Morris Dancers meet the Ug Girls

I left this a few days as I was hoping that one of the girls would contact me, so I could give you the full lowdown.

As I was passing through the centre of London a week ago, I came across the chance meeting of two groups. One, a troupe of Morris Dancers, the other a group of friends in caveman costume apparently collecting to support Multiple Sclerosis charities. The girls had never tried Morris Dancing before but after five minutes tuition, well, see for yourself (tip: if the video or sound isn't smooth, pause for a couple of seconds to let the download buffer.)

What a marvelous night for a moonwalk!

Around 15,000 spent the whole of Saturday night walking around London in their bras. Old, young, women, men - they were all there. They were doing the 11th Moonwalk - 26 miles around London town, starting at 11:00 at night (some do 13). That's a very long way. An astonishing effort, and well done to all who took part.

They are all doing it to support breast cancer charities, a cause very close to my heart. If anyone is moved to support the cause, they can do so either on the Moonwalk fund of a work colleague who was doing the walk: here, or on my fundraising page: here.

I was on my bike and tried to get as many photos as possible, so that people on the walk, albeit a minute fraction, might have a record. The full album (137 photos) is here. Three short (and not particularly good) videos of the start (green and orange starts, I think) are here here and here,

Draw up a stool

Keeping the theme of pubs, today I'm taking you to one where most of the fun is to be had outside. Well, maybe not most, but the pub signs here have been drawn by Fleet Street cartoonists over the years, and there are quite a few of them on the walls. In addition the Cartoonists Club of Great Britain meets here - as you might expect, their website is more fun than most.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Not New Orleans

This architectural gem from teh turn of the 19th Century is in stark contrast to the modern monstrosities that flank both sides of Tottenham Court. If you haven't noticed it before, do take the time to have a look next time you're passing. Go on - you know you want to hear it - click here. What, more? OK.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Health and Safety

Sometimes, don't you just despair over the way Health & Safety seems to invade everything we do? As if it would be impossible for the human race to survive for millennia without someone or something continually hectoring us. London is plastered with these signs from one end to the other - Diamond Geezer found some good ones a couple of days ago. This sign instructs you to don a space suit before entering the premises; it took someone a newspaper, some sellotape and some time to turn it into art. I found this in Worship Street, I was there for this week's The Way We See It.

You're Fired

Not something you might expect to find on London streets, it is parked outside the Guards Museum just round the corner from Buckingham Palace. It looks interesting but I have a confession - because they wanted to charge me entrance, I went elsewhere.

London Town Blues

Covent Garden is always chock full of buskers, mostly trundling out very similar offerings that have little to hold your interest. Every now and again something catches your eye or ear, like Richard here did mine. He plays the blues, with a classic, plain style and rootsy feel - I'd love to hear him playing in a band. But don't take my word for it - I shot a short video that you can listen to here (tech tip: if the sound isn't good, pause for a few seconds to let the player buffer)

The best job inthe world....

This woman is working, hard. Can you guess what her job is? I'll fill out the details later on today. In the meantime, give your imagination free reign.

[later]Thanks all for your suggestions - some great ones there that made me laugh. Truth is, her job was to sit there reading the paper and relaxing. She was the human interest in the working allotment built in Covent Garden as part of the Spring Renaissance Fair that has seen a flower market return to Covent Garden at the weekend. Still a few days to get down there and see for yourself.

See a more general shot here

An Englishman's Castle is his.....

...barracks, in this case. It's one of those bizarre buildings that pop up in odd places in London, basically because they have been around for so long. This is the Honourable Artillery Company's RHQ, slap bang in the middle of the city of London. I'd venture a guess that this view is not one even most Londoner's are familiar with, although it is on a main road.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Doctor Whippy

This, is Dr Whippy, aka Demitrios Kargotis. Also from the Royal College of Art, and with one of the best ideas ever, period. You talk into the box. It analyses your voice. The more unhappy you are, the bigger the ice cream it doles out to you. I only got a very small dollop, which was pretty fair.

See a series of photos here and a video here.

Maid in Time

Today and tomorrow are given over to images from Royal College of Art graduate students, who had performance space outside the Grand Designs Live house.

This is Clemence Seilles, whose work is called Made in Time - people can bet on how long it will take her to make a piece of furniture. Each minute will cost them £1. For example, if they bet 9 minutes and she completes the task then they have to pay her £9, if she doesn’t complete it in time they get a piece of furniture for free.

