Green Park Station

Lovely tiled murals of leaves. Not green? They look black on red. Photos by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The red colour is echoed in the seating.

 Green Park station. A long underground walk to the distant line. Allow extra time.

The station, as the name suggests, is next to Green Park. 

Byron poem by the lift.

Green Park station has three lines, Jubilee, Piccadilly, and Victoria.

Useful Websites

https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUGPK/green-park-underground-station?lineId=jubilee

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Park_tube_station

I have other posts with pictures on the stations Charing X, Embankment, London Bridge, Baker Street, Brixton and Hatch End.

What use are limes, lime leaves and kaffir lime leaves?

Limes. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Problem
A friend in Singapore gave me little limes with leaves from her trees. Why leave on the leaves?

Answer
I thought the leaves were merely for decoration or so I could identify a lime tree. Then a member of my family said limes leaves are used in curry.

He said, "So few leaves won't add much. However, the lime leaves most frequently used are kaffir leaves. You use the leaves rather than the lime."

Lime Drink
I like to use limes with cold water or warm water to make a refreshing cool drink, a limeade (like lemonade but with limes) or a warm tea. It has more flavour than lemon and makes a change.

In my childhood a popular drink was a branded lime juice cordial. Nowadays, I like to make fresh drinks.

Mix with lemon and lemongrass for more zest. Speaking of which, add the zest.

You can also add lime to cocktails, including gin and tonic and margaritas, to add a sour flavour.

Lime Food
You can make a jelly. Or a pickle
Americans like key lime pie, from the Florida keys, but found all over the USA.

Health Benefits
Limes, like lemons and grapefruit, contain vitamin C. Limes were used by the British navy to prevent scurvy, with the result that British sialors were nicknamed limeys.

Leftover Limes
Too many limes? To time to use them? You can freeze them, defrost them, if you like microwave them.

Leftover Lime Peel
I would also save the peel to help remove grease from dishes. It might also help as an insect repellent.

Giving and Taking Fruit Gifts
I would never take a piece of fruit or a leaf or any part of a friend's or neighbour's tree without asking. (Unless it's hanging over my property, in which case I believe that legally it is mine.) I would much rather ask if it's okay, or talk about it hoping they will eventually pull off a bit to show me and offer me some to take away. Let them have the joy and credit for giving; also instead of feeling guilty, I can feel blessed by the generosity of my friend.

More Information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime_(fruit)

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Autumn Colour Poems, Fall Photos, And Inspiring Autumn Tips to America, Britain, Italy and Russia

Problem
I love the autumn colours but forget and regret the arrival of autumn in England; yet in America, we loved autumn, because we could take a trip up and down the east coast to see the swathes of trees in the Fall colours. Because the north is colder than the south, the Fall starts earlier in the north. We lived in Rockville, Maryland, just north of Washington DC, and read that the Fall had started in the North. So we drove north until we reached the Fall colours. We spent a long weekend or week there. As we drove south, the trees were turning to Fall colours further South.

Novelty Pumpkins
Pumpkin time means piles of pumpkins in America. Last year, 2016, for the first time I saw pumpkins everywhere in supermarkets in England.

Exotic Fruit
As a child in Britain in the 1950s I had never seen a pumpkin. I read about them but they were exotic fruit in post-war Britain which had had rationing until 1952. I remember my late mother talking for years afterwards about how she met her friend Sylvia in a banana queue, and my mother's excitement at being able to buy a fresh peach, and how I had been so disappointed that it was not as sweet and soft and bright orange as a tinned peach in sugar syrup.

Autumn Poems
Today I read on the BBC page about poems on autumn. Why didn't I write about Autumn? Why didn't I capture autumn colours in poems every year!

Poem Year Book
Poet Alison Chisholm, who edits poetry books and runs courses at Writers' Holiday in Wales and Swanwick Writers Sumer School in Derbyshire, suggests that we keep a poetry diary for the year and add seasonal poems.

Now is the time to start a poetry book, with a poem on autumn colours, and take a photo of colours in your area, your city's or country's landmarks, and those of places you visit on weekend trips, holidays or business.

Here's mine:

Autumn Green Turned To Gold
by Angela Lansbury

The leaves have turned from green to gold
Warm mid-day, chill breeze, nights grown cold
Storms mean you stay indoors to play
So treasure every sunny day

As daylight fades, outside we run
To catch our daily dose of sun
Leaves fill the roads, the paths, the park
The days are short, headlights - it's dark

Look up, mouth open, upturned head
And see leaves contrast green and red
Clothes match the season, yellow, brown
The country calls us from the town

To drive along the country roads
Envy gabled, peaceful abodes
Surrounded, in our autumn break
By trees reflected in the lake

We see trees far away and near
Sense season's wave, crescendo year
Eat pumpkin, take great photograph
Children kick leaves, delighted, laugh.
-ends-
Copyright Angela Lansbury 2017 October.

Autumn/Fall Trips
Italy - shoulder season, November is the rainiest month. But, prices have fallen, and fewer crowds.

More information from:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b095qcjt (BBC autumn poems and Fall photos)
https://www.visitusa.org.uk/blogs/article.aspx?pname=7-autumn-adventures-in-the-USA&blog
http://www.st-petersburg-essentialguide.com/autumn-in-st-petersburg.html
https://www.visitbritain.com/gb/en/wheres-best-see-autumn-colour-england-and-wales#MJjRtohJv5rzrzJR.97

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.