Richmond - 11.30 am Sunday November 25
Yesterday was a rotten cold and rainy one - but today things perked up and I took the opportunity to pop down to Richmond, one of the many places unknown to your average tourist. This remains in London and I can get there from my place in around 25 minutes, all for free with my "Freedom pass"!
It is a delightful outer London neighbourhood, and has the advantages of being on the Thames and extremely close to Heathrow. But the landing aircraft float over completely silently so they have the convenience of proximity without the noise.
The River Thames with Richmond Bridge
I walked down to the river from Richmond Station, a scant ten minutes, and then walked upstream along the river path. As you can see it was a glorious morning but being November somewhat chilly and fortunately underpopulated. It is not that I do not like people - but too many is too many, and today there was just an agreeable sprinkling.
A walk through the Terrace Gardens up to Richmond Hill was the turning point in the short 60 minute excursion - and the view from up there is lovely, and protected in perpetuity by legislation in 1902.
The prospect from Richmond Hill 11:45 am Sunday November 25 2012
My yesterday was an under-8 football match in which my 7 year old grandson was involved, a delightful lunch with Anthony Whitworth-Jones before he went off to Canterbury to see the Figaro with Glyndebourne on Tour, and then a welcome quiet evening at home. Outside was hostile - and I now see that we are reverting to that this afternoon. So I have had the best of the day.
Tomorrow I will be back at the Royal Academy of Music for the alternative cast of the Vera costanza that I saw last Monday. I have no doubt that more new talent will reveal itself.
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