CAMERA CAPERS

 We took ourselves off to Bognor Regis on a fine day a couple of weeks ago.   These two models in a front garden always intrigue me - they are made out of tyres. The sun was shining through the clouds as we arrived on the front.  I kept moving around to get the groyne marker in the middle but gave up in the end, and this was the closest I could get. Taken on our village green on the last day of 2021 - the temperature was 17C. I wish you all a very happy and healthy year in 2022.  Let us hope life will get back to normality after the madness of covid in the last two years.

 This is the first year we have had this event in the village.  We have had a Christmas tree with lights outside the Arbuthnot Hall for a couple of years, but this year we had hot dogs and mulled wine, and local crafts being sold inside the hall. Vicar Sally switched on the lights.   After a year's break, due to Covid, about 50 members of The Village Gardening Club were once again able to enjoy their annual Christmas Supper, with Quiz, in the Bricklayers Arms. Carols Around the Green - organised by one of the local schools.   Only a couple of photos.  Sadly it was pouring with rain.

                              I was asked to take photos of the annual Remembrance Sunday Service outside the Church but also asked if I would mind staying behind after the service because the Hogs Back Chapter of the Harley- Davidson Club would be along afterwards for their own act of remembrance.     What a sight it was to see all the motorbikes coming up the hill towards the church. One even brought their dog - I wondered where they carried out on their bike. -------------------------------------------

When we got back from our shopping, this Ford Falcon was parked next to my car in the car park. Very smart inside all leather.  Cars are not made like this now. We have a largish planter in the garden in which I have planted up as a pond with three goldfish. I cover this over each evening with a net, partly to keep leaves out, and partly to keep cats and birds from attempting to catch the fish.  One morning I took off the cover and spotted this fish lying on top of a small flower pot.  It had obviously been there all night!   I went to get something to lift it off to bury it and it moved!  So I found the old goldfish bowl and carefully placed the fish in it with water from the planter pond.  We kept it inside for a couple of days and he recovered so we were able to place him back into the planter pond.   Amazing. Finally, a rare photo of me.  I had won the Darlac Loppers and they wanted a photo of me using them.

The gardens at Eltham Palace Before walking over the bridge to enter the grounds of Eltham Palace, this large house can be seen just to the right of the bridge.  It used to be the home of the Lord Chancellor in  Henry VIII's time.  Now it is divided into three and leased privately.    The bridge is apparently London's oldest working bridge. Magnificent views of London from the grounds - you can just about make out St,. Paul's cathedral on the right. Can you see The London Eye? I was quite disappointed that the moat came to an abrupt end here, about halfway around. Some really old ruins here - I imagine part of the original palace. This wooden bridge is thought to be where the original drawbridge was. Back to the bridge and time for a cup of tea before boarding our coach back to Guildford.