By the River Thames Again

Goring-on-Thames Lock and Weir (Creative Commons)

We were grateful that daughter D drove us around during our stay with her in Reading.  It certainly helped Mr P rest and enjoy the visit.  The weather was dull but dry so the photos I took reflect this.  I suppose we should expect poor light at this time of the year.

We had refreshments at the Swan Hotel in Streatley before walking in the grounds of the hotel.  Below are views of the bridge linking the two villages of Streatley, Berkshire and Goring-on-Thames on the South Oxfordshire side of the river.

The main reason for travelling down to Reading was to see our new great grandson for the first time as well as to be with family and friends.  A theatre visit had been booked and I'll share more another day.  

Meanwhile I wish you a good new week.  It'll be March soon!

Daughter D's Birthday Treat

How I miss the River Thames where it flows through my home town!  Never mind, I'm sure we'll get back to Reading in the near future especially with a Berkshire great grandchild on the way.  Recently daughter D sent some photos of a walk by the river after going to the riverside lido in King's Meadows and she said I could share them on my blog.  She had chosen to go there for a swim and a spa session followed by a lunch as part of a birthday gift we had given her.  We're glad that she had a relaxing time and it was glorious weather for her treat.

We're also glad that her drive back to Reading went well and she continues to spend time in her garden and with her family.  What a wonderful Summer it has been!

Thank you for your visit.  Have a good week!

Reading Scenes:The River Thames

Hello.  I hope you had a good weekend.  Ours was a restful one and we were welcomed back from our week away by our granddaughter, Daughter M who came for a catch-up chat, tea and chocolate cake that M had made.

After sorting out the photos I now have the opportunity to write about my home town.  While Mr P rested Daughter D and I did a lot of walking around West Reading where she and her family live.  I took a lot of photos before more changes take place as new buildings go up and old buildings are demolished.  Daughter D is also interested in the history of our hometown and happily pointed out different features as we walked around the streets and by the river.

A visit would not be complete without a walk by the river near Reading Bridge.

View from Reading Bridge

Christchurch Bridge

Caversham Lock view from Reading Bridge

Walking down the steps to the river towpath we found Peachy's mural that got a lot of attention recently.

We walked back along Vastern Road passed Reading Station.  The road into the station is called Trooper Potts Way.  Trooper Frederick Potts was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during the Gallipoli military campaign.

We didn't get to the area around the Forbury Gardens Public Park this time so I've included one of the memorials relating to Trooper Potts and the Berkshire Yeomanry Regiment taken on an earlier visit located outside the Forbury Gardens.  In the Forbury Gardens is the Maiwan Lion statue (which you can just see in the above photo) and these days is an iconic image associated with Reading.  It's not surprising the graffiti artist Peachy used it in his artwork on Reading Bridge.

Lastly, when walking back along by Vastern Road Car Park Daughter D and I noticed the message below tied to a tree.  

The car park building could have looked rather stark, but instead the trees, bushes and a small garden have softened the appearance which is obviously appreciated by those who pass by.

Thanks for coming by.  I'll be back soon, hopefully.  Have a good day!

A time away

The River Thames Promenade, Reading, Berkshire

We've just got back from a few days away in my home town where we were staying with our daughter.  The weather was not too good and by the Sunday when we went to see our grandson at the riverside hotel where he and some of the guests had been staying for the night after his birthday party celebration it had started to rain. Of course this didn't deter the swans and other water birds from swimming up to see if we had any food for them. 

The Reading Rowing Club boat house

Across the river is Caversham Court Gardens

and St. Peter's Church.

After saying goodbye to our grandson we took our daughter out into the countryside in West Berkshire as I wanted to visit a church where my great grandparents were married - more about the party and days out-and-about in Berkshire next time.

Five on Friday

Hello everyone.  After a break of a few weeks from blogging I'm joining Amy of Love Made My Home blog for the Five on Friday linkup. Thank you Amy for organising the linkup. As we've just returned from a time in Reading in Berkshire I'm sharing some iconic images from a mural that we saw on a walk that we took with our daughter and a grandson along by the River Thames at Caversham Lock and Weir together with a few photos I've taken in the past when walking around my home town. 

1. the weir - it's possible to walk across from Caversham Lock onto three small islands in the river

The mural shows:-

2. Sports

carrying the Olympic torch with the flame as part of the relay

around the UK before the Summer Olympics 2012

The Reading Football Club (The Royals) home colours

3. Iconic buildings in the town and on the local skyline

Reading Town Hall, an office block which stands 128m tall called The Blade,

and the huge Green Park wind turbine near the Madejski Football Stadium

Reading Town Hall

We had our wedding reception here and at one time I was a secretary in

the offices in the building on the extreme right before I trained to be a teacher.

The buildings here and opposite were badly damaged in a bombing raid during WWII

 with loss of life. Later some buildings were rebuilt and new ones created in a redevelopment

 project - more about this another time as I have memories of stories

 I listened to as a small child (a few years after the war) which touched my own family.

The Blade offices

5. Wild life along the river

5.  Finally a view across the river to the island by Caversham Lock which was the starting point for the walk in Christchurch Meadows, across the river to Reading Bridge and Caversham Lock, which I'll share another time.

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