Parks of London: Sunday St. James Park

St. James Park is one of the many parks in London. It is also one of the Historic Royal Parks. London has eight royal parks: Bushy Park, Richmond Park, Hyde Park, The Green Park,Greenwhich, Kensington Gardens, Regents Park and St. James Park. London is a very green city, because of the constant rain the parks are lush with wildlife, flora and fauna and many animals.

With it's Royal Political and Literary Associations St James Park is at the very heart of London and covers about 58 acres of land. It has a beautiful lake, pelicans, rare birds and a charming fairy tale inn keepers house in the middle of it.St.James is also home to the MALL,the event for many ceremonial parades and national events. From St.James Park you can see the crossing of the gaurds that takes place every day at 10 am.

I had fun just taking photos in autumn. Seeing the many birds in the park. The leaves are changing. There's a brisk feeling in the air, but it's not too chilly yet, just cool enough to wake you and make you feel alive. St.James Park borders Buckingham Palace on one side,(if you begin your walk there) and then on the other side it borders Winston Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms. If you walk about 5 minutes heading towards the Admiralty Arch you'll see Trafalgar Square and the famous National Gallery. London is a great walking city. But, more than that, it has amazing parks. For me, autumn is the best time to visit, not too cold and not too hot. Just perfect for lounging on the grass, reading a book on the park bench, all bundled up in your gear with a cup of hot tea from your thermos you are set. A stroll in the park in the morning hours is great to wake you up get you started on your day. Here's a few of the 100 photos I shot on one sunny Autumn afternoon. I love autumn, it's my favourite time of year!

















Some Important Links:
Historic of St. James Park.

For Walks in the Park.

A Guided Walk: Gun Powder, Treason and Plot. The Story behind Guy Fawkes Day.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Events in the Park

05 Nov 2009
Guided Walk - Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
St. James's Park (Victoria Tower Gardens)
Discover the truth about Guy Fawkes and the plot to blow up parliament over 400 years ago.

1-2pm

Places are limited so booking is essential. Contact the St James's Park office on 020 7930 1793 (Mon-Fre 8am-4pm).

Walks will last about 1 hour and are aimed at adults with a general interest. Please come dressed for being outdoors.


MORE ON RICHMOND PARK IN THE NEXT SABRINAS LONDON DIARIES

Fashion in London, Part 2: Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize

To me, accessories, is what makes an outfit! It's what makes an outfit stand out, pop with pizazz, sizzle with style. You can have the most gorgeous
suit that you bought from Versace or Armani, but ah do you know how to accessorize. Accessorize,now there's the rub.

A great way to accesorize is just look at yourself before you walk out the door.
Look at yourself real hard in the mirror and ask what does this outfit need to make it shine? A diamanté brooch on the lapel of a plain black jacket. A leopard scarf tied nonchalantly.A sparkly jewel in the hair. An orange tie worn with hot pink shirt. A jazzy belt. A mysterious purple fedora.A fuzzy beret. A lacy Victorian umbrella. Classic wayfarer sunglasses. Some cool shades cat! Anything in leopard. A little bit of bling is not a bad thing. Grandma's pearl earrings. A mobile phone. A charming dog on a leash. A guitar. To me, those things are accessories that we add to our being and add to our style. Those small little details that add to your uniqueness and individuality. But in the end, it's all about the charm.It's all about how you wear it and how you own the choices about your own personal style and wear it with grace.

A Gorgeous Smile. A Yellow Purse juxtaposed with a Blue Sweater. Chiara looks laid back, carefree and fun. This girl has more style than the law allows! She was also the most gracious and charming girl of all.

Her mobile phone, her beret and her great spirit is her accessories today. It was so much fun to photograph this Italian girl !

The fedora hat, the crazy wild electric blue pants. This boy's a rock star and has the charisma to boot. The black bow. The loving gaze. This couple has so much attitude! I Love it !

This young lady is really smart a professor of Darwinian Econonomics. Her quirky style is attractive and slightly conservative. The intellectual glasses, the hot pink fluffy scarf offset with the grey sweater, and then her cute black dog. He's what makes the outfit! I loved them! Taken in St. George's Inn Park.

The black sunglasses. The black cap. The braggadocio pose makes him about town and the coolest cat around.

The red paisley scarf that brings out the warm colours in the collegiate jacket.( This is my favourite jacket and I've worn it since my college days in Vermont. I've worn it so much that the lining is gone.)The orange fan on the lapel of the jacket that echoes an orange turtle-neck. The brown Italian leather mini-backpack that is practical and de rigeur for my lifestyle.But, it's my camera that's my best accessory. This whole outfit has become part of my uniform. I'm putting my creative energy into writing these days. Hey It's me, the blogger!

Some these photos in my Fashion Blog Series ( Parts 1,2, and 3) were taken when I was on a pub crawl. My first one at that. We hit 3 or 4 pubs within walking distance and had a pint or in my case drank a glass of wine. It was so much fun goig up to strange people and asking them if they would like to participate in my Fashion Blog.I met so many nice, fun and interesting people!It's what I call getting tipsy with a purpose ( LOL !)

