Park

View from Richmond Hill over Ham and The Thames

View Richmond Central Square with icy fountain 

View from Richmond Hill over Petersham and The Thames

View across Pen Ponds

London skyline from the park

Early daffodils on verges

Afternoon tea in the park

First flower on hebe

First spindly crocus

Another struggling crocus

Peeking through the gravel

Delicate blooms

Scary creatures up close

Boy its cold in here!

Cold sun-kissed tree
Via starrymessenger

This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul; and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.
—Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

The park is very  beautiful and has a wonderful cafe - Pembroke Lodge.

This is a favourite London wedding venue and serves excellent food.

The Royal Ballet School , White Lodge,  is also within the park grounds.

There is a ballet museum and several shows each year for the public.

A public Golf Course can also be found in the park.

This is one of  the oldest public golf courses in the country.

A Truly Beautiful Part  Of  London