Queen Victoria...

Like the rest of Piccadilly Gardens, poor Queen Victoria has been looking the worse for wear. The pigeons use her as a perch, she looks lost in the gardens and grass has been growing out of her frock.

She's been in a bit of a state. The 'gardens' themselves are controversial. They had a makeover about 10 years ago and the result hasn't been successful. Pressure from the local paper, online magazines and forums and the people generally has forced the council to actually do something with them.

I've actually had a comment on my blog from one of the architects of the new look gardens commenting on my piece about them there. I defend every word!

Well Queen Victoria is looking a lot better than she did a few weeks ago but no one has told the pigeons yet who don't seem to understand the importance of this lady in British history.

And the council have put a children's playground right next to the statue. I like the idea of a children's playground but did they really have to put it up against one of the grandest monuments in the city. Can you imagine a playground under Nelson's Column? By the Egyptian Obelisk in the Place de la Concorde? Unthinkable. We do seem to have some very unthinking people in the city's planning department...