Here is a shot of her at work, and this is the photo of her friend who was acting as barker. I'm not going to show you the Remote Controlled Skates - the artist puts them on then hands the control to a random member of the public - but I will show you possibly the best idea ever (in the world?) tomorrow. I think this is all part of Icon Experiment , billed as the "antidote to home shows" involving those nice guys at FAT

The Kompost Krew

"Mummy - why is a banana waving at me?" In my local Waitrose supermarket, I came across Sarah and Jo extolling the benefits of recycling to mark compost week (no, I didn't know either). They work for my local borough, but had added their costumes on their own initiative. They brightened up my day, I hope they do yours.

And if you want to find out more about the "why" of recycling, check out the entertaining Story of Stuff.

Grand Designs on Building a House

Of all the reality TV shows, "Grand Designs" is the only one I enjoy. In it, the camera (and Kevin McCloud) follow the building of some magnificently conceived buildings through design to completion. Check out this page to browse through all the projects covered.

Right now, they are building an "eco-house" in Docklands in six days, in conjunction with the Design & Build exhibition, and this straw fountain is going to be used in the construction. As are crushed mobile phones, so we are told. See the programme website here and a more normal shot of men at work and the current state of the build here.

Get the picture yet?

No, it's not the Eiffel Tower's love child, it is the Crystal Palace TV transmitter which provides a TV signal to 11 million people. whoever built it didn't have the vision to add a viewing platform. A "wide shot" from a short distance is here. Whatever the photographic merit of this shot, I had to use it because of the bird.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Restless Dream

This artwork is a the entrance of the Limehouse Link tunnel, and although the state of traffic means that drivers get to look at it for a LONG while, I doubt many know that it is called Restless Dream by Zadok Ben-David. I didn't before I went looking.


It's made from ninety hand-cut aluminium figures, eighty-nine of them male and one female The male figures form a circle while the female reclines behind them. Its diameter is 9 meters. The way I've photographed this captures the ethereal quality of the piece, but makes it very difficult to see the female figure.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Ahead a'the Game

This mural-vert has only recently replaced this, and seems to straddle the border between avant garde street art and commercialism. I rather like the underlying energy, and the way it shows the vibrancy of life in London.

I'm away for a few days, but posting will continue.

Damp Walks

The weather of late has been a tad damp in London town, and these rather artisticly droopy leaflets caught my eye. I'm pleased to say, though, that no rain would stop the London Walks from going ahead, in true British spirit. (If we waited for the rain to stop, we wouldn't do anything). Looking at their website, their walks look pretty good to me. If someone tries them out, do let us all know how it was. They even do tours all in French - possibly shouting out "Vive la reine d'Angleterre!!" at appropriate moments.

I'm away for a few days, but posting will continue.

Light a candle

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

Amnesty International was founded in London in 1961, with its genesis occurring on the London Underground; something of which we Londoners should be truly proud.

Amnesty have just launched a campaign "Human Rights For China" highlighting the human rights abuses that continue in China.They have produced a hard-hitting cartoon, you can see here. Personally, I'm all in favour of engagement, but without this sort of action to draw attention to the wrongdoing, all it becomes is appeasement.

I'm away for a few days, but posting will continue.

Numbers again

Numbers are important in today's post, too as we are now waiting for the results of the local elections in England; in London, for the London Mayor. I had great difficulty with my vote this time, the only thing I knew for certain was that I felt that Boris would be a disaster for London, in a similar way that Dubya has been for the US. So my only decision was whether to put Ken as my first or second choice. I really think that politics serves us badly when all we can do is choose between the lesser of two evils. I rather enjoyed the way that the accident of surname made them uneasy bedfellows on the ballot paper.

And if you haven't been following Diamond Geezer's election primer, do check out today's.

May Theme Day - Numbers

Stand up and be counted.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

That's number 1 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are 30 in all - this is the first time I've read them all. Leaving aside the trivial legal actions and occasionally bizarre legislation occasioned by it, this declaration has at its core the aim to sweep aside all the barbaric tyranny that has so coloured the history of human civilisation. That's worth having.

The poster is one created by Amnesty International, an organisation of individuals willing to put themselves on the front line. More about London based Amnesty over the next days.

