Spring #Innit ... a time of change

So Twitter says #Hashtags and @signs are passé and old hat, and they will go. I don't mind about losing the @sign, just type a name or use a dropdown, I can deal with that.  That reminds me of the old days when you had to use <b> to embolden a word, or <u> for underline was it?  In Wordperfect or Prime or Nixdorf? Yes I am that old! I barely remember now! So yes, we got rid of upfront HTML in word processing so it makes sense.  But I would miss the #Hashtag. Still, many of us don't use it in the way that Twitter does. Its a joke. That's the whole point. So #LongLiveTheHashtag.  And Twitter is eight years old - I wonder how anachronistic hashtags will seem in another eight years time!

Spring means a big change of course, and it's here now thank goodness.  Already the Snowdrops and Crocus are fading, some of the early Daffodils in the garden are already going over. The Hyacinths are out, and we await the Tulips, Forget-me-nots and Bluebells.  The dark red leaved Cherry, the loveliest of trees, has dropped nearly all its delicate pale pink petals now.  And glory of glories, the Magnolia has opened up at last. British Summer Time approaches fast! 

For so many weeks we watched the flood waters rise, with terrible consequences for so many. Now there is little evidence to be seen, apart from the towpath down by the bridge being covered in silty sludge and the water table still high, evident in some water meadows. The real consequences for so many people are hidden inside their houses, now being dried out and refurbished. Recovery will take time.   

This time of year brings many sad memories for me.  My Mum, Dad and Auntie all passed away in March and early April.  Its 'that time' when energy returns, or not. This week I went to the funeral of an old family friend. She lived a long life, full of joys and lots of hardship too.  We had kept in touch with her and were glad to hear from her son that those small acts of kindness, letters, photos, just keeping in touch, had been very welcome and supported her over the years. Those little things matter so much, letting someone know you care, if not spoken out loud, by just not letting go and abandoning them.

There were good things to remember at the funeral, old friends to reconnect with and time to remember the life we lived 30 years ago. For me, a moving moment was seeing the son of a friend, looking so like his Uncle who died tragically years back. Time became meaningless and for a fleeting moment he was standing in front of me again.

So excuse me if I am a little melancholy and reflective at the moment, it's that time of year. I am comforted by the thought of good days ahead, and I can carry with me the wonderful  memories of family and old friends. 

#SorryIfThatsAllABitWoollyAndTooFloweryThatsHowIAmFeelingRightNow

Watery Winter Walk ... or What A Difference A Week Makes

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.hrp.org.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/AboutUsWhatwedoBuildingConservationProfileDecorativeChimneys

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.

This book looks interesting and may have the answer to my question about the planting of the trees in the direction of All Saints, Kingston. http://www.gardenhistorysociety.org/post/publications/book-reviews/the-gardens-and-parks-at-hampton-court-palace/

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 

Cyclamen in the formal gardens

A hint of blossom and leaves

Mute Swan at Molesey Lock

Somewhere ...
 

It's February already ...

Hello
I realise it has been a bit longer than intended but I notice my January blog was a month ago. So a little update is required. What has been happening? Well a fab trip to Glasgow to see Top Gear Live. More on that later.

We had some culture during our visit too.  First, a very interesting tour of the Glasgow School of Art http://www.gsa.ac.uk/ .  The splendid tours are run by the Students, http://www.gsa.ac.uk/visit-gsa/mackintosh-building-tours/ - highly recommended.  Book in advance just in case as they are popular.

We also visited the Kelvingrove Museum to see the Jack Vettriano Retrospective.
http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/kelvingrove/current-exhibition/Jack-Vettriano-A-Retrospective/Pages/About.aspx .  I didn't know much about Vettriano.  His paintings (those few I had seen) seemed too polished and commercial looking for my taste. However I now understand a bit more about him, as the exhibition is peppered with various taped interviews and you get to know the chap a bit more and understand what it's all about.  He has done well, successful commercial paintings tend to be sneered at by the art critics, some say he can't paint. I have to say I liked the Bluebird ones (commissioned by Terence Conran) best.  I found the nightlclub paintings (or erotic as the critics like to call them) slightly depressing. 'The Weight', a self portrait, is one of the best, and should indeed be on permanent display in Scotland.

