Gatecrashing London.

London was glorious, we divided our time between Richmond and Deptford, two very different riverside communities. Deptford was our base and I quickly became very fond of it. There is a proper sense of community on the water as well as on land, a cat called George who lives outside a  grocer's shop and a friendly postman called Peter.  Other highlights include the Waiting Room Cafe with the Elvis Shoe Superloo and the best ad hoc Christmas tree I have ever seen.

Richmond was home to the Literature Festival. We learned a lot from the many writers that we listened to and in particular we learned to pay more attention to our surroundings. Our downfall came after a romantic walk along the Thames prior to attending a talk in a Boutique Hotel accompanied, according to the programme,  by specially blended cocktails. Instead of walking in the front door like normal people, we took a short cut from the river through the garden and found ourselves in a room filled with wonderfully dressed people. We were equally wonderfully dressed in big coats and beanie hats and may have stood out a little. However the sight of a table full of cocktails reassured us. That is, until I noticed the other drinks, the posh canapes and the uncanny sense that we were the only two people in the room who didn't know anybody else.  My companion and I hastened to the exit and didn't stop until we were in the main reception with two signs in front of us.

One sign pointed to a room on the left and it said: Richmond Literature Festival, Hallie Rubenhold and Rosie Thomas.
The other sign pointed to the room we had just fled and it said: Catherine's 50th Birthday Party.

Must pay more attention.

The incredible Elvis Shoe Superloo.

My favourite tree. I think this qualifies as Outsider Art.

In other news - if you haven't already, rush over to Wovember to have a look at all the brilliant pictures in their 100% Wool Photo Competition. You might see some of mine too. I was going to enter this picture of my pre-Winter scarf washing but I realised that many of the items are so old that they are 99% acrylic.

Not many natural fibres here.