Frag 1

Having noticed a Gainsborough at reference 1, I looked him up in Canaday to find him closely followed by Fragonard, of whom I knew more or less nothing beyond the fact that he was French. But closer inspection revealed that he did the lady on a swing at the Wallace, which, for some reason, I had thought was by Boucher - a thought which inspection on the spot showed to be inappropriate.

However, to start at the beginning. the first discovery of the day was the existence of the Tesco Cleaning Company which appeared to have the contract to clearn the windows of Tesco's shops, or at least the one next to Epsom Station. One would be interested to know what the business arrangement was and what sort of contracts - if any - were given to the cleaners. For what it is worth, the chap that I spoke to seemed content enough, although not so content that he put down his mop for a natter. But then, he was not an Irishman.

Picked up a Bullingdon at Waterloo Station 3, another Bullingdon, as it turned out, with gears that needed adjustment. Off to Hinde Street, handy to the Wallace Collection. A place which shared with the US Embassy a ban on bicycle helmets, obliging me to use the cloakroom. See reference 5.

Off to find the lady on a swing, a picture which turned out to be a lot smaller than I was expecting - I had seen it before in the past - but an experience which a trusty told me was common. Lots of people expected it to be bigger. But the picture was rather spoilt by some sort of superior lady trusty who seemed to be giving some unshaven young man - perhaps a big donor - perhaps a footballer - a guided tour of the highlights of the place, as I came across her drone in front of several other pictures. It is odd how irritating I find overhearing that sort of thing - even worse than watching bearded wonders doing the same sort of thing on television. Her party piece for the swing was the information that it was painted before the invention of underwear, which. while true, I found oddly coarsely put. There must have been a better way of saying the same thing. Net result was that I moved away, not having finished my inspection.

But moved away to find that in addition to the Poussin noticed at reference 2, there were famous pictures by Rubens, Frans Hals, Rembrant and others. Murillos for those that like them. Canalettos for those that like them - rather more of these last than the Queen managed at Hampton Court and noticed at reference 3. All in all, an excellent collection, on a pleasantly small scale. Not quite as grand and overpowering as the National Gallery.

Took a second Bullingdon from Hinde Street to Cardinal Place. Gears were OK and Hyde Park Corner was OK, but there were a lot more large pot holes in the West End than I remember. Large enough to be dangerous at night when one might not spot them in time. Parked the Bullingdon to find myself looking up at a very impressive recovery vehicle, towing a bus away. The roads equivalent of the salvage tugs operated by Smit from reference 4; the chaps who lurk in the western approaches, waiting for someone to get into trouble.

From there to admire the building of the next post, at the Victoria Street end of Artillery Row. I must have passed it often enough but don't remember it.

From there to the Regency Café, which also must have been often passed, but never used. But used it was on this occasion, to find that it was just the sort of place which would do well as a prop for an adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel. Lots of formica, cheap and plentiful food and a counter girl with a voice. A voice which dominated the space with its calls of 'mushroom omelette double chips' and such like - the idea being that you went to collect your grub when so summoned. Chips very good for a café but meat pie rather odd, a bit school dinnerish. Maybe omelette next time.

Fine blue mobile crane outside.

The famous black and white flats in Page Street, about which I seem to recall there having been a heritage/social housing fuss, looking a bit smarter than I remember. Now in the care of CityWest homes, so perhaps no longer social housing. I did not get very far into reference 6 - perhaps another go tomorrow.

Filled the time on the way home trying to use my telephone as a filofax, that is to something something in which to doodle. By around Worcester Park, I had found that one could doodle, using one of the options in Powerpoint, available on the telephone, but that it might be better if one had a stylus rather than a finger. Something else for another go tomorrow.

Reference 1: http://psmv3.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/diana.html.

Reference 2: http://psmv2.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/poussin-others.html.

Reference 3: http://psmv3.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/royal-cabbage-patch.html.

Reference 4: http://www.smit.com/.

Reference 5: http://psmv2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/mission-accomplished.html.

Reference 6: http://citywesthomes.com/.

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