I also loved the "Portrait in Black and Pearl" http://www.jackvettriano.com/exhibitions/days-of-wine-and-roses-london-october-2010/portrait-in-black-and-pearl-2/
I love the brushstrokes used to create the effect of fur and the glowing pearl earring (yes I know Vermeer did it first ... ).  You can only really get the effect when you see the painting in person. It also reminded me of some Tudor paintings (often by Dutch artists too) adorned with many pearls.

Here's a recent article about Vettriano moving back to Scotland:  http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/vettriano-reveals-return-to-edinburgh.23307282 

I wish we had more time to look around the whole museum as there  is so much else to see. It was well worth the visit.

The whole pearl thing is on my mind a lot after the recent 'Pearls' Exhibition at the V&A which I saw just before Christmas. The way things link together in my butterfly mind never ceases to amaze me. The pictures of Mars (Art from Mars article in the Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2014/jan/10/art-from-mars-the-best-pictures )  inspired me to make a necklace with pearls.
 

Sorry, yes I know, they are the hated cheap mass market freshwater pearls so abhorred by the proper pearl industry, but I am not rich enough to afford the real thing! See left: Iolite, Swarovski bicones and (cheap!) freshwater pearls make a delicate little necklace.

The next cultural trip is to the Cheapside Hoard at the Museum of London, sometime before the exhibition closes in March.
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/whats-on/exhibitions-displays/cheapside-hoard-londons-lost-jewels/

So what else? OH is currently restoring (mostly restored now) to working order a wonderful light which I bought for him for Christmas the year before last.  They were used in Lancasters and other WWII planes.  It should also have a red filter so it can be used as a night light but it came without that. So far it has a new bulb and wiring, and the light is working for the first time in maybe 60 years.  He decided it was a shame to leave it there in its shabby state so it has been gently cleaned, rewired, and the appropriate transformer has it down at the proper voltage/amperage.  I will get a pic of it in it's restored state for a later blog.  

Oh and finally, Good News!!!! Top Gear is back again tonight.  Thank goodness. We need a bit of fun. 
We much enjoyed the trip to Glasgow, and the return to our screens of the Fab Four (yes I include The Stig) just can't come quickly enough!
When we booked the tickets for TGL we thought one show was enough but then, ooooh at the last minute ... I know whenever I leave a Top Gear Live Show I just want to go back and see it all again.  So yes we booked two tickets. It made for a well rounded visit, one show on Saturday night and one on Sunday afternoon. The last time I went in Birmingham and in London the show included much in the way of stunt driving, races, bits with Tiff in it.  This time it was more a 'best of' show, for 90 minutes we had mostly the guys themselves, cocking about as usual.  The Saturday night game of Car Football was without doubt one of the best ever! Three footballs were destroyed and the Stig's car was almost destroyed too!

So - I will add a couple more pictures below for you to enjoy, then, I think it's time for a cup of tea and a bit of jewellery fettling. 

TTFN

VB 

xxx

 oh all right one more then ... yes that one!

New Year, new ... all sorts of things

I don't expect to make this a regular thing you know, two posts in a row.  No, definitely not.

Months of work sorting my room and gradually things fall into place.  The room is decorated.  The desk design decided upon at last, but not yet ordered (because it's New Year's Day and the shop is closed).  So I sit and ponder what on earth am I going to do whilst sitting at this splendid new desk. When it arrives.

It's worth getting it right because this will set me up for the next instalment of life's rich pageant.  Start a new businesses? Create a website? Design and sell things?  Write about things, research, photograph and publish things ... it's all a bit predictable isn't it?

It's not the 'things' though really is it? (As a bright spark on Twitter likes to point out - we are not talking about mere things here - it's just not the thing.)