Thank you everyone who contributed to this blog!

Enjoy!

SABRINA

Dating in London: Part 3: What not to do on a first date

I have been dating for nearly 2 decades, so I think I have some advice to share.
I have dated men from all over the world. I have shopped around like my Mamma told me. But, here in my quest of trying to find Mr. Darcy and kissing a lot of frogs I would like to share some advice for all the blokes and dudes out there on what not to do on the first initial date, which usually predict the success and ensures a second date.This is meant for men. Here's some advice for all the men out there.

Don't's for Guys:

1. Don't be too desperate to try to kiss her
or hold her hand- let things develop naturally.

Story: I was at my brother's wedding and an old boyfriend from 20 years
back was there. He tried very hard to kiss me and chased me all over the dance floor and through out this very elegant hotel my brother had his reception. It was really embarrassing for me. When I found out that he was going to be there I was excited and anticipated something romantic. But, he was so aggressive that he turned me off and made me realized he hadn't changed much from way back when we were in high school.

2.Dont' talk about the future with her. Don't try to create a relationship when there's none. Don't start to ask her if she's seeing other guys. Or, if she's waiting
for you. Or,if she'll have your children.If you are meeting with friends:don't imply to your other friends that you make a cute couple.

Story: I had a date I met through Craigslist and we were getting along and he mentioned to me that he wanted to buy property with me. He asked me how many children I wanted to have. I know you are trying not to waste time out there and your trying to find out as much about me as possible in as short of time as possible, but puuuuuuuuuuuuleeeeeeeeeeeeeze can you be a bit more subtle?

3.Dont' boss her around. It seems like a lot of men like to give advice, but it's unsolicited. Or men are really interested in material toys and so they want everyone to have the same toys as they have. This is great with another gal that's into material things but if she's not, you are gong to turn her off. I personally don't enjoy people to tell me what to do ,( unless it's my parents, family or a really good friend or maybe my future husband) which is why I run my own business and why I don't like to work for other people. Anyway, there are women that like to be bossed around, but I am not one of them. I don't think most intelligent, educated women enjoy being bossed around. So anyway, don't do it. It makes you seem a bit chauvanistic and wankeristic.

I dated a man once who was clever, funny,ambitious,charming but then he annoyed me. He annoyed me because he started telling me how I should buy a new camera. It really made me mad, because at the time I quite fancied my camera and secondly I didn't have the budget to buy a new camera. What if she doesn't want to buy a new camera or she can't afford to. Your advice will be resented. It's the first date, who are you to tell her what she needs to do.

4. Don't talk about anything remotely that has to do with sex
You want to get to know someone gradually. You don't want all the fire to burn out in the first date.Or do you?I am not sure, but men should just learn to control themselves.They'll go farther faster if they just don't act like such love sick high school boys.

Story: This man on our second date over drinks said that he liked porno and that he bought some movies yesterday.I was so utterly repelled,I excused myself to go to the powder room and never came back.

5.Don't talk about Kama Sutra and how you would like to try
out a new position with. This really shows a lack of taste and grace.
And, it makes the lady feel that your just out with her for one thing only. Even, if she has attraction for you, she'll be immediately turned off, unless
she's Samantha from Sex and The City.

Story: I really had a date once that half way through the date everything was perfect:he was really cute, charming and sweet.I thought we were getting on. And then he had to ruin it by asking me if I would like to try a Kama Sutra position. I was turned off and disappointed, especially since we had been having so much fun.The truth is I told my date how disappointing I was and he apologized and said that he was sorry that he hadn't had much experience dating.Fair Enough.He was very young so I cut him some slack. I felt really sorry for him and just changed the subject.

So, you see men with some advice from the opposite gender you'll begin to see the way women see things and perhaps it will open up a different world for you.Either way, it will give you some things to think about and ponder.

Stay Tuned for more
Look for More Dating DONTS for Men in coming SABRINA'S LONDON DIARIES

Shakespeare's Contribution to the English Language

William Shakespeare contributed more phrases and sayings to the English language than any other individual - and most of them are still in daily use. Every week, in my blog,I will be writing about one of the 135 phrases that he coined.

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD.

Meaning: A showy article may not necessarily be valuable.

Origin: The original form of this phrase was 'all that glisters is not gold'. The 'glitters' version of the phrase long ago superseded the original and is now almost universally used.

Shakespeare is the best-known writer to have expressed this idea. The original Shakespeare editions of The Merchant of Venice, 1596, have the line as 'all that glisters is not gold'. 'Glister' is usually replaced by 'glitter' in renditions of the play:

MOROCCO:
O hell! what have we here?
A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
There is a written scroll! I'll read the writing.
All that glitters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscroll'd:
Fare you well; your suit is cold.


A VIDEO OF MERCHANT OF VENICE



MORE IN SABRINA'S LONDON DIARIES

- Harry Potter in London

- Fashion in London Part 2

-Dating in London: Part 3. How to Cause a Stir