I just read some place today that today in 1930, C. S. Lewis and his brother Warren (Warnie) along with Mrs. Moore and her daughter and their dog moved into the Kilns—the home where Lewis lived until his death on November 22, 1963. This photo of the Kilns was taken several years ago while I visiting Oxford. We were there on a day much like today—overcast and rainy. But we had a wonderful time.

The warden of the house showed us around the house, and because no one else was there, she even took us up stairs and into the attic where we saw some of Lewis’s old furniture and even a wardrobe! We were awestruck. Later we had tea and sweet bread cookies in the same dining room where Lewis, Joy, and Warnie would eat each evening. I felt a lot like a character from one of his Narnia novels: the table, the food, and the sleeping kings of old.

They still put out “sweeties” in a small white bowl on his desk. We were told that these were among his favorite treats. I think they are basically pure sugar and should be used to sweeten cups of hot tea.

This was taken right in front of Buckingham Palace where William and Cathrine will pass by today after exchanging vows at Westminster Abbey.

I just had to post something from England since the world’s eyes are turned in that direction today. The first time I visited London in 2001, I was able to get up close and personal with the Queen’s Welsh guards at Buckingham Palace. This photo is from film, and it’s the first time I have tried to post something taken with an older Nikon. Guess it will do for now.

For the last year or so I have heard that photographing in public places in London is getting harder to do. City cameras capture every move. I usually don’t photograph someone unless I ask him or her first. Years ago, I worked as a photographer for a newspaper. So my blog will never be a “fine art” destination. But hopefully, it is a place were I can post photos that are fun and portray a portion of the “real” life that is going on around us. And in the process, it’s only natural that a twinge of my past photojournalism experience would creep in—or out—every now and then.

The last time I was in London, I had lots of fun with the camera. These folks were willing subjects. They didn’t mind the camera, and they “wanted” to talk and assure me that they would pray for me and those with me.

When we were at the Kilns, we thought we had found C.S. Lewis’s typewriter, but who knows if it is or not. I believe it maybe one that was used by his brother. I need to ask our resident Lewis expert Dr. Donald Williams what he thinks. He has taught classes at the Kilns and has promised to take me on a walking tour of the colleges when I return to Oxford. Regardless, the idea of such a “find” is a romantic thought.

For years Warren helped Jack, who was notorious for wanting to answer every letter that came to him, with his correspondence. He also worked with Lewis to create a collection of those letters that were later publish as a book after Jack’s death. Warren or Warnie, as Jack and others called him, went on to published an interesting book Brother & Friends: The Diaries of Major Warren Hamilton Lewis on the relationship he had with his brother. It’s no longer in print, but I did find a used copy on ebay. The few new copies that exist start at $487!

Have you ever wondered why gates are so perfect in Britain? Probably not but I have. The one above proves that they really are quite “perfect” in England. Of course, this one has golden edges, and it is located at Windsor Castle (where the Queen likes to kick back on the weekends). But that’s beside the point.

Even the ones in Britain that are old beyond imagination are often restored, refurbished, and reused. Not in America, we discard things like gates. We place them on the side of the road for garbage collection, and then drive to Home Depot or Lowe’s where we purchase new ones. Can you imagine see this one on the side of the road in Windsor waiting to be carted away to the recycling center or worse—the garbage dump? Never! It chills my soul to think about it.

Have you ever had one of “those” days when you wanted to hop on a train and just ride until you can’t ride any more? Well, today is “one of those days.” In fact, do you remember the ad on TV (if you are in America) that said, “Calgon, take me away!”? It was a marketing campaign created to “take us away” mentally from the stress of the day. This photo was taken a couple of years ago while I was in England. The thought of it flashed back through my mind today and immediately, I was there and not here. What was I thinking about the moment I took this picture? Getting back to London to have dinner with friends. . . . . Calgon take me away!!

Hang with me because I’m about to take a right hand turn tomorrow and promise that the posts that come next will be in a new direction. This one was taken in Oxford, England, while walking down a lovely lane.