The best 'thing' of all is that I am here alone, and not alone.  You lot are out there/here.  I know no-one ever ever comments on these blogs here but perhaps someone will some day. The point is I can reach out to all of you from my new desk (when it arrives), and we can all be here (literally!) and chat, drink tea, put the world to rights (oh and if anyone has a link to cliches to avoid when writing please let me know.)

Top Gear, Dunsfold, one of the best 'things' to happen in 2013!

That's quite enough. I am off to do some sewing now.  Or shall I sit in my cosy corner and read the Larkin bio I just bought ...oh so many choices, so many new things!

#TTFN

VB

Being in the moment

Hello, time for another occasional blog, as I have time, and time is what it is all about. Don't worry I am not going all Professor Brian Cox. I am no physicist, or philosopher come to that, just an ordinary person with time to reflect, for once. 

So it is the last day of 2013, and time is passing ever quicker it seems.  I have no idea how many more years I have left here but have resolved (no not resolved, decided) over the last few months to do those things I have always wanted to do. Now you could say you should spend your whole life doing that, but few of us have that luxury.  The need to create an income is the barrier to most doing what they want, only the lucky few can spend their lives doing their heart's desire. 

We spend our time filling it with 'things to do', lists, goals, priorities being shuffled constantly, and we lose ourselves in all the 'stuff'.  Then come the dark nights, the inevitable Christmas rush, and all of a sudden it stops.  Holiday at home, for me, is the only time I have to to finally and quietly be myself.  But then ... what ... make more lists, fill the time with things I 'must' do?

The alternative is just to sit, and be.  Watch the clouds go by, the crows cawing at the wind and rain. Is it a waste of time?  Why do I feel guilty about it?   Actually I don’t feel guilty, well not any more. For once I am doing what I want to do, as I was able to do as a teenager when I first had this sort of time to myself (and then no responsibilities).  Watch the clouds, the trees silhouetted against the sky, the different patterns of trees, and life.

So now onwards to one of the things I enjoy – reading:

I have just finished reading a book that was recommended to me, and it has rather stopped me in my tracks.  I saved the last few chapters for the holiday as I had consumed the rest of it in snatched moments before falling asleep or in between decorating.  I wanted to absorb the last of it in my own free and relaxed time.  It is the autobiography of a pilot, who survived the early(ish) to middle years of flying but whose fate was always just out of reach of his own control, or so it seemed.  Towards the very end he recounts how he flew a plane which had an increasingly bad reputation for crashing, but somehow he was able to fly it because of a particular combination of circumstances … in the end, and in his innocence, he found the only way to fly the plane without it crashing.  So he navigated his life and fate … (well in the end his fate was to live and be a very successful author).  At the end he looked at his flying bag, the one that had accompanied him all those years through his flying career, battered and stained.  And he loved it, that bag (yes love … for a bag!).  And flying, he loved that too, but he finally decided a particular fate had come too close, and it was time to stop. 

I am coming up to a similar decision, not to stop but to change, more gradually I hope, but it is time for change, yes.  I am looking forward to seeing where my fate takes me.

Oh dear, I need to say a little something about cycling and cyclists ... and drivers and driving ...

I may have to duck after posting this but here goes ...

Dear Cyclists
I agree cycling is a great way to get from A to B. It's a great sport too.  But you have to share the roads with others, so please, don't run red lights, skim so close to a car that you scare the wits out of the driver (who really doesn't want to run you over despite what you may think), or damage the car as you go by ... yes it does happen.

Dear Drivers
I agree driving a car is a great way to get from A to B. It's a great sport too.  But you have to share the roads with others, so please, don't run red lights, skim so close to cyclists that you scare the wits out of him or her (who really doesn't want to be run you over despite what you may think), or damage the bike or rider as you go by ... yes it does happen.

Do you see what I did there?

So why this all of a sudden? I live on the Olympic Cycle Route.  We have to travel the route regularly and find ourselves stuck behind bike riders two, three or even five abreast (yes ... holding up the traffic on purpose). The cyclists can also be very abusive and aggressive towards innocent car drivers (repeat that sentence with the words cyclists and car drivers transposed).  There needs to be a way forward and I am concerned that nothing is being done. 

