Members 1

HM1. I first noticed the projected changes to the fare structure at Hampton Court back in May, at reference 1, and attentive readers will recall that we bit the bullet and became concessionary members, more or less by chance, at the Tower, at reference 2. Then last Sunday we thought to exercise our membership. Which membership does not extend to parking privileges, so we parked in the station car park and walked across. Noticing on the way that the prime corner site, derelict for years although tidied up for the visitors to the bicycling olympics, remains inactive. Perhaps, just like at Heathrow Airport, we have spent huge sums on planning inquiries but remain unable to decide what to do. Not at all like our new strategic partners, the Chinese, who just get on with things. See gmaps 51.402914, -0.342478.

First stop the royal cabbage patch, looking a bit tired for the winter, with most of the cabbages looking very tired, especially the brussels sprouts, mostly burst in the warm damp weather. But the cabbages illustrated left were not doing too badly. I think the idea is to pick by the leaf rather than by the head. We also spotted a grey wagtail, the second of the season, the first having been back in Ely, unnoticed.

Past the rose garden where a few flowers were left from last season and into the wilderness where we were greeted by the first daffodils of the new season. Pressed on, exercising our members' rights, into the Privy Kitchen for tea, coffee and cake, in my case one of the 'Maids of Honour', one of the specialities of the house. Very nice it was too.

Out from there through Fountain Court where we were treated to the heritage dilemma of the roundels. painted in the eighteenth century by one Louis Laguerre. These have faded, more or less to the point of invisibility and the heritage team are pondering what to do with them. My solution would simply to have them replicated new. And if one was really fussy about the heritage angle, cut out what is there now before replication. The cut outs could then be flogged to some Chinese billionaire to adorn some fine new museum in the depths of China, while also helping to pay off the national debt. And us members would be able to see the roundels in the way intended by the artist - and whoever commissioned the roundels in the first place.

Plenty of energetic children bounding around outside, as was one Chinese girl, whose friend was trying to capture her on an iPad in full bound, which took a number of tries. But the privy garden was quiet and we were able to enjoy the green symphony in peace. We were also able to try out the newly restored wooden steps at the southern end of the east terrace. Those at the southern end of the west terrace remain to be done, the whole project having gone on for some time now. The two flights of steps are clearly visible in the satellite version of gmaps, the eastern ones being at 51.401373, -0.336985. See reference 3.

From there to the Chapel Royal where Louisa Haggerty was offering a free recital of a Christmas Medley: the hoops that wannabee sopranos have to jump through on their way to fame and fortune. The audience was a mixture of the gray brigade and tourists, an audience which did not understand about it being better not to clap between numbers, especially in a church. While the trusties did not think to stop people bustling around the entrance and the gallery. But Haggerty was good nonetheless - and dressed to kill, despite it being a church. She gave me the impression of being a rather immature person with a very mature voice - the price one pays, I suppose, for being a musical prodigy. The lady sitting next to us was from Carmarthen, spoke Welsh and knew all about the salty yellow bacon sold in the market there. See reference 4.

We learned in passing that the carol 'In the bleak midwinter' was set by no less a musician than Gustav Holst.

And so to lunch of meat pie, back in the nearby Privy Kitchen.

Wound up with a visit to the trees along the long terrace running alongside the river. Altogether satisfactory.

PS: the illustration will probably be one of the last to be posted from the Lumia 630, now retired.

Reference 1: http://psmv2.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/hcp-1.html.

Reference 2: http://psmv2.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/towered-1.html.

Reference 3: http://psmv2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/hampton-court-1.html.

Reference 4: http://pumpkinstrokemarrow.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=Carmarthen.