About ten days ago we thought it was time to pay another visit to Hampton Court Palace. Bright and clear and not too cold. Maybe there would be some spring flowers on the way, if not in much flower.
Parked up at the station in the usual way and strolled across the river to be told by the cheerful chap at the gate that the Palace was now shut on Mondays and Tuesdays. A fact which I have just confirmed at reference 1. It had not occurred to me to check, assuming that a visitor attraction of this eminence would be open seven days a week - although, to be fair, it has been clear that they have been struggling since the plague hit. Even putting the infestation of wicker art aside, the garden is not maintained to the same high standard of old and the flower beds are not what they were.
So, headed back across the river to take refreshment, refreshment which we would otherwise have taken in the Tiltyard café. Catching the striking infestation of mistletoe snapped above.
I think we took our tea and coffee in Henry's Kitchen in Bridge Road, a place with a pleasant atmosphere and which sold delicacies like bacon and egg sandwiches. I thought perhaps we might go back their for lunch, but BH pointed out that these particular delicacies were only sold until 12:00. Not a killer blow, but damaging nonetheless.
After which we took a stroll along the river, running high and fast. Not a good day to fall in. On the way back across the river, for the third time and this time taking in the various expensive contrivances to deter terrorists, we came across a couple of ladies who said they had come a long way to see the Palace and were more than a little put out. I think from Australia, probably come up for the day from their hotel in London. Not impressed by our talk of other attractions in the immediate vicinity and looked to be heading back to the railway station. Perhaps to the Tower of London.
Headed towards Kingston on the Palace side of the river. We wondered about whether there was or ever was a tow path. Was this ever the sort of river where horses towed barges?
We passed a residential barge moored to a bit of a path, flooded. A barge which was made of steel and so might be a bit prone to cold and condensation, but the back door was slightly open and there must have been a good fire somewhere inside. There were also some solar panels on the roof. Having once been told by a waitress in the posh part of Kings Cross that narrow boats get moved on every fortnight, which makes living in them a bit fraught, we wondered about the arrangements at Hampton Court. Where most of the boats that we saw did not look as if they moved on in that way.
For a change, headed into what is now the Mute Swan and which used to be Bluebeckers. Busy for a Monday lunchtime and not all pensioners either. At the table next to ours, for example, was a couple from Bromley who had walked from Twickenham. The gent seemed to know all about restructuring chains of failing shops and leasebacks, that well known - and sometimes successful - wheeze for getting a bit of cash to keep oneself afloat for a bit. While his lady told us that Bromley not the shopping town it once was.
Garlic bread had far too much of some green goo. After that I took shoulder of lamb on the bone while BH took fish cakes of salmon and haddock. Both good - except for the gravy which I should have asked for on the side - and both good value. Couple of glasses of house red with which to wash it down.
A sideboard which was very like the one in BH's former home in Exminster, possibly having come down from a grandparent. I associate now to the restaurant opposite St. Luke's where we came across the tall boy (or tallboy) which used to live in my parents bedroom and now lives in ours. See reference 3. A restaurant which we rather liked but which, sadly, did not last very long.
Hampton Court Railway Station under some serious scaffolding.
While the raised beds adjacent carry a notice telling us about the long serving member of staff who looks after them, which we thought a nice touch. And BH was able to have a chat with the lady concerned.
The former Wetherspoon's by the Hook Junction on the A3 is still empty. Presumably built in the far off days, well before Wetherspoon's was invented, when big pubs could make a good living on roads like the A3 - but it is hard to see how the present building can be put to productive use now. One hopes that it is not the no doubt well-meaning heritage people that are blocking its recycling. That there is some more substantial difficulty.
PS: the Mute Swan is now a member of the Brunning & Price family, to be found at reference 2. While Bluebeckers do not seem to exist at all, despite filing accounts last year recording the business as public houses and turning over around £20m. All very mysterious. Plus, our efficient waiter was carried over from the Bluebecker days. Did the Bluebecker people jump into the Brunning & Price wagon when the going got a bit rough?
References
Reference 1: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/#gs.nn9mrf.
Reference 2: https://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/.
Reference 3: https://psmv2.blogspot.com/2015/11/cupboard-love.html.
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