There are responsible car drivers and responsible and very good cyclists but we all know there are many who are not.  The resentment is growing.

I know I have heard of the police stopping drivers for not keeping up with the flow of traffic (yes driving too slowly!) and now the Government have decided it is appropriate to fine those hogging the middle lane of the motorway.  I won't bother to comment on the last point because someone else has already done that far better than I ever could  (yes I do mean Jeremy Clarkson).

Cyclists are supposedly fined for cycling on the pavement nowadays, how about fining them for deliberately holding up traffic, running red lights, etc.  We know they do it ...

And we all know it would never work.  None of it works.

The only way to change behaviour is to put yourself in another person's shoes and see it from their point of view.  Do away with the stupid legislation and spend the money on a bit of education instead.  Drivers are given the option of retraining or taking a fine for speeding.  Let's do the same for cyclists - just cycle well, do a good job or be given a bit of professional advice. And drivers get on a bike now and then and see how it feels.

That's quite enough from me.

VB

And on that Bombshell ...

Well, there I was at work coming up to 5 pm, there's a new email in my inbox.  Oh great. No it’s just more ApplauseStore X Factor spam surely?  No it isn’t … hold on ….

“Congratulations, you have now successfully been booked into attend the recording of TOP GEAR SUMMER 2013 - BBC taking place on Wednesday 17th July 2013 at 13:30.”

My own tickets at last! I had two lots of generous guest tickets and now this. I was amazed at my luck. Who to invite …. Well you know that by now.  I was very sad that one particular person I had invited couldn’t attend but settled on getting the three musketeers back together.  We had met on Twitter originally and then back in 2012 at Top Gear Live at the NEC in Birmingham.  We kept in touch on Twitter and Facebook ever since. 

So ... to the day …

“I am on the early train”  "OK good I will pick you up at the station, cross over the road, go down the slope and look for Pizza Express. I will be parked nearby."  So Jane was the first to arrive. 

The night before Helen and Alan had stayed on the other side of the river and found a fab pub to go to.  But now they were on the road to my place and arrived at about 9.30 am. Time to relax in the shade for a while before we set off.  Within 30 minutes the sun had moved round and it was already steaming hot.  We moved into the little shade left under the Ash and Cherry trees and chatted excitedly about the day ahead.  Ok, let’s gather ourselves and set off.  It would prove to be one of the hottest spots in the country that day, recording 32.8 C at Hampton Water Works, just over the river from us.  

We did the now familiar drive and arrived at Dunsfold at around 11.30 am.  Always leave plenty of time, just in case. It means a long wait but there are things to do.  We gathered by the entrance to the t-shirt store and had the now traditional picture taken and posted on Twitter. 

Then to the burger van…  yummy as usual.  Now shall I brave the Top Gear loos? Yes I am going to have to … fortunately this time not stinky and plenty of water for hand washing. Thank goodness.  It's really steaming hot now so we get ice creams and head for the shade, completing our quiz while we wait.  We meet up with others and as the time grows closer we move towards the spot where the crowd manager will give us the safety talk.  It’s really hot now.  Everyone is sweltering, many not in the shade.  

At around 1 pm we hear a helicopter arrive.  We are pretty sure it’s this week’s SIARPC as we haven’t heard any squealing tyres so far.  We wait… and wait… and wait… Then at last the crowd manager gathers us all together in the hot sun for the chat.  Then we wait … and wait… it’s well past 2 pm … we wait in the full sun for the last few minutes and are concerned we will all be fainting in the studio.  

Then, at last, the call … down to the studio, check the wristbands, and we are in.  Many people are already gathered around the set so no front row seats this time.  No complaints, many have Help For Heroes t-shirts on and one chap has his foot in a cast.  I happily take up a spot behind him.  Jane joins me. We are right in front of the green chairs, beside the camera station.  Helen and Alan head for the spot just behind Jeremy’s chair.  

