A dry court

That is to say a visit, about a fortnight ago now, before the Great Heate, to Hampton Court Palace.

First event was the closure of the slip road we usually take to get us from where Hook Road crosses the A3 to get us onto the Kingston Bypass, the road which takes us a good bit of the way to Hampton Court. Which meant heading through Surbiton to the Thames, hanging left past Bachmann's the Baker, then working our way through Thames Ditton, back onto the wrong side of the A309, aka Hampton Court Way. With the stretch through Thames Ditton being thoroughly calmed with humps. Not a good route at all.

Parked up at Hampton Court Station, made our way into the Palace, to be irritated yet again by the infestation of wicker men. All the park keepers in our part of the world seem to have become infatuated with outdoor art, being especially vulnerable to the sort made with ecological materials.

Into the Tilt Yard cafeteria for refreshment, to wonder about all the different kinds of tables and chairs, in various shades of blue and white. Clearly the work of some interior design consultant, but to my mind it did not work - and would have worked better had the tables and chairs been clear varnished rather than painted. A bit of natural wood would have brought a bit of much needed warmth to the composition.

Out to inspect Wellingtonia No.75, snapped above, clearly suffering a bit from lack of water.

While this tree in the Wilderness, unknown to me, seemed to be doing rather better. I took its number, just about visible as a green dot in the middle of the trunk if you click to enlarge. G0183. Maybe the chap in charge of the tree spreadsheet has not left to pursue other interests, maybe someone in the ticket office will be able to get through to him.

Lots of swans, cygnets and coots in the canal. Two or three herons. Some small fish, ranging from an inch to two inches. Maybe too small for the herons to bother with. We puzzled as to why there were so few moorhens.

Generally speaking, the grass had not been watered, but that in Fountain Court had been and there was also a fine floral display around the fountain. Elected for a sandwich in the café near the old Palace kitchens, it seeming a bit warm for one of their (rather expensive) pies. And then on to see what was on offer in the Cumberland Gallery.

For a start, a large and noisy painting, I think from Nigeria. Possibly next to the equestrian portrait of Charles I by Van Dyck, which Google tells me was probably a dress rehearsal for the more famous version in the National Gallery. Then very much a reprise of the visit eight years ago, noticed at references 3 and 4. BH does not care for Ms. Lemon, thinking that she looks rather sad, perhaps at being made a sex object. Which is not, however, my view. Not so keen on the Gainsborough nymphs as I used to be. But the set of Canaletto's in a side room were spot on, even if a little let down by the guide supplied, which did not seem to do the paintings in the right order. Would be quite something to go to Venice to cruise down the Grand Canal to see all the views in question, preferably with good quality reproductions to hand - but I can't see it happening. Apart from anything else, I imagine the place is terribly expensive.

With a good proportion of the set offered above, with thanks to Pinterest - who do not seem to have found it necessary to put their thumb print on the photograph.

Some irritating trusty chatter, but then I thought that it must be pretty grim work, stuck there for hours on end with only a high stool to perch on from time to time. At least at the National Gallery they have proper seats to sit on.

Out to try the ticket office with my number. The young lady looked a bit bemused but she took the number of the tree and my telephone number and said that she would see what she could do. Nothing yet, after a fortnight or so. So asked Bing or Google and between they came up with a Shumard Red Oak, to be found at reference 5. Not quite right, but quite warm. Maybe the thing to do is go back in the Autumn and see if it does indeed turn red. Which would, at least, make it a  member of the large Lobatae section of oaks generally, of which last there are more than 500.

On to inspect the prairie on what had been the grass under the winter ice rink. With prairies and ice rinks being two other fads that park keepers are infatuated with. At least I rather like the prairies - with the big one being at the Tower, noticed at reference 6.

Lots of people were arriving as we left around 14:00, so we timed things well. But there were not lots of aeroplanes. In the olden days there was always a procession of them heading down towards Heathrow. Often quite close.

We passed on Bridge Road on this occasion, thus losing an opportunity to visit the interesting wine shop there, the butcher and fishmonger having long gone. Thus losing an opportunity to visit an important piece of street art, snapped above; a curiously ugly portrait in reproduction. But at least, should we be drawn in that direction, we can read all about it at references 1 and 7. The work of one Paul Don Smith, an urban artist who may well be related to the better known Bankside. Or perhaps they buy their stuff from the same Builders' Merchant. B&Q? Travis Perkins?

But we did notice that the hoarding around the important development opportunity between Hampton Court Railway Station and the river was starting to fall apart. Evidence that the developers and the council are taking a long time to agree on the division of the spoils. A pity that some very rich person does not just step in, buy the land and turn it into a park before gifting it to the nation. Or at the very least, to the local council. £10m worth of charity? Certainly a bit strong for me, although I would chip in if someone organised a bit of crowdfunding.

Home to be reminded later on that we made a good purchase of a Thai carving at an antiques fair at Dorking, some years ago now. Either that or a canteen of cutlery to match the one we already have, which would have been handy on the odd occasion we have more than six sitting down to the roast beef. Both were priced at £25. I continue to both like and use the lamp and and I stand by the decision to mount the lamp holder on a contrasting slip of wood, rather than doing something unsatisfactory, if near invisible.

I close with this offering from Google which has just arrive in gmail. How on earth did they persuade the donkey people that I was a prospect? Was the passing mention of donkey at reference 8 enough to do the trick?

References

Reference 1: http://www.thecourtcircular.co.uk/editions-online.

Reference 2: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2022/04/wellingtonia-75.html.

Reference 3: https://psmv2.blogspot.com/2014/12/cumberland-treat.html.

Reference 4: https://psmv2.blogspot.com/2014/12/margaret-lemon.html

Reference 5: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_shumardii.

Reference 6: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2022/07/blooming-moat.html.

Reference 7: https://www.pauldonsmith.co.uk/.

Reference 8: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2022/07/wellingtonia-84.html.