Half the World Away

This is just one of the many photos I took on my walk he from work today. I chose the lavender because of the gorgeous colours and I love the light caught in the top corner.

I walked through Elthorne Park which is on the route home, but little did I know that beyond the conventional park there are beautiful wild meadows called the Elthorne Rough.

The meadows are filled with tall grasses and grasshoppers, ripening blackberries (for hedgerow freebies come harvest) and bumbling bees, purest white ivy flowers and swirling swifts overhead, tiny acorns and towering oaks, purple and green thistles and pink sweet peas, clouds of elderflowers and a flock of bright green parakeets! They live in certain parts of London and I was so surprised and happy to see them I stood and watched as they chased each other in and out of trees and squawked and chattered in the sky.

On leaving the rough behind I crossed a road and ducked under a bridge to fine myself walking along the canal. I saw three barge boats painted gaily in comparison to the brown urban background, they were called La Belle Peniche and Kara - The Nags Head Reading Ltd.
I saw a family or moorhens and a couple of ducks and the telltale signs of fish beneath the murky water.
Further along and almost home, I passed a large set of allotments butting with life. Every one if them was growing something different - flowers, fruits, vegetables, trees and a friendly squirrel stopped by to say hello. I look forward to watching the crops grow as the seasons change.

Once home I cooked us a delicious dinner of herby sausages with new potatoes served in a honey and mustard sauce with grilled vegetables on top. Easy and tasty.

Today I am grateful of the discovery of nature so beautiful that I would never have thought I should find in London. It seems half the world away from the hustle and bustle and yet so convenient and right on my doorstep!