June 2013: into the guts of the Tower of London

so I was invited to some sort of a corporate shindig in the Tower of London         

and here’s my darling HMS Belfast, isn't she so pretty? what a lovely old girl.

 

there’s the tower bridge in the hazy sunshine 

the Mayor’s office and the Shard in the background.

 

looking up at the bridge, see those two walkways? I will be up there soon.

there’s the tower of London

and somebody is actually rowing in this river!        

I'm now in the room where the event is taking place.

then they took us out.

a little slide show…about how it was constructed and a bit of history

and then we go up to the two walkways. On the sides, you can see small plaques talking about the history of the bridge and the city.

peering eastwards…can you see my office there on the left in the back?

looking down west

a model of how the bridge was build it put together.

London’s bridges

Looking across to the other walkway

 

 

a helpful little graphic showing the views…to the west

some interesting factoids…

we finish the briefing and were offered to pop down to see the engine room.

follow the paw prints…

we move to the south tower

where these two giant plaques are affixed to the wall.

and then we meet up with the guide. Pink??? really?

 

these were the boilers…coal fired..which powered the pumps and machines. 

 

coal was brought through these hoppers into the bunker on these rails. 

and here’s the engine. The engine itself wouldn't raise the bridge, its too massive for that, but it will work the pneumatic hydraulic plumbing which did make it work. 

 

and here’s the accumulator tower, this weight going up and down will actually move the bridge. A YouTube video is shown below

here is a great documentary on the tower bridge which goes into more detail.

 

waving goodbye to the bridge…amazing stuff

June 2013: One of the tiny Egyptian Museums in London

so went off to see the Petrie Museum. It has long been on my bucket list but never really managed to get to it till today

most awesome look…

 

And the chapel house next to UCL.

  

this was strange, what is it?

Ah! ha!

why? what’s wrong with the window?

I walk up couple of flights of stairs which have these lovely quotes.

 

its a tiny museum, hardly 2 long rooms.

 

some old fashioned display cabinets

 

and some old photographs

 

Amelia R Edwards, the founder of the museum

  

and then they have these rather sad display cases. as you can see, several shelves aren't lighted. its not clear…

but you can still see these lovely red pigments on this carpenter who looks like is building a chair.

 

a sarcophagus or some kind of a shrine being carried? 

 

nice beard :) this is Horus in Shedti

more lovely pigmentation, how wonderfully jewel-like it would be to see it in its full glory.

 

this was another amazing stele…very detailed work on plaster. 

 

couple of lovely statuette’s

this is a lovely limestone tombstone.

 

this is a most exquisite carving. look at the face and expression.

 

I move down the passageway

now we go into the statues…here are some more lovely examples.

 

i was a bit sad, such lovely pieces of work and they have been displayed so sadly.

 

what a lovely piece.

hello…..this is Senusret I running and worshipping Min. God of fertility and potency.

 

a lovely and amazing shirt.

 

stone tools from pre-historic Egypt.

some more tomb items, including a lovely pair of slippers.

 

these are coffin covers, these were amazing pieces, truly extraordinary.

  

person in a pot…

 

a smile? one of the very rare Egyptology figurines which has a smile

beautiful carving, eh?

 

a child?

a sarcophagus.

  

a beautiful lovely statue

 

see what i mean? such a lovely lovely piece but displayed so horribly. bah.

 

an exquisite portrayal of history of the world’s great empires…

a lovely amazing document.

and a wig! :)

 

necklaces

monkey statues. 

i move into the other room

a display case full of ushabti’s and other grave goods.

  

Lovely lovely wonderful dresses.

 

rows of pottery, not that interesting for me, although that might be blasphemy for pottery lovers.

some wonderful examples of ink pots, ink stick grinders…lovely lovely. its a bit sad that this doesn't happen any more. maybe in 500 years, we will have keyboards like this?

this was a very interesting pottery soul house. A house for souls?

this was a brilliant necklace, can you imagine wearing this?

another interesting and brilliant pottery shard..

 

another lovely smooth cute sinuous vase. 

great balls of fire

 

i move out and then take a gander at the best and most wonderful bookshop in London. this is waterstones

this Gothic building is just brilliant. I pop into the building and pootle around.

 

there is a science of kissing. which i failed..maybe i should buy this book. maybe can i buy 20 copies of this.

 

can i buy all these? please?

 

can i go there? please?

 

oooo more lovely books.

this is my favourite place in London, its a tiny nook in the corner of the 1st floor next to the rare and antiquarian section, so this is brilliant. the aroma is lovely

my new babies which i bought

rows and rows. i leave with a heavy heart and heavier bag of books.

 

hmmmm, maybe i should join?