Paul Luton
@paulluton
Chemist by education ,retired teacher, National Trust guide and Nature conservation volunteer who uses a bicycle to see the world. Pressing for safer cycling routes so that more people can enjoy it too.
Courgette puff pie . Courgettes from the allotment , brought home by bike naturally . Served with home grown mange-tous in a tomato sauce.
Pleased with intersectional peonies. First flowering a few years after planting
In the VanDyke (copy) the sunflower is a symbol of loyalty. Meaning of a sort but relatively trivial compared with what makes it an interesting painting.
Cabinets are open at Ham House for rest of May. Lacquer interiors that look as they were bought in 1670.
And a quite spectacular renaissance triptych: the dumpy figure kneeling on the left is le Roi Renee whose daughter married Henry VI of England.
Aix en Provence cathedral isn't exactly impressive but has a 8c baptistry ( upper parts later) with a view of the forum underneath
Forecasters got the 12.00 shower right - Just in time for my 12-12.30 outside tour.
Heron that, finding no fish in the pond came up to the house to complain.
For carrying pruned tree branches to recycling I add on my trailer.(And a battery in the light of advanced years)
Impact on the capacity of a station ??? If it increasing the frequency of trains that would make getting to Rousham easier - it is indeed a delightful garden.
Massive pile of Lime bikes by Pools in the Park/ Athletic ground today. Clearly a need for a BIG pen to hold them properly. @richmondcouncil.bsky.social
Chiswick House - even more photogenic in the winter after a scenic ride across Richmond Park. Glad to see the path from Staverly Rd marked as a cycle route.
Hmm three storey cycle hub ? Hope that doesn't require cyclists to push their bikes up stairs as we have just been given at Richmond. Not at all fantastic.
Conversely this is a totally awful way to access cycle parking. Half of it is up a second flight of steps. Fine if you are a healthy 25 with a featherweight racing bike.
Which? article on insurance has this picture. Would any insurance cover a bike on the streets that is illegal to ride there ? ( No second brake assuming fixed gear at the back ) Good that frame and wheel are both secured to stand.
On the plus side - we have a new capacious cycle parking hub at Richmond Station. On the minus - most cycle parking is up one or two flights of steps in order to minimise loss of car parking. A bit of green wall . @richmondcycling.bsky.social @rtfoe.bsky.social @richmondcouncil.bsky.social
On display at @nationaltrust.org.uk Ham House a rare surviving 17c Sumpter Cloth used to cover baggage when travelling. JEL monogram of John and Elizabeth duke and duchess of Lauderdale.
Sternbergias. When what other flowers there are in the garden are pink-mauve-white.
The house was cut down from a Tudor palace in 1650s with the first domestic portico in England.
Gothic style bike racks at @nationaltrust.org.uk The Vyne . Could have done with signing on the convoluted way out of Basingstoke.