2012: Week 43

2012: Week 43, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

This week in London started off very foggy. So foggy that the fog didn't lift FOR DAYS. When even the London locals are talking about the fog, you know it's something.

But that didn't deter my 13-year-old and I as we embarked on climbing over The Dome (or the O2, if you want to be all Corporate Sponsorship about it). We couldn't even see Canary Wharf, just over the river. As you can see, we only got half the view. Alas, we did not get half-price tickets due to conditions.

It was awesome, though. We highly recommend the experience.

2012: Week 31

...Where we attempt to recreate the Sistine Chapel using foam fingers., a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

...Where we attempt to recreate the Sistine Chapel using foam fingers.

Given the rules of the 52 weeks projects regarding any Olympic trademarked things or locations, this is the best picture I could use for Week 1 of the Olympics. They were giving these out free during the dressage portion of the equestrian events of the Olympics. I can faithfully report that the foam fingers also soaked up the rain quite well.

We love a foam finger. We love a foam finger even more when we can use it to recreate the creation narrative from the Sistine Chapel. I'm sure Michelangelo would have approved.

This is actually the photo I liked better, but I couldn't post it to the Guardian group, given the Olympics rules.

2012: Week 28

Two fine ships: HMS Ocean and the Cutty Sark, both in Greenwich this summer., a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Two fine ships: HMS Ocean and the Cutty Sark, both in Greenwich this summer.

Have you heard? It's less than two weeks to the London Olympics. For those of us in Greenwich, this means deliveries only at 6 a.m., rubbish collection at 2 a.m., and the addition of the HMS Ocean into our neighbourhood. The ship is part of the security forces for the games and will be our new neighbour in SE10 until mid-September. They had an Open House-- or should that be Open Ship-- on Sunday, which was fascinating.

I took this snap just as the launch was about to leave for shore. Luckily the captain was patient enough to give me the 10 seconds I needed to frame this shot, otherwise I might have had to swim. I think the 52 Weeks project is really getting to me.

2012: Week 23

A Royal Jubilee knees up! Another round of God Save the Queen. Roll on fun., a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

A Royal Jubilee knees up! Another round of God Save the Queen. Roll on fun.

During the course of the Jubilee weekend, we attended five Jubilee parties. I had to go on a cake detox when it was all over, but it was great just the same. This picture was taken at a street party in Royal Hill in the Royal Borough of Greenwich during the Royal Jubilee. Is that enough Royals for you?

2012: Week 21

At last Spring has arrived. #nofilter, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.


It has been, it has to be said, a most rubbish spring. Rain, more rain, and then when we thought we couldn't take it any more, more rain. 


I took this picture in Greenwich Park on my way to Thing 2's sports day. It was an absolutely glorious day. I even got sunburned and was even, dare I say it-- hot. Needless to say, the rain resumed just in time for Jubilee weekend. What are you going to do. We just got on with it, regardless of the rain.


When I took the picture, I didn't realizse that I had lined up the sun and the bloom. I only saw that once I got home and downloaded the picture to my computer. For those of you who don't know what the #nofilter hashtag means, that's just a fancy way of saying, "I didn't monkey with this picture at all to make it look like this." 

2012: Week 17

The Queen at the Queen's House, Greenwich! (Not pictured: Her Majesty waving at me!), a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

The Queen at the Queen's House, Greenwich! (Not pictured: Her Majesty waving at me!)

I waited with a friend for about 45 minutes-- though it seemed shorter-- for the Queen to appear following a day of visits in Greenwich, London. I don't know if you can see from the picture, but it was absolutely POURING WITH RAIN. But the result was I got to see her after 13.5 years of living in the U.K.

PS: I know I already posted this, but to be consistent with the 52 weeks project, I'm posting it again.

The day I got to see Her Royal Majesty, The Queen

When we first moved here, 13 1/2 years ago, I naively thought we'd be tripping over the Royal Family in London. Let me assure you, that is not the case. I had a false alarm in 2005, when I THOUGHT I saw the Queen at the Marathon Expo, when I was collecting my number, but it was not to be. So I've never seen anyone remotely royal. I've never even seen a minor royal, like Princess Michael of Kent.