More waiting, it's absolutely sweltering now. I do hope we start soon. It reminds me of a holiday in Rhodes we had years back when the temperature got up to 40 C.  At last the doors close, the lights dim and the floor manager addresses us, introduces the Director (who does the same speech and same joke every week), presents the prize to the winner of the quiz, and  he then introduces Jeremy. 

Jeremy bounds onto the stage and greets the audience.  He explains at some length the reason for his attire. Similar to last week … white t-shirt, blue and white (checked this time) shirt, unbuttoned, and jeans.  It’s their way of covering up the inevitable sweaty pits on such a hot day! OK too much information Jeremy.  He jokes with the audience, as usual picking on someone and telling them THEY won’t be at the front.  Then he introduces Richard and James.  They join the stage at the same time, Richard in … yes you guessed it ... dark jeans, white shirt and a grey suit jacket.  Nutter.  And the excuse is the same, he says it covers up sweaty pits, not that they are sweaty yet … so he shows us all … ooops yes they are sweaty and it’s only going to get worse.  Jeremy then point out that James just wears a shirt and jeans, a lovely loose turquoise one (which we understand he bought in India).  So who will win the sweaty pits competition … well James of course, as he lifts his arm to display an unstained shirt.   He has done it properly! (I can confirm when I met him later he was indeed fresh as a daisy, as always). 

So that’s the intros done, time to start filming, cameras away, phones switched off (not even on vibrate … off!).

The chairs are up on the stage this time and the intro is done over on the other side of the studio by Jeremy.  Richard and James had gone back to the green room.  Then we watch Jeremy’s film about the SLK Black … the grey one and the garish yellowy green electric one.  Afterwards they film another segment adjacent to the cars, with the lap board … no giveaways on the timings and anyway I couldn’t see and can’t remember what they were.  I think it was good news for Jeremy though. 

Moving on, it was time for "The News".  And bad news, the programme has to be 2 minutes shorter this week because of some motorbike racing following Top Gear on Sunday night, so guess what, they cut the news down.  They had used this particular News item on each of the previous shows but it had been cut by the Director.  This time Jeremy had a plan … they went through it again, quickly, and did it just as well as before, but a tighter more edited version. They finished crisply with an intro to the next item. No retakes. They will have to use that one. Up yours Director!  Haha! Jeremy seemed smug about that.   Even better, I am sure I saw Helen on the monitor behind Jeremy. Excellent! She looks stunning.  

Then they introduced the comedy item of the week … the Hovervan.  We moved over to the big doors in the hope of getting some fresh air, and be close to the exit when it’s time to break for tea. I was quite surprised at just how funny it was.  Actually why should I be surprised.  It was hilarious, the usual cocking about of course. 

 

Then it was time for the tea break and as they opened the doors, the sunshine flooded in … would James be there serving tea in the hot sun? No sign, lots of people already out there. I worked my way through the crowd in the direction of the usual spot and yes, there ... a glimpse of turquoise shirt.  Oh happy day! I am so glad Helen will get to meet James.  

I think I might have been the first of our group to arrive and take the gift of tea again.  James was already tucking into some sweets from a gold cardboard box that someone had given him … chew chew chew … constantly no sooner had he finished one then he popped another sweetie in his mouth. He seems to like them very much!  

I joined the queue and I waited as others had their photos taken.  Then it was my turn, again! “Hello James … here’s a goody bag as a thank you.”  He offers me tea and I take a cup.  He took the bag of goodies to and looks inside “This is all good” he says (Woman Crisps, BBQ Beef Hoola Hoops, Jelly Babies and American Hard Gums).  This time I have to ask him for a few autographs and feel a little awkward asking for so many (three … one for a friend who has a birthday as a surprise present, one for Snowy as a momento of her visit last week and one for me … greedy I know … a pic from last week as well).  “How come you are here again?” he asks “Have you cheated?” … “No! Guest tickets before and my own tickets today." He accepts that. I had said to him before, I didn’t expect this sort of luck ever again.  So time for the pictures … Jane has my camera and snaps away, his arm around my shoulder and mine around his waist. I encourage Jane to take plenty of photos, then  I make way for others.

