A Stroll In The Park

Today we’d planned an expedition to The Victoria and Albert Museum and maybe either the Science Museum or the National History Museum. Michael suggested we could probably walk as they are all only a few blocks the other side of Hyde Park, in South Kensington. The problem with walking there is that the amount of walking you then have to do to see the exhibits is phenomenal. The Victoria and Albert alone has 11 kilometres of display area spread over 6 levels, I would be pooped by the time we got there! Michael plotted our trip on the underground and we set off.

A couple of errands down the street on the way and we would be off. The cold bit into my hips almost as soon as we hit the street and by the time we’d done our errands my hips were telling me there was no way they would carry me up and down the obligatory underground stair system! Now, although it was cold, the sun was actually shining, ever so weakly, but it was there. Seeing as how we hadn’t ventured into Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens yet and they are, after all at the end of our street and across the road, maybe it was time we took a look. I reckoned if my hips gave me too much trouble we were close to home and at least I wouldn’t have to contend with stairs, they hurt the most. Often walking actually helps and today that seemed to be the case.

The Park is immense, there was still snow left on the grass in some areas and on the paths it had turned to ice. The main paths were mostly clear and there were big balls of ice/snow on the grass here and there that looked like the start of snowmen, but gathering by the amount of leaves and debris rolled into them I reckoned it was the product of path clearing.

This fine fellow has just run past one of the giant snowballs that dot the park.

Some of the paths were icy and there was snow stillsnow on the grass in places

Even in winter the park is beautiful and there were a lot of people using the park. Some were tourists but the majority were locals out walking their dogs or exercising or putting down food for the wildlife.

We headed across the park, snapping photos of bare trees and frolicking dogs as we went. Visible from half way across the park was what looked like a highly gilded church spire shining in the sun. As we got closer signs told us that it was, in fact the Albert Memorial. A huge structure dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria’s consort, Prince Albert. A gilded fence surrounds the central spire. At each corner there is a group of figures sculpted in what looks like marble. As you approach the large golden figure in the centre is easily mistaken for Buddha, but on closer inspection turns out to be Prince Albert. The tall golden and lapis blue ornate cross-topped spire shelter the golden Albert. Directly behind the monument on Kensington/Knightsbridge Road, the domed roof of The Royal Albert Hall is clearly visible. We would have walked through here and out to have a look around but the paths leading to the monument were like an ice rink and we dared go no closer.

There were countless dogs of all shapes and sizes in the park.

From a distance we couldn't make out what the golden statue was, a saint or perhaps Buddha?

The structure certainly looked like a church.

The path near the Albert Memorial was very icy.

Besides we had just made the acquaintance of some of the parks resident squirrels and when I stopped to take photos one cheeky fellow ran straight up to within a metre of where I stood. I thought “What a little poser” I think he had expected a feed, but we had nothing to offer, he stayed around performing for several minutes before scurrying up a tree. Squirrels are smaller than I had expected and ever so sweet. I expected them to be about the same size as a possum, they are less than half as big as our common old garden possums. Although their tails appear bushy, they are actually flat and feathery. They dart around on the ground and go up a tree at lightning speed then transfer from tree to tree via the closest branches.

Our new found friend.

We met a lady with two cute, curious black pugs rugged up against the cold. She was putting down food on the garden beds and the fences, Michael asked if it was for the squirrels and she said it was for the birds that forage for their food in the garden beds. It had been an early and savage start to winter she said and the birds, especially the smaller ones like robins, whose options for food in the frozen ground were very limited, would starve without some help. A little further on another woman was tossing down food to some crows.

Michael saying hello to a couple of friendly pugs.

a local feeding the crows.

Dogs are everywhere and most of the park is off leash, except by the round pond near Kensington Palace. This pond is full of birds: swans, ducks even seagulls and in this weather the centre of the pond is frozen with only about two metres from the shore available to the aquatic birds for swimming. The swans are elegant and glide serenely by with an array of avian escorts in tow. While from the frozen centre birds stand and from the surrounding paths, which are treacherous with ice in this part of the park, the human park users all stand watching the procession float by. It was really slippery here but I was determined to get some photos! We really did have to watch our step and be prepared to ‘skate’ if you started to slide!!!

swans glide by accompanied by assorted water fowl and the seagulls watch from the iced over centre of the Round Pond.

The temperature in the park seems to vary. In some areas it was really very cold while in others it was just cold! It was sort of in pockets where the ground was icier or the cold really grabbed you, like near the Albert Memorial and the Round Pond. We approached the main gates of Kensington Palace with the intention of going in. The signs all told us that parts were closed for major works but parts were still open to the public and there was a display of historical and court ceremonial dress which interested me. The entry was not the front gates but back the way we’d come opposite the pond. We made our way around to that side of the grounds only to find the gates locked and no explanation.

Kensington Palace

Never mind we’d had a nice walk and now felt justified in making for the nearest pub for lunch! We continued along the Broadwalk passed the Princess Dianna Memorial Playground and out onto Bayswater Road, just a stroll from our local pub, The Black Lion.  Lunch was roast beef with horseradish sauce, vegies and Yorkshire pudding, a pint shandy and desert, for me treacle tart, for Michael, Bramley apple pie. It was warm and comfortable in the pub and the walk had done us good, my hips didn’t give me any trouble while we were moving. Once we left the pub my hips started to complain, damn it! We still had some last minute shopping for tomorrows Christmas feast, so I just had to bite the bullet and toughen up. We bought our cheese, salmon and some chocolate nuts and fruit at Whiteleys a shopping centre in Queensway, the next street from Inverness Terrace where we are staying. We made for home collecting desert for tonight’s tea and croissants for our Christmas breakfast on the way.  It had been an enjoyable morning.

Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding

Treakle Tart

Bramley Apple Pie