Look what they've done to the floor!

This is a floor at the ancient Roman spa in Bath, England. Imagine how many people had to walk aross this floor to get it so smooth. It must have taken what? - a couple of months?

Dr. A. Ross Tilley OBE, OC, MD, FRCS

This photo is of a plaque dedicated to a hero of mine. It sits in the entrance to the "Canadian Wing" of the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, Sussex.
I never met Dr. Tilley, but I have met his lovely widow and some of his amazing patients and I have read and watched everything I could find about this amazing man.
He was born in Bowmanville, Ontario (my adopted hometown) and I had the honour of leading a campaign to have a school named for him.
I did it because I was told I couldn't do it. I did it because this man deserved it and I did it so his patients (World War II fighter pilots) could get the recognition they deserved as well.
Wednesday last, the town had a funeral for another Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan. He was number 57. On the day of Trooper Caswell's funeral, Canada lost numbers 58, 59, and 60.
I am taking on another campaign - I am going to see what can be done to recognize the sacrifices of the Canadians who fight and die in Afghanistan. Fight and die for our freedom. If you are interested in helping (or starting your own campaign in your own town) let me know.
This world needs more heroes. I know where to find them.

Scotland's Bonnie Wee Heather

(Read with a Scots accent if you please - it makes the writing better)

Goood Day from Scotland! It's a fine day here as the soon is trying to peek it's wee eyes throo the cloods. The bonnie wee Heather is lovely shade of purple but you can't see it for this yellow stuff. Scotland's Bonnie Wee Heather (the tour guide on my left) said the name for this plant but I can't recall it.

We arrrrrre joost a few feet from the spot known as "Arthur's Seat" where legend has the Great King Arthur of Camelot fame sat and made some monumental decisions. Scotland's Bonnie Wee Heather (the tour guide on my left) said what they were but I can't recall them.

Oh, and they have a wee drink here called "single malt scotch". No bloody wonder I can't recall anything.

Now - away we ye!

A different career choice

The gentleman in silver is a "living statue". He makes his living by pretending to be made of metal and standing very still.
The problem was - it was very hot outside when this photograph was taken. About 85F to be exact. He had on a leather coat, boots and gloves and a turtleneck sweater. In addition to all this, he was painted with silver paint and had grease in his hair.
If you look closely at the photo and focus in on his neck, you will see how the paint has washed away with his perspiration.
A tough job but he did it professionally.
I have no idea who the stiff on his right is.

Melrose Abbey - Scotland

The history of the British Isles is so inter-weaved it is unbelievable. I have been reading the history of the Knights Templar and their connection with Rosslyn Chapel. They (and Rosslyn Chapel) are connected with Melrose Abbey. The legend says that the heart of Robert the Bruce, a one time King of Scotland is buried in this abbey. It was buried here after being returned to Scotland from the crusades where it was carried by a Knight Templar whose family built Rosslyn Chapel. England is connected to Scotland; melrose to Rosslyn; Knights Templar to Robert the Bruce and finally the 100 aker wood to Winnie the Pooh (who was Canadian by the way- "Winnie" is short for "Winnipeg").

Amazing isn't it?

Westminster Abbey Part 1

This is the main entrance to Westminster Abbey. Of all the carvings of people over the door, the only one I knew was the man in the middle of the photo with the child at his feet.

If you don't recognize him it's Dr. Martin Luther King.

Kinda cool.

I wonder who they will replace with my statue?

The Shambles

This is the area known as "The Shambles". It may have been called that because of the building standards.

An interesting side note to these buildings is the origin of the terms "upper, middle and lower classes". It seemed that when you emptied your chamber pot into the street (as was the custom), if you were the "upper" class you didn't see any substances flow (float) past your window. If you were the "middle' class, you only saw it once, but if you were the "lower" class, you saw stuff from both other "classes. Check it out.

Anniversary of the flood

Each year the town of Cambridge remembers the great flood of 1867 by filling this scale model full of water.
The expression "It's a shambles" comes from Cambridge and I will show you a photo of it tomorrow.

Oh God, I'm witty!

The lesser known little brother. Yes, I know the difference because I'm a "roads scholar".
hahahahahahahaha

Dude - Where's my bike?

Cambridge students are not permitted access to cars. How ever do they get around??

Fascinating Tombstone

The inscription says "King of terrors", a 7th Century Guild Stone. I wonder who that was.

OOPS, America Your Top Fell Down

It`s hard to believe but this building was designed and constructed during the Victorian era. I always thought they were more prudish than this.

If you look closely at her face and the top moulding you can see the damage caused by the coal smoke used to heat the homes in London. They tried to sandblast and steam clean some of the buildings but found they were doing more damage than the smoke did.

Rosslyn Chapel

This photograph was taken in the (now more) famous Rosslyn Chapel that was in Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code". It is in a small town about seven miles south of Edinburgh Scotland.

The Gravity Bridge - Cambridge

According to local legend, this bridge was originally built without the aid of nails, nuts or bolts. Because the design was so close to perfection, gravity was the only force that held it together .

However, a group of students (with more ego than skill) took the bridge apart and, like the story of Humpty Dumpty, could not put it together again. It had to be rebuilt with nails, nuts and bolts.

There is a lesson here.

The things I do for you people.

Just to put a stop to all the emails asking for this, I have offered this photograph. Imagine you are on the stage of the "Phantom of the Opera" - now at a certain part in the performance, you look up and see this.
I just saved you a bunch of money and probably even your life.
You're welcome.

The Deadliest Tree in the World

The notice is correct. "Beware this tree!" for this is the Mistletoe tree and if you ever kiss anyone under the mistletoe branch, you can't stop and by the time you finish all the branches......you will be dead! From either starvation or dehydration.
Pucker up at your peril! You have been warned!

Stirling abbey

It was like this when I got there so don't be blaming me.

Wires

Sometimes it pays to keep your head up.

The Church of the Dome - Les invalides

Emperor Napoleon's Tomb - incredible surroundings!
(Please note the lady with the light saber in the bottom centre)