It’s Jane’s turn and he signs her autographs, one for Jane herself and two for others. I snap away at pics for Jane then it’s Helen’s turn. 

Alan has been taking pictures throughout but now its time for him to take pics of his lovely wife with Mr May.  James asks which camera to look at and Helen points in Alan’s direction.  “Who is that?” he asks “That’s Alan my lovely husband” she says.  “He’s a very very lucky man” says James. Helen gets her autographs too and eventually moves away for others to get their turn.  One autograph is particularly graphic "Arse - Bugger Off. Love James May x" Perfect.  The pictures are lovely and James has a particularly big smile with Helen on his arm.  Niiiice.  

We look around for any of the other presenters and though there are rumours that Richard is out I don’t see him anywhere.  The crowd thins a little and we return to the tea table to sneak a few more pics of James.  He turns and notices us and sends a quick silly cheesy grin in our direction … and I caught it on camera! One of the best pics of the day. 

We go back into the studio for the SIARPC interview.  No chance of getting to the front for this one, Wolverine Hugh Jackman.  He seems a very personable, professional chap who has worked hard to get to where he is now.  Not my type but everyone I mentioned his name to before the filming was very impressed! We stood at the back near the green room where there was a bit more air.  After a while someone nudged me … there was James behind us, looking for a friend.  We moved over and said hello again. He was happy to chat for a moment. Helen took the opportunity to get her picture resigned as she had spilt tea over the first one. He’s happy to do so and also signs Geena’s lanyard too. She takes a pic of him and he makes a funny face at her.  I don’t take pics or talk to him but am happy to just stand there to observe and smile and enjoy the moment.  

Then we notice Richard is there too.  He had been out, went back in then was out again looking into the crowd and observing the interview on the monitor quietly.  Geena gets her lanyard signed and a photo with him.  He’s very cooperative so I risk it … “Hello Richard, may I have your autograph”.  Yes of course” he smiles and takes the Sharpie and the envelope I had for my photos (2^nd Class pre-printed - I found a little irony there but I think I will let that go … ).  He signs his odd signature (no message) and hands it back. He disappears back into the green room without another word.   

I also noticed a very striking athletic looking blonde outside the green room and after a few moments it clicked who she was.  Phillipa is it? She looks lovely and photos in the papers don’t do her justice.  

We are close to the Hovervan and it must be an opportunity for the next filming segment.  I find myself behind a chap but second row? That’s fine.  Then they move us all back a good 5 feet and somehow I am at the front.  Then of course the Director moves the young attractive ones in front of us, but luckily the very attractive blonde in front of me is is a little shorter than me so I still  have a good view.  There we go, the Hovervan item 1 is filmed, I may be in shot for some of it [yes I was, briefly!].  We watch the film and laugh a lot!

The heat of the day is forgotten. It's getting later and just a touch cooler, a sad reminder that filming will be over soon.

Then another item is filmed … the closing item this time. And another layer of beautiful people are added.  This time I'm not so lucky and peer around others from the third row.  Still I see a bit of it and am happy.  

 I have always said I have no particular interest in seeing myself on the telly (true I promise) but it seems to please some people and I thought what the heck, if it happens then fine and I have a permanent memento of my visit on film.  If not then it doesn’t bother me.  However after last week a work colleague emailed me … “I see your love of fast cars has been confirmed by your presence next to the McLaren”.  It made me smile.   

Finally Jeremy has to do some words to camera for Worldwide audiences … I am standing right behind him so won’t be seen … 6’ 5 verses 5’6 is no contest, until he shuffles a bit and I can see the camera lens. So maybe, just maybe you will see my mug on telly again somewhere in the world.  I am the one with the bright yellow t-shirt and sunglasses on her head looking a bit awkward.  

And on that bombshell, it’s time to end.

@VintageBarbara