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.

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!!

On my way to find another photo, I ran into this one and couldn’t believe that it was just sitting there waiting to be posted. Of course, it is of Big Ben taken at 11:55 am on some day over two years ago while I was in London. Has it been that long? Yes, because last May I was in the middle of a huge move.

Shakspeare wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” He’s probably right, but this rose is especially sweet because it is one of the Queen’s roses at Windsor Castle.