Joshua at Anglesey Abbey

The NT was providing children with small galvanised buckets yesterday for them to collect anything autumnal.  Joshua loved it and was unwilling to be parted from his until we came to the statue of the huntsman with his dogs….

Season of mists & mellow fruitfulness

Not a lot of mist about yesterday, but Anglesey Abbey gardens looking autumnal.  In particular I found the masses of cyclamen very striking. The first two were shot at home before we left.  All were shot using my iPhone as my "real" camera is away with Nikon having its USB port fixed

The Paris Opera House

When visiting Paris the Opera house is a Must Do in my opinion.  Also known as the Palais Garnier after its architect Charles Garnier, it is now mainly used for ballet whilst the opera has moved to the Opera Bastille in the eponymous Place. The opulence defies one's imagination and the usual climax of a tour is to go into a box to see the auditorium with its wonderful ceiling painted in a contrasting style by Marc Chagall in 1963 which has at its centre the Grand Auditorium Chandelier.  This time when we visited last week, I was astounded to see the stage curtain open and then a corps de ballet rehearsal began before we were politely asked to leave the box!

The exterior from the Place de l'Opera

Around the Grand Staircase

The Grand Foyer

The Stage and the Chagall ceiling

A couple of punters looking over the grand Staircase