One of the great benefits of the type of work I do, training, is that I do not have to do a 9 – 5 (nine to five) job, Monday to Friday. My working week can start or end anytime, Saturday, Wednesday, and it can last for weeks before I have a break between the courses.
The drawn back is that I often do not have a clue as to what day of the week it is, what is the day of the month. I have no markers. I loose track of time, the day of the week, the day of the month.
“Oh it’s Friday night, let’s go out dancing, or partying.” “TGF.” mean nothing to me now.
My “weekend” could be any day I am not training or working with private clients..
Great. Because if my days off is a Monday through to Friday, then most people are at work, so shops, places of interest are less crowded.
Near to where I live here in Kingston upon Thames are many open places, Royal Parks, Richmond Park (see video an pictures), gardens like Kew Gardens, and historic buildings, Syon Park, Hampton Court, and the River Thames. (see video)
It is amazing how much open space is available in London.
One such place is called the Wetlands Center in West London, owned and administered by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), which was founded by the late Sir Peter Scott in 1946. The Wetlands Center is a 43 hectare site located on the River Thames near Barnes.
On a lovely warm sunny day, it was decided to go and see what wildlife was there, armed with a bun to eat for lunch, water, binoculars and cameras, I felt as if I was Dr Livingstone going to explore the depths of Africa.
The Wetlands Center, used to be reservoirs to supply water to London, but became redundant in the 1980’s, and was taken over to be landscaped into a the wetland site, with islands, lots of water, ponds and lakes, reed beds, sand banks, walkways and viewing areas, a shop educational center plus restaurant. Everything wildfowl and humans would need.
Not quite in the center of London, but very close to it, it is very strange to think that very close are main routes into London, with racing cars and lorries, trains, tubes, aircraft, and yet it is so quiet and peaceful. Also strange to realise is that the Wetlands Center is surrounded by millions of people, their dwellings and offices they live and work in, schools and factories, yet the site is quiet, with no rushing around.
The Wetland Centre London, so peaceful, heaven for wildlife and humans alike.
The Wetland Centre London, with just a few people in the distance
Getting to the Wetlands Center is quite easy, by car, bike, the Duck Bus from nearby Hammersmith, or by train. The train from Kingston upon Thames or London Waterloo calls at Barnes, a small station in the middle of no-where. There are no houses, shops, factories, just a long access road leading to the main Hammersmith to Putney road, which again is like a country road, no civilisation, just cars.
Leaving the station there is a sign directing you to London Wetlands Center, but once on the main road, there is nothing, no directions. Apparently the local council do not want any more signs be put in place, which is fine if you know the area, not so good if you are lost. Asking a few people and a long walk later, the small uninspiring entrance to the Wetlands Center was found.
More to follow. Wetlands Center London