Back in 2014, a rather amazing installation took place in the moat at the Tower of London. I imagine most of the readers know about the Tower which, like a lot of TV celebrities, is smaller than you expect. It’s ancient, has some ravens which aren’t allowed to leave because of some mumbo-jumbo about the British royalty falling into disuse if they do – though frankly some of the peripheral royals do a pretty good job without having to restrict the travel urges of a few ratty corvids – and is home to a quite extraordinary quantity of bling called the Crown jewels that it does make you wonder if it is actually real or some paste-based charade.
For all my sneery tone which might be the result of one too many school trips when I was a preteen it does get some stuff right. That installation of ceramic poppies was one such. I went back several times and had the honour to listen to my great uncle Willie Dyson’s name read out before the last post was played, he having been killed during WW1. I still have a couple of the ceramic heads of those poppies as garden ornaments.
This year, Queen Liz hits her platinum disc for surviving 70 years on the throne. Quite an amazing feat of longevity and we rightly will celebrate this modern miracle (which has had the incidental benefit of keeping that worzel, Andrew as far away from the throne as possible).
One such celebration is a superbloom installation which involves filling the moat with wildflowers. This week we’ve just acquired a couple of tickets to wander amongst the blooms in mid July (the exhibition lasts from June to September) and I’m looking forward to it already (after the last two years, any outing like this will be a real treat even if it rains, the trains are cancelled and England don’t improve at cricket, all of which are more likely than not).
Beyond that and collecting the lawnmower which has had its annual service it’s been a quiet old walk. I’m reading a slightly weird book about this woman who turns into a flea – like a werewolve only without the full moon and ripping apart thing. I’ve watched a good Irish-Belgium drama called Hidden Assets and a grisly reconstruction of serial killer Stephen Port’s victims alongside the egregious hoophobic incompetence of one section of the Met Police. Four Lives is worth a try, esp for the performances of Sheridan Smith (a new Judy Dench perhpas) and Stephen Merchant playing very much against his comic personas. Have a look at the excellent Outlaws if you need confirmation of his comedic talents.
And watch out for tomorrow’s most excellent post about walking the ‘dog’.
TanGental 
I was in London in 2014 (met you there, remember?) and visited the Tower. I don’t remember if the poppies had been installed at that stage but I certainly feel as if I saw them as you shared many photos of them at the time (as I recall). Wildflowers on the river sound wonderful. Yes, HM is doing a great job of staying alive.
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You’ll have to come back ! They were stunning and the atmosphere every special.
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I agree!
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A memorable post. I agree about Outlaws
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I’ve been looking at the moat thing too, sounds good. I was sorry not to see the poppies but the photos and your piece which accompanied it helped imagine it.
Hidden Assets is definitely watchable, I agree. I have my theory about who’s behind it all really and how it’ll end!
I like Stephen Marchant too much as a comic writer and performer to watch him in that grisly-sounding series, though.
But no, Sheridan Smith isn’t a Judi Dench!
Hopefully HM will be around for the celebrations and enjoy them! I do find her presence re-assuring.
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I agree Sheridan isn’t yet but I have a feeling she will be one that lasts and continues to show her range. I’m very taken…
PS Lords test match dates have arrived and I’ll be booking tickets in a couple of weeks. Would you like a reprise of last year? Maybe with Sue this time?
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I, too, am fortunate to own one of the Tower poppies and look forward to the wild flower moat display. I once considered applying to become a Yeoman Warder (Beefeater). I’m glad I came to my senses!
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You’d look a treat in the hose….
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That was the main reason for applying!
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What a spectacular display! Too bad the trumpeter wasn’t the best! Can you show us one of your poppies?
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I’m glad it wasn’t me. Of course, I can’t play trumpet at all, but I was thinking “he’s a bit sharp…nah, you don’t know this that well, maybe not.” Whew. Still got the ears.
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Ha! I bet he was a bit embarrassed, poor lamb.
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It’s nine pm here now, but I’ll try and remember to take a picture tomorrow and post it.
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Wasn’t Four Lives a tremendous but rather shocking watch? To think how the police reacted in the years it was all happening is like taking a step back 20-30 years. And I was shocked to see in the credits at the end of episode three how many of those police officers have since been promoted.
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It was sickening, wasn’t it. At the time, when you consider the Nielsen shambles of a couple of decades earlier, the institutional homophobia in the Met, probably most police forces was disgusting. But yes, what a portrayal. Btw (not sure if we’ve spoken about this) did you see Russel Davies It’s A Sin and what did you think? Accurate reflection of attitudes then?
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Its net is still spreading far and wide.
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Yes, I loved ‘It’s A Sin,’ although I know a lot of friends who couldn’t watch it. To think that I lived through all of that, and know what I know now. My 21-year-old nephew also watched it and had no idea that it ever happened. Many of the younger generation don’t seem to know about it, or about Section 28. He’s read my ‘True Stories: Gay Memories’ posts and is amazed by what I went through. I’ve told him to expect lots more revelations.
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It’s true. There’s this programme on factory life set in different decades and the discrimination is appalling. Its easy to forget. And only today BSL gets the nod to be an official language. Disability has to be the most discriminated against group these days.
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I wish I could visit the tower and view the flowers. It will be spectacular.
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It should be. I’ll try and make up for your absence with a post of two…
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Thank you.
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Wow, what a gorgeous display in the moat! Amazing. I wish I’d seen it. So the wildflowers will be real? Or glass? Either way, I’m sure it will be really memorable and that you’ll share with us.
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Real aPparently. And yes, I’ll be sure to share
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There seems to be a lot of media coverage of the royal family over the last few years and it hasn’t been particularly positive. I agree that the red ceramic poppies was a wonderful idea.
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