Bob

I had to check in on my friend’s house while they are away. Surprised a frog hiding amongst her strawberries. I extended my outing for some rainy caching in nearby Kingston with you. 🐸

I was a bit worried this event might be in the midst of all the activity surrounding the death of the Queen and the proclamation of the new King which was happening nearby at St James’ Palace. Surprising how few physical observances of what is happening are to be seen today. Yesterday, all the bus shelters had a remembrance poster but today they are back to ads for MacDonalds. Life goes on. 🤴🏻

I seem to have a lot of chores to do in the same part of London but on different days. This was a lovely virtual focussing on the Foundling Museum. In 1739, Thomas Coram (1668-1751) established a hospital to care for babies at risk of abandonment. He was appalled by the conditions children faced in London: though the city was a global powerhouse of industry and wealth, it was also polluted and disease-ridden. Child mortality rates soared. Each year, some one thousand babies were abandoned by parents experiencing extreme poverty or other terrible maladies. Between the 1740s and 1760s, mothers leaving their babies at the Foundling Hospital would also leave a small object as a means of identification. The hope was that they would one day be able to reclaim their child and the token was their proof of the relationship. 💔

Decided to trek over to Royal Tunbridge Wells for a caching day out. The trains were on a go slow and kept missing the next connection. Frustrating. Found some good caches but missed a tree climb because our weighted thin rope got snagged. The gin and jazz festival was a good end to the day. 🧗🏻

A visit to Westminster for you to find an Earthcache. Geoson goes to school here and knew all about the fossilised sea urchin. Pity he didn’t tell me before. 🪸