The Chief

The mascot on the bonnet of Specialised Movers vintage van, 1938 Guy Vixen - ELM 157.

Specialised Movers

Yorkie

1957 Ford Thames Fordson E83W

This is one of the vintage pantechnicons on display at this year's Surrey County Show. It belongs to Specialised Movers who are based in Sheffield - a birthday present to the firm's owner from his wife!


Specialised Movers

And meerkat friends

Merely a meerkat

Small, medium and large

The sheep with the crumpled horn - 

 with apologies to 'The House that Jack Built'

This is the farmer sowing his corn

That kept the cock that crowed in the morn

That woke the priest all shaven and shorn

That married the man all tattered and torn

That kissed the maiden all forlorn

That milked the cow with the crumpled horn

That tossed the dog that worried the cat

That killed the rat that ate the malt

That lay in the house that Jack built.

The Spotted Sow

How now, Brown Cow?

Surrey County Show on Bank Holiday Monday was a Royal occasion with the Earl and Countess of Wessex attending.

Surrey County Show

The Black Swan is not a pub, but a Gallery with two ns.

Swann Gallery

Not sure how old this one is!

A bit of modern history

Views & Postcards of Blenheim sold here

The Blenheim -
a grand place for a cream tea.


The Blenheim

Woodstock, the clearing in the forest, was a Royal hunting estate, even before the Doomsday Book cited it in 1086. This plaque isn't that old, but is a nice reminder of the long history of Woodstock.
(On the wall at The Bear.)

The Bear is one of the oldest inns in Woodstock and now takes up what were several houses on the main street. A far cry from its humble beginnings in the 13th century when people stayed on market days and bear bating, a common sport in those days, took place in the town.


The Bear Hotel

A sixteen pointed star is a symbol of the Guild of Innkeepers. (I wonder how many stars the Assassins Guild or the Thieves Guild get?)

The Star Inn

Looks a goodly brew she's offering.

The Punch Bowl

Another understated sign - those are shields, not bombs!

The Kings Arms

The Woodstock Arms

We stayed at The Feathers, Woodstock when we visited Blenheim Palace. A lovely place to stay with a very understated sign.

The Feathers

Woodstock seems well supplied with pubs. This is from where we made a walk with local historian Andrew Webster before returning for a delicious dinner.


The Kings Head

Eastern Avenue at Chelsea Flower Show

Just one of the busy pathways at Chelsea Flower Show

Exploring

A corner of the Plant Explorer's Garden created by Karolina Tercjak and other Scottish Agricultural College students. One of the Artisan Gardens at Chelsea Flower Show, it won a Silver Gilt medal, just one below the coveted Gold.

Harlequin Lace

A new streptocarpus from Didbleys Nurseries, entered in the Plant of the Year competition at Chelsea Flower Show

But what is this?

Fungi

Assorted mushrooms on the Waitrose - NFU stand

Floral Marquee display

Tower of flowers

More purple

Floating flower

Chelsea Florists of the Year

The theme was Diamonds are Forever and this amazing design by Daisy Ellen Burgoyne won a silver medal.

Satoyama Life

Detail from Satoyama Life, the best Artisan Garden at this years Chelsea Flower Show. Designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara, it highlights the symbiosis between our lives and nature.
Satoyama is the space between the lowlands and the mountains.

One, two, buckle my shoe

One two buckle my shoe
Three, four, knock at the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
Nine, ten, a big fat hen
Eleven, twelve, dig and delve
Thirteen, fourteen, maids a-courting
Fifteen, sixteen, maids in the kitchen
Seventeen, eighteen, maids in waiting
Nineteen, twenty, my plate's empty

Flower in the city

Madisonville, LA

Simon's Fat Hen at the Fat Hen, New Orleans

The pet giant tortoise goes for a walk along Maple Street.

Before bead dogs there were trams - or I should say, streetcars.

Here is a sample of what they were like at Streetcar Art

USS Wasp

Something to prevent the hosepipe ban?

Old rope

Tall ships

A star spangled banner

Nola Dog!

Paws on Parade

Simon's Twisted dog.
One of our favourite artists of New Orleans

Paws on Parade

Delicious Blue Frogs!

Blue Frog Chocolates

Four dogs from Paws on Parade