Speaking at the Canning House and wandering down Portobello Road

On Wednesday evening the Professor and I walked over to Belgrave Square.  In one of the stately buildings around the square is the Canning House which deals with UK-Latin American issues.  The building houses several other organizations. The Professor commented on the possible problems arising if President Trump decides to leave Nafta.

The Professor standing in front of the door into the Canning House.   

When I tried to crop this so that the Canning House Plaque would be easier to read, I discovered something about all of the pictures taken on the front steps. I am sure that all of you will recognize my little problem.  In every one of these pictures, I was reflected in the plaque.  If only the sign for Canning had been at the top of the row, I would not have shown up as a reflection. 

After the presentations and Q & A.

Not far from Belgrave Square we saw this little gem of a car, the Deux Chavaux.

This is the ugly duckling by Citroen that has sold about four million copies around the world.

Citroen began developing the Peoples’ Car of France in the late 1930s under the code TPV – Toute Petite Voiture: in other words, Very Small Car. The Nazi occupation of France killed the project until after the war and production started eventually in 1948. What an ingenious little car.

This Guardian article by MICHAEL VAUGHAN about the Deux Chavaux is packed with interesting information. For example: why was the car called "Two Horses?"

We passed this extraordinary ornament coming and going.  It was unanimous.  Neither of us wants anything remotely similar to this in our own lives. The deer at Leanna's house are nuisance enough.

Saint Paul's Church at Knightbridge

This is a unique wall and gateway into the church grounds.

No.  We did not go to Earl's Court

I am not sure if this is a stately old building or an overdone Victorian creation.  It is a great contrast to its very modern neighbors. 

Saturday there is a huge ceremony called Trooping the Colour with the Queen inspecting the house guard.  It is in celebration of her birthday.  These guardsmen were out practicing for the coming event. As they approached everyone stopped to watch them pass by.  There is always a police officer on a horse in front and behind the soldiers.  It took a few minutes before we discovered that the parade of men and soldiers is a band.  Everyone was riding a horse and clutching an instrument. Since there is no room in this arrangement for sheet music I assume none is required.

The Sovereign's birthday is officially celebrated by the ceremony of Trooping the Colour. This impressive display of pageantry takes place on a Saturday in June by her personal troops, the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade, with Her Majesty the Queen herself attending and taking the salute

This impressive display of pagean

 

We are not sure if this is the carriage that Queen Elizabeth II rides in. When we were first married she still road side-saddle on a horse wearing the guards' uniform. It was an amazing experience. 

This article gives some fun/interesting information. 

 These horses were a pleasure to watch.  They were not like any of the other horses in the parade.  They were trotting in step with each other.  If you look carefully you can see that both of these horses are lifting their left forehoof in unison.  They were almost "prancing" along the way.

The horses are followed by the white van.  In turn the van was followed by a street sweeper to clean up anything left behind by those horses. 

We have never walked across the park at twilight before.  It was interesting to see the park quiet in anticipation of the night. Lovers sitting on benches and lying together on the grass.  Old people like us still out walking their dogs. The Serpentine was very quiet. We came to the spot in the park and suddenly knew why.  All of these waterfowl were on the land picking and eating at something.  Do the park attendants put down seed in the evening?  We don't know. 

We have seen other birds with their young but this is the first time we have seen a swan family.  I am an expert now of course. The male is a cob and the female a pen.  The tiny ones are called cygnets.

They remain in the nest for only one day, but they are part of the family for a year before they go their separate ways.

 

This little guy actually reached out and touched one of the babies. It was a very brief encounter but neither of the parents was concerned. 

People relaxing by the waterside and sitting outside at tables at the cafe. 

Behind me is some recently planted water reed. I didn't get a photograph of the sign. It was planted only a few years ago. The park is trying to widen the diversity in the area. 

So far I have not read anything on the computer about creating the new reed beds at the park, but I have discovered that since they have established a home in Hyde Park, bird watchers are seeing species there that have not lived there in the past.

The local library. 

Delightful colored houses on the way to Portobello.

The Grand Canal running through Ladbroke Grove

This sign says it all.  On the news tonight the reporters said that generous people have donated more perishable food than the workers with the homeless people can use and with lots of clothing.  I have a feeling that when reality hits the will need things like beds, sheets, and pillows.

Okay, is it stranger than the flower covered deer in the yard or not? I wonder what the neighbors think.