This month, 181 City Daily Photo bloggers participate in this theme day. See how they have interpreted "numbers" on the City Daily Photo portal or visit each of them individually. Some are in different time zones, some may have forgotten, but here are all the links:
Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chesapeake Daily Photo (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Chicago (IL), USA by Focused Light, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Concordia Sagittaria, Italy by Patrizia, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Dallas (TX), USA by turtle, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Mary, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hong Kong, Hong Kong by Rachel A., Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Ioannina, Greece by Christos-Ioanna, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Malaga, Spain by Paula, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Medan, Indonesia by KT, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montpellier, France by Marie, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, North Hampton (NH), USA by Amy, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Penang, Malaysia by Maltelda, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Riga, Latvia by Riga Images, Rollag, Norway by Stormel, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vichy, France by Delphsnl, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Canary Wharf By Night

I've recently acquired a Bronica 120 roll film camera, this is one of my first results with it. And yes, it is the same view as I showed a couple of days ago of Gordon Ramsay's pub, I think the comparison is part of the charm.

The Bacon Butty

Coffee and a croissant it is not. It's not a healthy breakfast. It's certainly not a vegetarian's breakfast. A cup of tea and a bacon butty may not even be something you often indulge in, but the fact that it exists makes the world a happier place.

You can tell from the Formica table, the tomato sauce bottle and the paper that this is a genuine caff. Here is the source of all breakfast related knowledge.

London's Elephants - No 24 in a series

Another week, another elephant. Today's can be found on the Animals in War monument at the top end of Park Lane. And no, I'm not about to start "London's Llamas".

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

The elephant series is here.

Ramsay Street

This shot is of the waterfront dining at Gordon Ramsay's pub - "The Narrow". You can't turn round these days without bumping into a celebrity chef somewhere, on the whole I rather like Gordon Ramsay - the chef and the persona. I must go and try this out sometime. Soon.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Carve it up

And today's word is "Tympanum" - the fiddly carved bit in the arch of a church doorway. I found this one on the French Protestant Church in London's Soho Square. Although the church has been over 400 years in London, this building dates from the turn of the century, and the carving from the 1950's. And before you say "French? Protestants???" These were the Huguenots who came to London fleeing persecution in France in the 16th & 17th centuries. The carving depicts the Charter of Edward VI in 1550 that allowed them to establish their church.

Real Vinyl

Remember that odd pleasure that records gave you? The attention they demanded to keep the music flowing? The record that always jum ped in the same place, so you ended up thinking that was what the song was meant to sound like? Putting a record onto repeat on a Dansette? Waiting for the valve on the Dansette to warm up? Ooops - I may be getting over nostalgic there. I'll never go back, but I can't help thinking that something was lost along with the gain of 200,000 tracks at your fingertips. What was your favourite record? If I had to choose one, probably Disraeli Gears (Cream) in mono.

This is Nudge Records in Hanway Street, off Brick Lane. A real record shop.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

St George, Days and Dragons

It was St George's Day yesterday, that well known ... Turkish .. saint that went around making dragon kebabs. I confess I don't take too much notice of it as a celebration, although I had intended trying to make it to one of the many events that might have provided a photo opportunity. Instead, I was too busy (unfortunately all too common at the moment) so I present a detail of the centre of the large iron gates in Marble Arch.

Redbridge Museum

It was the Diamond Geezer's latest "Random Borough", to my own area of Redbridge that shamed me into visiting our local museum. I knew it was there, but I'd never visited. I can now confirm that although it isn't something to inspire a special journey, it is worth popping in if you are in the area. Lots of stuff, aranged from the perspective of people living through past times and events, plenty for children to push, turn and smell and emough for adults, too. Even an exhibit on cycling, can't be bad.

Read Diamond Geezer's Random Borough Ramble here, here and here.

We are

We are a scarf. Or so this collaborative project from Moving Brands would have us. I'd better leave it to their own words:

"Last Christmas we set up a screen made of fairy lights in the Moving Brands window.

We then invited people to send messages and drawings, via a simple web-interface, to be shown in sequence in the window. The window was captured by webcam and broadcast live to the internet.

We stored everything sent to the window in a gallery, and the full sequence has been used to create this scarf."

Very simple, but some kind of cool. It was The Way We See It that took me here, to Charlotte Road.

Plastic Trainer

When you find this floral trainer on a billboard in Shoreditch, it will almost certainly make you smile. When you check it up closer, it turns out to be plastic flowers. Does that make it better or worse? (and does anyone know, why?)

See where on The London DAily Photo Map.