Chimneys at Hampton Court

On a trip to Hampton Court in November, when all was grey and drear, we saw the most startling variety of chimneys. How they were done is a thorough-going mystery to me. It was a favorite home for Henry VIII. There is very little furniture to look at, but between the chimneys, the tapestries, and the generally exquisite carved stone, 16th century kitchens and halls, and its placement on the banks of the Thames, it made a fine day out. You will see the highly painted statues in a courtyard garden; probably more than you want to see but they were so interesting to look at that I had difficulty deciding which ones should go! Anyway, this is mostly about the chimneys. We went with Andreas, our Greek friend, and his wife, Maria. As the flowers in the gardens were pretty much zippo, a trip back in late spring is clearly necessary. Love from Ellie.

PS: If you can take the time to look at all the Hampton Court pictures, you'll also see Ellie pointing out the original derivation of the term "swan dive." Regards, BW