A busy few weeks

A busy few weeks.   Life is never boring, that is for sure.   And I often wonder how I ever fitted in work in the past.   Although I do know that when one has all day to do things in, it takes longer to do them.

We have had the two little dogs, Bobbi and Jezzie, visit us on a number of occasions.   They now have new beds, individual ones, which they love.   Perfect places in which to curl up in, 

or stretch out in, when the sun is shining through the conservatory windows.

We went on a few walks with Karen, to Shorne Country Park in Kent,   The dogs love this walk.  And we do too.

Normally there is a great amount of water lying in the old clay pits and depressions, but they have completely dried up as it has been a very warm and dry few months.    The paths that are closest to the cafe have been levelled and are suitable for people in wheelchairs.   But the rest of the park has a myriad of paths, some marked as walks, others meander off in other directions.   There are deep gullies, old coppiced woods, and some very old trees.   Much of this area can be very muddy during the winter months.  

An interesting patch of sunlight beaming down between Karen and me.   Great photograph, Walter.

A very old coppiced tree, with its many trunks coming out of the main trunk.

On the last day of Jackson's half term, we drove to Beckton to collect him from his new school, London Design & Engineering University Technical College.  It is based at the Dockland Campus of the University of London.   The technical college, one of thirty colleges spread throughout England, is focused on developing vocational skills as well as academic skills for students aged fourteen to eighteen.   There is a high degree of sponsorship from businesses, local and country wide.  

University of London, Docklands Campus.   Magnificent buildings.   I think the buildings were built to house athletes, training for the 2012 Olympics.

Jackson standing in front of his new school.   The school opened in September, 2016, with about 160 students, in Years 10 and 12.

We were interested in the land behind the school sign as it still showed the white lines, and crane rails, from the days when it was a working dock.

The blue building, student accommodation, with the landscaped gardens along the edge of the old Royal Docks.

The area around the Royal Docks has been transformed, with a massive redevelopment still continuing now.   When we drove through Canning Town, we hardly recognised the place.   There were certainly no slums.   Beckton has been landscaped, with a large wooded area, a university, clusters of houses and a large shopping centre.   I sincerely hope the developers included housing for the people that used to live there.  

The view across from Jackson's school towards London City Airport, and the cranes behind, marking out the redevelopment in the area.

During half term, Jackson, Isabel, plus the dogs and Jeff the lizard, came to stay for the week while Emma and Steve had a few days down at Camping Manjastre.  A very busy and enjoyable week.

Jackson, who now travels into London each day, via a train to London Bridge, and then by tube on the Jubilee Line, and finally on the Docklands Light Rail, was keen to show his very good skills at travelling on public transport.    We travelled to the Westfield Shopping Centre, by Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, via the Jubilee Line, for a day of shopping.    It was very easy, and much better than driving in, and getting caught up in traffic.

We also visited Bluewater, and Dartford, for a bit of local shopping, but the week was not entirely devoted to shopping.    We took Isabel and the dogs for a walk in Shorne Country Park.   The leaves were rapidly turning yellow.   Beautiful autumn colours.

Isabel made a cat pumpkin lantern, which looked impressive glowing in the conservatory.

And back again to London.    London Bridge station has reopened, after an extensive building programme.  It would appear that building work included digging out under the station in order to make a huge waiting area for passengers, plus small shops.    The passages to the tube station were still having work down on them, so were closed during the day.  

We walked around the sheer glass sides of The Shard.   Well it looks like sheer glass when looking up, but of course there is metal holding it all together.    Isabel noticed that children could travel up to the top of The Shard for free, during half term.    Then she realised that she was no longer 'a child'.   It is difficult being a teenager sometimes.

We travelled on the Jubilee line, to Greenwich North, in order to take the cable car from the O2 to the Royal Docks.   We intended to visit the Crystal, a Siemens exhibition, about planning cities for sustainability.    We agreed it was interesting except for the overload of information.

Jackson enjoyed pointing out the different landmarks that he passes on his journey to school.   One day he decided to take the cable car as part of his journey to school.   All very exciting.

I looked nervously towards London Airport, hoping that the planes taking off did not hit us on the way up into the air.   But I must say the views were spectacular on a brilliantly sunny and clear day.

The view back to the O2, with plenty of building work taking place beside it, and the tall buildings of London in the background.

And finally, an early morning view of the sky, though the entrance to Joydens Wood.   It was quite dark in the woods, for me and the dogs.   Luckily after a few days, they decided to sleep in until 7.30. 

Half term is now finished, and tomorrow the children and teachers return to school.   Thankfully I no longer have to join them.  

Tomorrow I will sleep in a little, and then have a leisurely breakfast, followed by coffee and cake, and a catch up plus lunch with Kathy.  

A busy life.