CAMERA CAPERS

After our three nights in London we returned to Shamley Green and the next day we drove over to Nymans Gardens, West Sussex.   My grandson Harry came with us and it was so nice to spend a day with him. Nymans was the home of the Messel family - well know city stockbrokers.  Interestingly, Brian's father worked for the Messel family and had visited Nymans on a staff outing. In 1947 there was a fire at the property and the building is now derelict, apart from one small area where the last member of the Messel family lived. The gardens are wonderful at any time of year, but I think at their very best in late summer when the long borders are magnificent.  

Our second day, and we had a bit of a lie-in after our long day yesterday.  We were due to be at Buckingham Palace at 11 am.  No, not a Royal audience, but we had tickets to tour the Royal Palace.  This is open each year during the summer months.  Originally opened to raise funds for the rebuilding and repairs to Windsor Castle after it was partially destroyed by fire.            For obvious reasons, we were not able to take photographs inside, but needless to say, it was fabulous.   Quite awesome really.  We saw the State Rooms, Throne room, Ballroom, and paintings gallery.  The paintings were wonderful.   This year the tour was very much concentrated on Queen Victoria and Prince Alberts occupation of the Palace. After the tour we had tea and cake in the cafeteria at the back of the palace in the grounds.  Sadly we were not able to walk through the grounds, but we saw quite a lot of it on our way o...