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The Wren

Let me tell you about the latest resident to the neighbourhood...

He is spotty, his tail is a mess and he is very noisy, he sits alot just on the pole outside our window making a noise, we were considering getting an Asbo against him but he does make for a lovely photo.

Driving through London...

St Pancras, British Library, Euston Fire Station, No. 30 Bus, dunno, dunno, a church, Planatarium, Maddam Tussauds, Baker Street Station, TomTom, Cute Looking Pub...

 

Sunset, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and again, National Gallery, Trafalgar Sq Fountain, Horse Statute, Capital Radio...

The Big Church Day Out

What a marvellous day, great music, fantastic weather, beautiful grounds. It was a great day out and I was please to read on Bill Cahusac's (our curate's) blog how his son asked on the way home if Heaven would be like the Big Church Day Out. Indeed! It is good to look though the eyes of our children...

In the small chance the organisers ever read this, ways it could be improved - Start Earlier - have some of the headlines play earlier (missed delirious as we left at 7:30 to not get back to London too late) Better parking management so people don't have to queue outside so long. Otherwise a total success for the first year of an event I hope they repeat next year...

Highlights for me included hearing Lou Fellingham and Michael W. Smith sing, catching this snap of Diane Louise Jordan interviewing Martin Smith. Also amazing was the weather which allowed for such great photos.

 

Maternity: Ellie and Drew

Thanks to Ellie and Drew for the opportunity to take these photos and Ellie especially for being so patient with me and a wondeful model. Ellie is about to give birth any day now and just looks amazing, Thanks Ellie and Drew.

If you would like to see the full album do let me know and I can pass on the address:)

 

 

 

Hidden London: Manor Gardens

  Despite living quite near to it and having heard of people going there for a while I have only just visited and learnt to appreciate Manor Gardens in the past few weeks as I have been working in a small nursery there.

Having had my last day at the nursery yesterday I thought I'd take a few snaps (thanks to Mum's camera) and share the joys of what can be found in this street, Manor Gardens - which I am sure all locals know already but which everyone should know.

Just of Holloway Road and reachable by the 271 or 43, Manor Gardens is a road dominated by the massive Beaux Arts Building (built 1909 adapted or residential use in 1995) and buildings providing health care to Islington. It was in one of these buildings that yours truly had speech therapy 25 years ago...

The Royal Northern Hospital once stood on Manor Gardens with a Casualty Dept built as a memorial to the 1,300 Islington soliders who gave their lives in the 1st World War. Although the hospital was demolished in the 70s they have kept a memorial arch and incorporated it with a block of flats which now stands on the site.

The building starts with the disused job centre on your right (Starting from the Holloway Road end), this sadly is a eye sore and I for really hope they do something about this because it ruins an other wise very special street.

The next building to note is the North Library on your right- a fabulous little building which is still being used as a library (closed on wednesdays). On the left is another park complete with playground if you are looking to entertain the kids and also be sure to notice the various plaque's explaining the history of the area, the park was also was part of the site where the Hospital once stood.

After the park is all the buildings belonging to the Manor Gardens Centre. Manor Gardens says on their website that they have pioneered health care projects in the community for almost 100 years, having been founded in 1913 as a 'school for mothers' their purpose  'to offer less privileged mothers advice and support in healthy methods of childcare, at a time when many babies died before their first birthday. In Islington, the infant mortality rate was over 10%.'

Surely the best bit of Manor Gardens though would be the Cafe. It is found amongst the buildings mentioned in the last paragraph and is in accordance with being run by a health centre a cafe dedicated to providing healthy food. No fizzy drinks, crisps or chips to be found here, but always a variety of hot and cold food though and of course their famous carrot cakes. I generally have the hot option and the most I have had to pay is £4.20. It is very child friendly here so if you are not keen on kids, I would probably not recommend but if you don't mind kids or would like to meet up with other friends and you all have kids this is an excellent place to visit. They have toys and books for children and books for adults if you fancy a read - which you can take away as long as you replace with a book of your own for others to enjoy.

Manor Gardens is so off the beaten track it is a place you will only really find locals but should you have some spare time and want to see a different part of London, do pay a vist - you won't be disappointed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Rochester Wedding: Part 4

Last but not least the Reception.. 

 

 

 

 

 

A Rochester Wedding, part 3

The best of the rest, thats it for today, another evening I shall do the photos from the reception. Hope you have enjjoyed looking....

 

 

 

A Rochester Wedding, part 2

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amy and Lee: A Rochester Wedding

Part One: The Preparation and the Ceremony

 Well the weekend finally came and all my panicking and preparation finally paid off, what a lovely day - special thanks to Gary the photographer for being patient and teaching me as we went along and letting me have great liberties in taking photos and to the family for being so lovely and welcoming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First look: Lee sees Amy for the first time..