Just over a week ago I took a much needed walk in the sunshine along the tow-path and over the bridge to Hampton Court gardens. I also started a blog, which for many reasons I didn't manage to finish at the time. Time to catch up. My pleasant walk started as follows with photos to show the river levels.
Friday 7th February ...
Some of you may know how much I love a wander around Hampton Court. My favourite time is in Winter. Access to the gardens is free between October and March, there are fewer tourists so you can enjoy the fabulous views and architecture in peace.
So with a break in the awful rain, bright sunshine and blue skies encouraged me to take a stroll and see if Spring has started to stir. The path along the Thames, heading towards the Lytyens Bridge over the river is my starting point. Taking the tow-path with Molesey Boat Club to my right, I head along down to Molesey Lock to see if the flooding is as bad as the last visit. This time the path is clear, the water is high but I have seen it much higher.Onwards past the Lock, all is well there. I head past and over the bridge. The main road is busy as usual ... always take care at the traffic lights crossing from The Mitre over to the entrance to Hampton Court. As a driver it's too easy to concentrate on the roundabout ahead as you come down the slope of the bridge and miss the crossing. There have been so many accidents there. The traffic lights have been improved but really, never take a risk there.
The Skating Rink and the Merry-Go-Round which covered much of the lawn in front of the Palace is gone now. So many enjoyed all of that over the Christmas period, now there's just an echo of laughter left. The grass has been patched up a bit will be back to a smooth green sward by Spring. Now head down to the Palace, but take a sharp left just before the Moat and head towards the Tilt Yard Cafe ... plenty of good grub in there but not right now. Take a sharp right to the Gardens, the Maze is to your left but I am not going there today. The main road into Kingston is over the wall to the left and you can just hear the noise of the traffic in the distance.
Here in the gardens there are the stark bare trees with shrubs underneath, and hidden under the shrubs are the snowdrops, carefully planted by the gardeners and now in full bloom. Crocus in yellow, mauve and purple are also opening up, scattered occasionally across the lawns. Onwards through the entrance where you normally would have to pay or show a ticket ... enter for free for now and enjoy the gorgeous Hellebores in full bloom (I wish mine were as good). 
Go on around the paths and find the gates leading to a grove of trees
heading towards Kingston upon Thames. All of a sudden the sunlight
strikes a church tower in the distance. Surely not, I had never realised
there was a path direct from Hampton Court, with a bridge over the
water, then on through the beautiful glade of trees to All Saints Church
in the distance. All of a sudden it has gone, the sunlight no longer highlighting the tower, no, its back again, the tower a beacon in the distance. I turn around and behind me an avenue of beautifully trimmed Yew trees
and the Palace stretch ahead. I wonder who designed that?! I must find out one day. 
Moving on through the gardens the sky is bright and clear, it's windy but not too bad. There are patches of watery
gravel on the path with trees and sky reflected, more apt than I realise just then,
as I try to capture the vision.I long for green and the Spring but realise there's plenty of green around. The moss is thick and rich on the north side of the walls in the gardens, and the green of the lichen and algae on the Beech Tunnel is bright.
For the rest of the walk I wander around just taking pictures and people watching, those few who are here seem to have specific interests, or walk around with the maps wondering where to go next. I carry on until my sore feet tell me to head home, make a cup of tea and download my pictures. It has been a lucky day, bright sunshine makes up for all the grey days of the past week.
I am no historian, so I won't pretend I have done loads of research but leave you with a few links so you can browse if that's what takes you fancy.
Firstly the official Hampton Court website: http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/
A bit from the site about the Conservation of the Tudor Chimneys is rather interesting and probably calls for one of my photos of some of the chimneys!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/hampton_court_01.shtml
Jonathan Foyle's BBC documentary 'Hampton Court: The Lost Palace' about discovering Wolsey's Hampton Court.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22209
British History on-line also has a very interesting article which indicates that the three double avenues radiating from the east side of the Palace were designed in the reign of Charles II. More research is needed and books are to be ordered!
Sunday 9th February :
And there were going to be more links but time got the better of me and by Sunday we had a different view of the river.
East Molesey Cricket Club field was underwater .... the tow-path to Hampton Court no longer navigable unless you are in a boat. The cafe at the Cricket Club was still in business but the outlook while we had our tea and cake was a little different to what you would expect... 
The tow path from the Boat Club is underwater so you have to take the main road to get up to the Bridge. If you want to sit down and take in the view you will be out of luck ... 
The Mitre looked fine at the time but since this picture was taken I think the lights are off at the lower level.
The residents of Hurst Road closest to the bridge were having to start pumping their cellars presumably due to rising groundwater.
The Emporium in Bridge Road also had the pumps going but they said it was working fine and all was well. We took a stroll around as usual and certainly it seems dry and warm in there!
Friday 15th February
So ... a week later we have floods all around. I won't repeat all the reports in the press, we all know about Chertsey, Walton, Datchet etc. Hopefully Molesey has come off better than many places.Along the Hurst Road the residents are now aided by tankers in removing the water from flooded cellars.
The high winds last night have resulted in many trees and branches
coming down. The worst I saw from my rather limited walk around was a car and van with a tree on top (I believe there may also have
been another car but didn't see that).
I don't know if anyone was hurt but hopefully it's only the vehicles that are damaged (I know bad enough if it's yours). Taking a close look at the tree it was well rotten at the base and inside.
To end on a brighter note, here are a couple more photos from the walks which hint at spring yet to come and happy times .... or as someone would say, don't worry, eventually it will be Spring and we will all be happy.
All Photos by @VintageBarbara
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| Cyclamen in the formal gardens |
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| A hint of blossom and leaves |
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| Mute Swan at Molesey Lock |
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| Somewhere ... |
