A Day Out

I had a lovely day out with Linda Sue and Stella today. It was great to meet them. They are staying in a coach house in Pimlico, full of art and antiques all just left there as if the owner just departed.

 We visited Windsor castle to see Queen Mary's dollshouse. An amazing creation, all made as a present for Queen Mary who collected miniatures, and thought it was the best present she had ever received. It was also made as a showcase for British arts, crafts and manufacturing after the first world war, and includes the work of so many people. It was designed by Lutyens, at the same time as he was designing New Delhi, and has a garden by Agnes Jekyll. It is incredible, and a shame that you can only spend a short time looking at it due to the many visitors. I bought a book about it so I can study the different parts in much more detail.

 I took these dolls, a pearly king and queen who used to live on ebay but now live with me. They were a little overawed by the whole experience.

 The Frank Spencer of the gargoyle world.

 In amongst the incredible oppulence and good taste of the rest of the place, apparently the royals went to B+Q one weekend and bought some cheap trellising.

 A tower with a face.

 Big bird of prey circling as we lined up to view the dollshouse. I think it might be a red kite, but it kept moving too fast to get a good shot.

 Cheeky goatee bearded gargoyle.

 Patchy blackbird.