Update on George

I went to see George on Friday. He has lost a lot of weight compared to this photo, and he has problems getting comfortable. But he has a very positive attitude. With his typical humour, when told by the doctors that he had to have radiotherapy, he said, "I won't lose my hair, will I?"

Not The Pirates of The Caribbean Premiere

Some foolish people (mostly young girls who should have been in school) started queuing outside the cinema 24 hours before the premiere so that they could get a good view of Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. There was a heatwave warning out, so standing around in a sun-drenched square all day doesn't sound like a good idea. Some were treated for dehydration and heat exhaustion. Where were their brains? WHERE WERE THEIR PARENTS?

Oh, and I just thought I'd rather have pictures of Vincent than of Depp or Bloom.

Hotter Still

Nearly melted trying to put together a garden bench. Decided to get hot for a better reason.

Never get tired of this one.

Steaming Hot

I'm too hot even to eat, so I thought I'd post some very hot pictures of Vincent to make everyone else feel as hot as I do.

Happy Birthday, Vincent

I persuaded my friend, who quite likes Vincent, and was visiting for the evening, that we should celebrate Vincent's birthday by watching Naked Tango. She enjoyed it, but at least as much for the costumes and atmosphere as the sexy man himself. I've never really noticed them...

Sorry, Eliza, I'd posted this photo before realising it was one of yours. I hope you will forgive me, as it was in such a good cause.

Greenwich

When you're Top Nation, you can decide where time begins, so Britain has the Zero Meridian Line. Here is the clock at the Greenwich Meridian, from which Greenwich Mean Time is measured. The line is marked on the ground, so you can stand either side and have your picture taken. And people do!

The old Royal Observatory has been little more than a museum for years. The current observatory is at Herstmonceux in Sussex. Fans of Longitude might like to know that John Harris's famous clocks are displayed in the museum.

The Royal Naval College has become part of the University of Greenwich. Under the right-hand tower is the Painted Hall. King Charles II and William and Mary had the buildings erected by Wren and Hawksmoor on the site of the Tudor Greenwich Palace. The vista between the wings is breathtaking when viewed straight on, with The Queen's House perfectly placed between them. Here you can see it from an angle. It was built by Inigo Jones for James I's Queen, Anne of Denmark, but later completed for Charles I's wife Henrietta Maria. It is flanked by colonnades leading to other parts of what is now the National Maritime Museum.

Viewed from the hill on the other side, the view would be equally spectacular, but for the development on the Isle of Dogs opposite with hideous skyscrapers such as the Canary Wharf tower.

Broad Shoulders

How I love Vincent's broad, square shoulders. Sloping shoulders just don't do it for me.

Who's a pretty boy?

He's been so lovely for so long. How can I not have noticed sooner?

Prayers, please

My cousin George is the life and soul of the family. He's pictured here with my cousin Joyce at her daughter's wedding last August. It was a great family occasion.

He's led a blameless life, a hardworking non-smoker who'd rather have a pint of tea than a pint of beer. He always loved steamrollers and steam engines, and has rebuilt Land Rovers and old army vehicles over the years. Now he has found out that more than 40 years ago, in one of the hard physical jobs he has done in a lifetime of work, he inhaled asbestos, and now has an asbestos related lung tumour. He's about to undergo radiotherapy. The doctors have not committed themselves to a prognosis.

I don't have faith in a god, but if any of you do, please pray for him. He deserves a long and fruitful old age.

Tower of London

Begun by William the Conqueror in the late 11th century, the Tower of London was designed to deter further attempts at invasion. It was added to over the centuries by other monarchs and housed many prisoners charged with treason and awaiting execution, most famous among them Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn. It houses the Crown Jewels and the ancient Royal Armoury, including Henry's rather large suit of armour and his horse's armour, too.

The only person to enter through Traitor's Gate, by boat on the River Thames, and come out alive, was ELizabeth I.

The White Tower, William The Conqueror's stronghold.

A view of the ancient walls and some of the towers.

This green is now used for walking the dogs of those who live in the Tower, but it used to be the moat. Some people would like to see the moat reinstated.

Traitor's Gate, with tudor buildings above.

A Yeoman Guard (Beefeater)

Visitors come to the Tower in their thousands every day.

It is said that if the ravens ever leave the Tower, England will fall, so the birds are pinioned to stop them flying away. They have lovely aviaries to keep them safe at night, and dedicated keepers to pander to their every whim. They all have names.

Bark

I just watched this movie the other day. Vincent is so sweet and vulnerable in it. I love it when he plays parts like that.

Hair!

No hair on head, hair on face, hair on chest or on...wherever, he's just edible.