(I'm not counting the time I got my picture taken with the picture of the Queen when we earned our British citizenship last year. Or, for that matter, any millions of times I've seen the queen on money or on stamps. Those times don't count.)


That all changed today.


Queen Elizabeth II was in Greenwich to reopen the Cutty Sark, go the Maritime Museum and finally to have lunch at the Queen's House. The queen to which the name refers is not her, but instead to Queen Anne, James I's wife. But I do think it's a nice bit of symmetry when the Queen is at the Queen's House.


I thought I was going to miss all the hoopla, because I had an exam scheduled for the late morning, bang in the middle of all the visits. But my friend and I were on our way back when I saw a group of people waiting out front of the Queen's House. I also spied this police motorcade security detail, so I figured she hadn't left yet. We made a beeline over there. Thinking I had missed my chance to see the Queen in person in the morning, I was thrilled that I was actually going to see her in the afternoon.

It was a nice group hanging about at the end of the Queen's visit. I'm sure most people went to the Cutty Sark celebrations and then returned home. The rain also arrived with a vengence, so I think that also contributed to the "We're all in this together" spirit while we waited for Her Majesty to appear.


Among the group was this really sweet girl who wanted to deliver this bouquet of flowers. She was hoping the motorcade would stop at the end of the gate so she could deliver them. The police officer in charge told her that was very unlikely, but she still remained optimistic. (You might be able to get an idea of how hard it was raining by looking at the umbrella.)

After a 45 minute wait, which actually didn't feel that long, the Queen finally emerged from the Queen's House and got in her special Range Rover with the special flag, indicating that she's inside. Here they are, making their way up the path in front of the Queen's House. She is in the back seat, on the left-hand side, wearing red and a fetching hat. My heroine.

I didn't take a picture of her actually passing by, because I wanted to concentrate on actually seeing her and waving, as opposed to taking a picture. Prince Phillip was on our side, and I have to say, he looked very good, particularly after his heart scare at Christmas.


So I've now seen the Queen, and in her Diamond Jubilee year to boot. It was worth getting absolutely soaked to do so. 

2012: Week 16

The Cutty Sark sails again!, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

The Cutty Sark sails again!

For this week's picture, I'm featuring the born-again Cutty Sark clipper ship in Greenwich, which had a preview for locals on Saturday. After a very long and expensive restoration project-- not to mention one devastating fire-- it was fantastic to see it in all its glory again.

The Cutty Sark reborn was definitely my highlight for week 16.

2012: Week 8

8:2012, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Having fun with the new fish eye lens for my iPhone produced this picture. It helped that it was an absolutely beautiful day in Greenwich Park.

Royal Borough of Greenwich

Greenwich became a Royal Borough over the weekend. I don't know quite how this is going to benefit us. I have been checking the post faithfully every day to see when my crown is going to arrive, but I've yet to see one arrive. However, Greenwich now has some spiffy new street signs that say "Royal Borough of Greenwich", as well as some nice banners on the street between the station and central Greenwich.

They had parades and fireworks throughout the borough during the weekend to celebrate. West Greenwich was last to celebrate, on Sunday. We got to ring in the new status amid the snow, which was pretty, but also pretty cold.

Thing Two got to march in the parade with his Royal Lantern. Here's a nice snap:

After the parade, there were some Royal Fireworks. I thought this picture was of a W (just like the climax in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" but my friend pointed out that it was probably a crown. I think he was right.

2012: Week 6 SNOW!

This isn't the picture I uploaded to the 52weeks group on Flickr-- I went with the Royal Borough of Greenwich fireworks snap-- but I had a hard time deciding. The weekend was notable for the SNOW on Sunday, which was gone by Monday afternoon. We had a terrific time sledging in the park, and I'm thrilled to report that Thing Two's tolerance for sledding has now extended to 2 hours, up from 45 minutes last year.

We're hoping for some more snow though before the end of the winter.