Tim's Tandem and Russian Vine

 See          

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4704550027062614413/2362451362171990397

and

Tim's amazing Kew House in London

for the story of Tim Lucas - top London architect and engineer who designed the supporting steelwork below Terminal 2.  On Saturday he and his daughter Alex (12) stayed overnight in T2 as part of a coast-to-coast tandem ride between Bridlington and Morecambe.  Tim had not seen the finished Terminal 2 and pronounced himself delighted.  Head-on is the least impressive aspect of a tandem bicycle but here goes:

Believe me, it is an impressive machine from sideways-on!  It actually folds in half so it can go on trains or in a car.  It was built in Holland where they know a thing or two about bikes.

The picture was taken in the open bay at the west end of the navvy hut which is quietly becoming covered in the much maligned Russian Vine, at its floriferous best just now:

Another New Photograph

 This cropped up on Twitter, I think.  It is said to depict a 'Peak' locomotive and train at Settle en route to Leeds CENTRAL station.  I wonder if that can be correct.  Anyway, there's the water tower in the background.  Date unknown but maybe 1960s?

Buddleias Update

 Here's a picture of our spectacular buddleias now that the flowers are coming good.  It's a bit too windy for butterflies but the bees are doing their bit.

Well Done Sixth Former James

Grandson #1 James got his GCSE results today and he has delighted everybody - not least himself.  He has been at the amazing Dr Challoner's Selective Grammar School in Amersham since leaving primary school in 2016.  Along with his contemporaries he has had to home-school for months and months during COVID lockdowns so GCSEs have been a worrying time all round.

Mainly to confuse grandparents the results nowadays are on a numerical scale 1 to 9, 9 being the highest.

Here are James':

English Literature 6

English Language 6

Religious Studies 7

Maths 7

History 7

Physics 7

Geography 8

Chemistry 8

Biology 8

  In terms of the A B C grades, a 6 is equivalent to a strong B, 7 is an A and 8 is an A*.  Present intentions are to do Geography, Biology and Politics in the 6th Form.

Here's the bright boy looking very smart on his first day at Challoners:

For our American family and just to make your jaws drop, Challoners was founded in 1624.

And a week or so ago in Norfolk with his revision tutor Darcey:

A Flag and a Jag

 I have been busy finishing off the sun terrace in front of Terminal 3 / Man Cave / Wendy House but have resisted postings about the work as the family are here this weekend and I wanted to surprise them.

Here is the building in front of a threatening August sky but it shows

1. A shortened and relocated (from the water tank top) flagpole

2. A lengthened set of balcony railings now running almost the full length of the sundeck

3. An extendable canopy / sun shade on top of the west window

Overall, this bonus building, combined with  the access stairways and nicely maturing embankment creates a very pleasing addition to the whole site.  And the views from the sun deck are stunning.  Believe it or not, architect Stuart Green actually approves of the Wendy House, describing it as 'very good'.

Daughter Lorna meanwhile had her own surprise when she rolled up with the boys in their snazzy new Jaguar F Pace.  Eight forward (automatic) gears!