The cafes of Richmond 1 - # 18

'roony leaves the river via Friar's Lane, lopes across The Green, nips up the alley opposite the Magistrates' Court and emerges on The Quadrant, opposite the railway station. Skillfully deploying his 5th life he darts safely across the road, through the dangerous traffic......et voila!! Maison Blanc......cafe de ville par excellence!!!!! Get there early to enjoy the window full of the most magnificent patisserie that will delight even Eric in Paris itself. HAPPY St. VALENTINE'S DAY and love to you all. http://www.maisonblanc.co.uk/

Cute view of Richmond Bridge - # 17

Trotting downriver from Petersham Meadows towards Richmond 'roony stops to admire the aspect of Richmond Bridge glimpsed through the trees. The bridge was finished in 1777. The next bridge would have been 3 miles away at Kew and then nothing for about 10 miles 'til Westminster. It will about 1840 before any more bridges are built between here and London. By about 1842 the railway will arrive in Richmond!! That's hi-tech for you!!!

The bright side of life - # 16

After three days patroling the fringes of the Dark Side 'roony, tail up, ears pricked, trots back home to post a not very good photo of Winter Jasmin bathed in early February noonday sun: macro focus, shot from an awkward angle, hands shaking, no tripod - technically a lousy photo, but saying everything that I feel right now. "Always look on the bright side of life!"

A sign that suburban winter is over - # 15

Prices are up. Demand is strong. A warm feeling spreads through the London suburbs.

Living with British nightmares - # 14

The Great British Surveillance Camera.........watching the problem, but struggling with the resolution.

Living the British Dream - # 13

These young men are immigrant refugee Kurds. They work like demons, and do a superb job on your car. Their service has taken off like a rocket, because people like their style, their friendliness, the way they do their job, and are pleased to have them working on the local shopping parade. Three doors away there is an Iraqi who offers an excellent dry cleaning service. Next door there is a Pakistani trader who runs a good shop, and there is a superb Lebanese nearby. Round the corner there is a Sikh....ALL are doing well, and a pleasure to do business with. The others are English, white, and the salt of the earth. That's Britain.....welcoming to anyone who seeks a safe, law abiding, open society, that cares about freedom and what it means to be really free.

Global coverage needs safe hands - # 12

This is the last of the "mini series" on work at Ham House. Theo is an expert in restoration of leather. I was amazed to see his specialised electrically heated micro sized tools and to see his skills. Click on the photo to enlarge it and see the decoration on the leather cover. 250 yrs ago these two globes were remarkable, hand-crafted, highly modern instruments gracing the library of one of England's most prestigious mansions. Of course there's more to the project, but for that you must visit the house yourself.