Golden

Thanks to recent heavy rains in the UK, parts of the country are still extremely soggy. Including Henley-on-Thames, location of a golden Royal Mail post box. This was installed last year in recognition of its part in Team GB's London Olympic and Paralympic gold medal successes.

A not so soggy Henley street, yesterday.
















A full location chart of the UK's golden post boxes may be found just about here.

And to prove just how much rain we've had, in the picture below the actual river bank is located beyond the posts, on the other side of the petrol pumps.

Castle

What better way to spend the day than touring a castle? An actual royal home in fact, whose origins can be traced all the way back to just after the Norman conquest of 1066.

In case any readers of this blog are interested but unsure which castle I'm referring to, this one is located "just down the road" from me in the royal town of Windsor. Here are a couple of handy links, first to the Wikipedia entry for the castle and also to the official site of the Royal Family.

Do you think energy saving light bulbs were around in the 11th century?

A not so secret passageway.

Blue sky (and sunshine) in February? Whatever next!

He's got his eyes on you.

Moody.

Seriously?

Many readers of this blog will be aware of the directory company Yellow Pages (perhaps also known as Yell or Yellow Book in some countries). Their global headquarters may be found in the centre of Reading.

Apparently the company recently announced a re-branding and would from now on be known as "hibu". Are you kidding me?

Those cleaver girls and boys in the marketing and branding company responsible for this gem must feel they really deserved their no doubt hansom fee for this one. Can't think why. One name accurately describes what the company is best known for and reminds us- the consumer- of it's extensive history, even in this modern Internet age. The other tells us what exactly..?

Magna Carta

Tonight I'm sharing a few images from a recent trip to Salisbury Cathedral, home to one of only four remaining copies of the (1215) Great Charter signed by King John.

 

Artistic view of the cathedral exterior.

Cloisters.

Ceramic Medieval floor tiles. I've made tiles similar to this, dontchaknow.

Choir stalls and an impressive organ.

Bombing Of Reading

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the German bombing of my home town. More than 40 people were killed and near 200 injured as a result of the attack.

(L to R) Reading Town Hall, Blandy & Blandy Solicitors and St Lawrence Church.










More images may be found here on the BBC News site and further information may be found at the Reading Forum site.



9 Feb Stoke 2 - 1 Reading

Orange

Yesterday (Tuesday) we took a ride out to Richmond Upon Thames to visit Hampton Court Palace, most commonly associated with Henry VIII  and his six wives but it was also home to King William III of Orange and his wife Queen Mary II. In addition Oliver and Elizabeth Cromwell, took up residence there after the revolution, during the period when England was not subject to rule by a monarch.

Here's a selection of images from the day:

Children Of The Stones

Took a trip yesterday out to the neighbouring county of Wiltshire to visit the ancient village of Avebury, famous for the standing stone circle with protective ring ditch and embankment that surrounds it. Unlike nearby Stonehenge, visitors are free to walk around these stones and touch them.

A 1970's TV series was filmed here, dontchaknow.

Defences worthy of the Time Team, perhaps?

Children and Adults of the Stones.











Later we travelled to Uffington, in Oxfordshire, to climb the short hill walk (don't you just love British understatement?) to the famous historic white horse. It was a bit chilly, I can tell you.

Horses head.











I've just seen the news from Leicester University that the human remains uncovered in a city car park in September last year have been identified as those of King Richard III (1452-1485). I understand his remains will be reburied in the nearby cathedral in the next few months. I believe this means the only British monarch who's resting place is uncertain is Henry I (1068-1135), said to be buried somewhere at Reading Abbey.

20

30 Jan Reading 2 - 2 Chelsea
2 Feb Reading 2 - 1 Sunderland

The Royals move to 17th, on 20 points.