Embankment Embellishments

On the Victoria Embankment in London I managed to extricate  my camera from my bag as these two passed, union jack hats embellishing their summer outfit, and of course that Barcelona football shirt. Is he a fan of the club or Lionel Messi (considered as one of the great players of all time) winner of FIFA World Player and Ballon d'Or.

 They were passing by the cast iron sphinx benches, originally installed in the 1870s to mark the opening of Cleopatra's Needle Obelisk and designed by Lewis and George Vulliamy, the latter who also designed the famous sturgeon lamposts which line the embankment, however I was distracted by colour

and the embellishment on one of the roadside lampposts.  I don't know if these were later riffs on Vulliamy's theme or originals. 

The newest sculpture on the embankment is a monument to "the few" of the Battle of Britain of 1940 it pictures the aircrew scrambling for aircraft take off.  Unveiled in 2005 for the 65th anniversary it also lists the 2,936 airmen and ground crew who took part in the defence of Britain from invasion.  Outnumbered 4 to 1 the odds were stacked against them but their courage and sacrifice meant that Hitler changed his invasion plan.

Time to turn from the riverside and head off 

through one of the gardens off the Thames Embankment. It was the embellishment of the sunflowers which attracted my attention and those tree/palm things.  The statue is to Henry Bartle Prere (colonial administrator) who in the film Zulu Dawn was played by the actor John Mills.  

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet, this week sojourning at the letter E here   

ABC Wednesday - S

S is for Seat

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. Sometimes when walking through forests, you come across quirky little carvings done by the foresters. The forestier who did this near Geishouse was obviously of a more practical nature. But only room for one, whereas these two trees near the old Hincaster canal can accommodate four, and are very comfortable.

Purpose built with artistic flair, an unusual wooden seat near Wye.
Sometimes seats provide both rest and shelter as this one does on top of Pendle Hill
Certainly well built to withstand any storm, although the day this picture was taken was warm and sunny.
A bit of Scottish stone nicely placed so Ron can gaze at
Sueno's Stone. A 9th Century Pictish sculpture stone which has its own little (21 ft) glass case.
When you are waiting for a train at the Station a seat is always nice. These are the old Furness railway (1846-1923) seats, refurbished and still in use on Ulverston station.
I will be having ABC withdrawal next week as I am away, but wish you all you ABCers a terrific T day.

To see more SSSSSs go to Mrs Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday