Improved crossing

The crossing of Riverside Drive has been changed slightly as part of the Quiet Way improvements. The welcome work to widen the pavements and, consequently, to narrow the road at that point happened some time ago and so the recent changes are mostly cosmetic. The new markings make the crossing more obvious to approaching vehicles and suggest a segregation of pedestrians and cyclists.

Work tall

There are not many buildings in Ham above two storeys and this terrace of town houses in Back Lane is one of the exceptions. That extra height makes the fairly common maintenance and improvement work visually more interesting, at least if you are as obsessed by scaffolding as I am.

Letter boxes

The Manor House in Ham Street is an impressive building and it has nice letter boxes too.

Launch Lock

I do not need much of an excuse to take a picture of the Launch Lock at Teddington and on this visit I was captivated by its neat appearance and the high water.

I am undecided whether the cone adds to or detracts from the picture but it was there so it had to be included.

Shady path

This short path is in at the beginning of Ham Lands as it forms between Royal Park Gate and the river and I usually walk that way rather than taking the surfaced path. Except when it is muddy!

Street closed

London's Car Free Days is not until Sunday 22 September so it is something of a surprise to see New Road closed on Sunday 23 June.

Costa

Costa arrived on Ham Parade a little while ago, taking the space that was occupied Village Market, but it has taken me until now to catch it with no cars parked in front of it.

It is a pretty nondescript frontage which I like. The last thing Ham Parade needs is something garish like Taylor Made. The simple frontage seems to be having no impact on the business as it always seems to be pretty busy in there whenever I walk past.

Deckchairs

Ham House is always worth a visit, which is why I go there regularly, and those visits have become even better with the prospect of lounging in one of these deckchairs in the kitchen garden.

Choosing a colour

Just over a month ago I posted a picture of this house because it had had colour samples painted on the front wall for a long time and I was not sure if it was ever going to be done. And now it has.

I am not sure that they have used any of the colours in the set of samples but I have no complains about the colour they have chosen.