Capturing September attempt # 8(DF) - # 08/222

First: a mighty "Thank You" to all those who commented and encouraged me yesterday following my rant about the lousy summer and the unending cloud. Anon in Seattle and Virginia in Birmingham Ala. put it in perspective, AND Jules in Rabaul reminded me that she has to put up with Volcano dust several times a year.

As we all know, City DP is not a doddle. We all work quite hard at it. I went back a second time, with a tripod, to repeat and improve on earlier attempts to catch the essence of this rural scene.

But what is it? Things go up and things go down and everything changes. We can see that this old footpath was once well kept and it looks as if about 100 years ago someone put up an elegant and very clear boundary fence. It's "Douglas Footpath" running from Petersham Road down to the river Thames - very little used today but so charming and useful that "London's Arcadia" is restoring it to good condition. (click on the link at the right of this blog to read more about "London's Arcadia" - it's not always cloudy, even if it is for most of this year!!!!!).

Karl Moritz notices the architectural gems of Petersham - # 150

Within the tiny area of Petersham Karl would have noticed a dense concentration of country mansions built by "first and second rate" gentry needing to be near the King when he too was "out of London".

I'll try to delight you by showing extra special little details of the mansions. We can be certain that this is almost exactly as Karl would have seen them, and it is the kind of detail he would have picked out.

After passing St. Peter's church in its tiny lane, Karl turns right into the narrow main road (now almost overwhelmed by motor traffic), and passes No. 143, Petersham House, built about 1680, and admires the unusual doom shape over the elegant front door. He also notices the "fire insurance plate" pinned to the wall, to advise the firemen that they will be paid for tackling the blaze.

Twickenham riverside scene - # 64

One week ago I crossed via the "500 year long queue" (see earlier post - # 5) to go to the Farmers' Market in Twickenham (post - # 57). The temperature was dropping, the cold wind getting stronger and I rushed back along the riverbank to the ferry. But this scene forced me to stop and admire it. The lack of sunshine makes it a bit dull in colour, but otherwise I find it delightful - an 18th Century house, a late Victorian gas street lamp, the high garden wall and the climber in full, but too early, bloom (a clear sign of climate change!). There are many scenes like this around "London's Arcadia", and as you can see from the official web-site http://www.londons-arcadia.org.uk/ the restoration plan, which will take many, many years, is in full swing.