England & Paris 2022

Inside the Dimbola Museum and Galleries on the Isle of Wight which was at one time Julia Margaret Cameron Home from 1860 to 1875. While they now show her images and contemporary photographers, her home is filled with all sorts of interesting things including wall paper by William Morris who lived nearby at Kelmscot Manor near the end of her being at Dimbola. England trip 2022

We can't get physically far because the train is on the Isle of Wight, but we can travel quite a long ways back in time. [A long line of images, but it is about a train after all. Enjoy the ride.] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This one isn't ready yet: Ah, a missing part: Getting there: Maybe over there: This one looks ready to go: It's got a nice set of wheels: Watch those dials! Details for train engine buffs: 1 2 3 In case they want to turn back? Travel is always better coupled: Yup, British Railways: This way or that? Finally! This one's ours: All aboard! First Class door handle - and windows that open! First Class upholstry: Track side fire - supposedly put out before we got there, but... it was still smoking so the Engineer got extra duty! Sit back and relax... And away we go! Isle of Wight - Train Travel Video

Come with me to Carisbrooke Castle. Mind the Moat water and enter the church that originated in 1070. Look up and pause for a moment Leave this door alone, don't you think? but pass through the sturdy door and gaze upwards at the walls that protect the well Prepare, it's time to head up to the Keep Keep going, we're only half way there Don't look down! Oh wait, looking down we can tell how worn the steps are from those that came before us and see the patterns making each step beautiful What can we see from up here? Let's look out the "window"! Ah, views to help the Castle be protected Even the flowers want a good view from the Keep Thanks for joining me. Think I'll get out the sun now.

Back in 2022 I was 64 years old. I rented a cottage on the Isle of Wight. It wasn't too dear. While I didn't know it yet, I was a grandmother (daughter was pregnant), but I wasn't losing my hair (4 out of 5 isn't bad). I sang the song. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCTunqv1Xt4&ab_channel=TheBeatles-Topic

Stonehenge from the car - fenced out. But amazingly still rather powerful to see.

Heading towards West Kennett, out of Avebury. (No, I wasn't driving! But this is out a car window as we were leaving Avebury area.)

No, not on a mountain, standing at the base of one the stone in the Avebury Stone Circle shown below. It's huge!! Maybe one of "Tolkien's Talking Trees" or maybe the Avebury wishing tree. It certainly did have lots of roots showing. (Yes, I know I'm not showing those here.)

Had to stop to see this while driving through. View large to find the horse. And I think that's Oldbury Castle Hillfort in the middle distance.

Of course she would have a cute doorstop - all was delightful at the B&B

Just part of a bouquet in our room at the Fosse Farmhouse B&B.

I think the owl has the best view.

Owl posted at a cafe window on the bridge to keep away friendly pigeons, I presume.

See Pip for room info. William Henry Fox Talbot - Latticed window at lacock abbey 1835 (public domain)

This room probably dates from the 1230s, making it one of the oldest parts of the abbey to survive. Some of the plaster on the walls and ceiling is original and nearly 800 years old. There is evidence of painted decoration in several places around the room. Some of it is medieval, but some is probablay from the 1700s. A later resident, John Ivory Talbot wrote in 1754: 'My painter [Lord William Seymour] is so nice and busy in ornamenting my Cloisters' After John Ivory Talbot inherited Lacock in 1714, he set about altering the house to suit him. He built the Great Hall you see today at the front of the building and removed the outer walls of the rooms on this side of the cloiser, creating a romantic 'ruin' that could be enjoyed as part of the garden. The outer walls of these rooms were sympathetically rebuilt in about 1894 when Charles Talbot lived here. If they had remained open to the weather it is unlikely that so much of this plaster would be here today. -From the sign in front of the room at Lacock Abbey Yes, they are talking about the Talbot family of photographic fame. William Henry Fox Talbot took this photo at the Abbey in 1835: William Henry Fox Talbot - Latticed window at lacock abbey 1835 (public domain)

Lacock Abbey. Upside down is the right side up with camera obscuras.

plants vs structures. I think the plants are winning.

English church garden. Castle Combe.