Nothing to do with wildlife!

A slight digression from the wildlife theme and not a bird on site! I did see a frog in the pond for the second morning running - so this is an encouraging sign. And today there were two frogs. The last two years they have spawned in the second and thirds weeks of February respectively - so I shall be keeping an eye on the pond over the coming few days.

Monday dawned fairly cloudy as expected. My daughter and I decided we'd have a day in London. Our goal was to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2008) competition photographs at the Natural History Museum but, it's the school's half term - and I think every school child and parent found their way to the Museum. We looked at the entrance queue - we turned and went back - to the Thames.

We spent the day walking along by the river just taking in the sights and sounds and this is what we saw.

Walking along the South Bank with St. Pauls Cathedral in the background.

We had a glimpse into the entrance of the Tate Modern museum; we had visited before and acknowledged that modern art is not our taste! Apart from the giant spider, the yellow and blue bed bases all had one book on them - and this in itself was an exhibit.


The view from the Tate Modern

Further along and much more interesting is the Globe Theatre with this wonderful gate (which is one of two)

Detail of one of the embellishments in the form of a Cormorant

A sundial which wraps itself around two sides of this corner
The sun only reaches it in the afternoon - we were too early to read the time!

And a glimpse of the outside of the theatre

This part of the river through London has many glass-walled buildings. Whether you like them or not, they do cause some wonderful reflections. In this "wall of glass" the building is a reflection of the one opposite.

More the traditional style of London

And the Golden Hinde



Entrance to Southwark Cathedral

I hadn't purchased a photography permit so I shouldn't really have taken this picture.
(for far more comprehensive information than I can give, and some good pictures of the interior, pop over to Pete's blog)

General views along the river bank as we approached our goal of...

Tower Bridge width HMS Belfast in the foreground


and three Chinook helicopters flew over the bridge and us!
More reflections on glass walls



and we are getting nearer to Tower Bridge





We then went to the topmost point which is the Exhibition Gallery

with some stunning views across London and beyond






There may be a Part 2 to this post but that's all for now....