I know this is a wee bit late, but you must be used to this from me by now. On Saturday, I took advantage of the non-rain and finally went to explore the Thames Barrier Park. It WAS sunny in the morning, but by the time I got there (about half twelve) it had clouded over. Still it was dry and when there is dry grass one can sit and draw. The Thames Barrier Park is just next to Pontoon Dock DLR station. As you may have guessed from the title it's a park next to the Thames Barrier. What really fascinates me is the "sunken" garden on the side towards West Silvertown. I think it's meant to be a maze but it appears to me to be rows and rows of hedges with paths in between. It is a really fun place as the hedges are not straight but undulating lines that create the most amazing angles to peep through. What is also great is that between the hedges and the paths is what seems to be a veggie garden. To me it's a surrealist's idea of an allotment. Fantastic. So I am attaching my sketch of the garden. I sat on the grassy bank that leads down into the garden from the river side and looks back towards the DLR station and the gorgeous run down mill behind (if you ask me, the mill should be gutted (but not pulled down) and converted to loft apartment and artist studios). This is my second attempt and fills the page of my mini-sketchbook - one of those moleskin ones. I also spent some time exploring the rest of the park...and sketching the Barier itself. There are lots of paths to walk up and down, plus grassy spaces to picnic or play ball on. There is a kids' playground and even a cafe (I didn't go in). There was also a boardwalk along the river's edge, and you could see a traditional Thames barge sailing up the river towards central London. Alas, I could not stay all day, so I came home (via the supermarket) after a couple of hours at the park. And, of course, the sun came out as soon as I got home. :-P