But, other than that, the weekend was great, we did most of the stuff planned, we just did not get round to creosoting the fence, but the rest got done. We watched the final two Alien films. In a surprise, I have to say I rather enjoyed the third instalment, which I am not sure if I had seen before, but if I did it was just the once back in the midst of time. Anyway, I think it was a worthwhile thing to do, and so here are my thoughs on the best to worst list of the four films:
1
3
2
4
Alien Resurrection was just an awful mess and everyone involved should hang their collective heads in shame as to how they made such a mess. But it does show that the first was the best for doing most of the killing offscreen and leaving the horror to your imagination.
We were up early on Saturday morning, and without breakfast and even a cup of coffee we headed out to catch the train to London. In order to be a Kings Cross before the crowds go to thick so we could take better pictures. I say ‘we’ as we both were shooting, or going to shoot. Or shot.
As we travelled up to through Kent, the sun rose lifting mist and fog out of the land, and soon enough we were zipping through thick fog at 140mph. It was rather exhilarating I have to say, and when we went over the Medway, just the M2 bridge could be made out beside the line, otherwise it was as though we were travelling through clouds way up above the ground.
London, however, was fogless, and we made our way over the road from St Pancras to Kings Cross. A new passenger concourse has been built on the side of Kings Cross, more than doubling the space for passengers, with lots more places to eat and wait. And it is all housed in what looks like half a flying saucer bolted to the old station. It shouldn’t work, but does. Funky lights illuminate the metal girders, and make it a wonderful place to people watch, even better at one of the new eateries high above the concourse. Needless to say I snap it from all angles and get the shots I wanted and even dreamt of getting. And best of all, no hassle from security staff whilst we snapped away. There is even a new bridge high above the platforms too, and so we went there to snap from there as well.
We had breakfast burritos at the Mexican place on the balcony; it was a fine view, and getting a hit of caffeine was great too.
We went down into the tube and took a short trip on the Northern Line to London Bridge so I could snap the new skyscraper, The Shard, as it is nearly completed. It is a truly huge building, and should offer stunning views over London when completed. We walked back over the river to catch a DLR train from Bank station, and were rewarded with fine misty views down the river towards Tower Bridge and the East End beyond.
We grabbed seats at the very back of the train, and we were able to get fine views as the train first rattled down the tunnel out towards docklands, and then as the tracks twisted around Canary Wharf and the other glass and still buildings that now make up the East End around the docks. The line headed back under the Thames, and we got off at Greenwich, and we headed out back into the sunshine, and into the crowds. Over the other side of the road we was a small place that offered coffee; we both needed another hot, and so we went in only to find they sold handmade ice cream too; so along with our coffee we both had a pistachio ice cream, and went out on the small garden in the back to eat and soak up the sun. By this time it was warm, and I was glad to have left my coat at home, as it was not needed now the fog had cleared.
The into the grounds of the Old Naval College to visit a couple of fine Georgian buildings; the Painted Hall and the Chapel. Both designed by Wren, and wonderfully designed and decorated. I had seen some shots from a friend on Flickr a couple of weeks back, but the inside of the Painted Hall was so wonderful it took my breath away, even knowing what it was like. All the walls and even the ceiling have been painted, wonderfully. The effect is astonishing. Words, certainly mine, don’t do it justice. As is the way, the finest decoration was reserved for the wall behind where the top table was, as the Hall was designed to be a dining hall, which it still is, although it is used for grander occasions than the retired sailors that were to use it originally.
Over the courtyard is the chapel; with a matching dome to the Hall. A group was being taken around, but when they left we had the place to ourselves; I snapped away. Once again I will let the pictures do the taking when I get round to uploading them.
After a while, we turned and left, and made our way through the imposing buildings, crossed the road to the National Maritime museum, as it seemed a good idea to call in as we were here and it is free. There were two good exhibitions on, but Shackleton’s boat, which I had wanted to show Jools, was no Longer on display, but there was more than enough to dazzle the senses, including an exhibition on the history of the East India Company, with which we waged economic war on Holland.
We called in at the nearby Shepherd Neame pub for a pint before heading back home. We had a minute to wait at the DLR station; another two minutes at Stratford; five at the International station and just ten at Ashford. And so were home so quickly if really didn’t seem possible. Time enough to hear the final half an hour of the game on the radio.
Sunday was a much quieter day; the thick fog meant we did not have to go to the cliffs to watch the sunrise, and at nine Jools went to Ashford for a craft fair, leaving me at home to watch Match of the Day, do some exercise and bake some shortbread. Once the fog cleared after lunch, we went into the garden, and I mowed the lawn for the first time of the year, and Jools weeded the beds.
Finally, we had steak and ale pie for dinner, then sat down to watch Alien 4 as outside it got dark, but not fully dark until nearly eight.
Welcome to spring.
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