London Daily Photo Does Sleaze!

I was considering which of my other Marylebone Lane (This week's The Way We See It location) photos to show, but then I came across this link - it seems that this club has Feline Waitresses - IT'S OFFICIAL! a club that ADMITS it serves cat's p1ss! (I also found these Sophisticats if you like your blues funky). Made me smile, anyway. Maybe I'm missing something, but I fail to see the attraction of these clubs. Well, that's not quite true. I do see the attraction - I fail to see the ... value? I don't know. Chaq'un a son gout, and London certainly has its fair share of goo.

Marylebone Lane is a fascinating street - it follows the course of one of London's now hidden rivers - The Tyburn - and there is still a reminder of it above ground somwhere along it. A London Daily Photo prize if you know what it is! (Answer arives the day after tomorrow)

Pan Pipes with attitude

It doesn't matter in which part of the world you are, the one thing that you know for certain is that there will be performing Andean (?) Pan Pipe musicians. It's quite clear that, however good they are (and most of htem seem to be) at their instruments they need a gimmick. Step forward the feathers and the little dances. In Stratford of all places. (If god was to give the world an enema, Stratford is one of the places he might well stick the tube)

I had to take a video - see them here and here.

Graffiti Sunday

Trier Daily Photo has been posting graffiti every Sunday for months, so today I will join him. I particularly like the earring in this one.

The Iron Men

These statues just nearby to Woolwich Arsenal remind me of Anthony Gormley, or Ted Hughes Iron Man.

Radio Days

If you want to find one of the best stockists of vintage clothing and memorabilia in London, come to Lower Marsh. You will find Radio Days, stocked floor to ceiling with those bits and pieces from the 20's through to the 70's that take you straight back to another era. I couldn't resist postingthis photo of some - happy ? - stockings.

The Best of Friends

In Bond Street, just outside Asprey, the most exclsive of exclusive jewelers, is this sculpture, Created by Lawrence Holofcener it depects Churchill and Roosevelt in conversation on a park bench. Called "The Allies" you can't help but join in the action. I'm grateful here to Chris from San Francisco for agreeing to be my model.

Link of the day: Name That Tube!" - a photoshopped-photo quiz with the answer being a London Tube Station.

Appearing Rooms

Anyone local to London will know that yesterday, my ride home was combined with a rather thorough shower. Which makes this this art exhibit all the more surprising. Actually it's been here since July, and finishes tomorrow, but still.....

This is Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms - the first in what is promised to be a series of art inspired fountains. The "walls" rise and fall and change seemingly at random. I like the way that adults are in coats, but the kids still want to get soaked.

The Photo Shoot

There I was, mooching around Southbank in my lunchtime looking for something new to photograph, when I came across this photoshoot. The girls were from Epsom University College and were working on a "Photography and Style" project. Does it sound to gushy to say their energy and enthusiasm brightened up my day? If any of them drop by here, do say hi!

Gargle Goil

Another week, another The Way We See It location. This time, Mount Street Gardens, another of the hidden London Parks, a fabulous oasis only yards from Oxford Street and Park Lane.It's where I took this shot, too. This charming gargoyle is in the doorway of the chapel.

(Later: It's been bothering me. I knew it wasn't a real gargoyle but I didn't know what to call it. Turns out (for the pedants among you) that it is part of the Archivolt. Now isn't your life richer? What, more?)

Look up!

Always look up, you never know what you might see. Unfortunately I don't know much about this picture, but I would say it is obvious the the building now occupied by the Bank once traded with the middle and far east - we are in that part of the City. I went into the bank and asked if they new the history of they building, but they didn't. What a shame.

I'm away for a couple of days so cannot respond.

Mini Cab anyone?

The London Minicab was an anomaly. Until recently, London was the only place in the UK where drivers did not have to be licensed (in contrast to the London Black Cab, which has the most stringent licensing). That has changed now, and none too soon. Use this if you want to check if a car is licensed. All Londoners use Mini Cabs from time to time, and there are some better ones, however a large proportion don't know their way about and drive like banshees. I would always recommend going in a "Black Cab" if you have the option.

A short reminiscence from my dim and distant past. Many years ago, I did mini cab driving for a short while for a very dodgy firm, based in the West End. Mini Cabs cannot pick people off the streets, they have to be booked through an office. To get round this on Saturday night, they slung a tray around someone's neck with a 2-way radio, a car battery round his shoulder and a flashing light on his head - hey presto! instant taxi office. Of course, this in no way reflects on the Daily Photo's very own cab driver ;-)

(I am away for a couple of days so will be unable to respond)

Waiting for a Train

Work took me to Liverpool, so what could I do but whip out my camera? I love the romance of train stations. No matter how spiritless the station (and lord knows, we do spiritless stations in the UK) there is always a sense of change, new beginnings - moving on. This is Euston Station; the other picture I thought of posting is here.

On the subject, do you remember Flash and the Pan Waiting for a Train?

Changing Moods Part II

Every picture has its shadows
And it has some source of light
Blindness, blindness and sight
- Joni Mitchell, Shadows & Light

This picture is taken only a minute later than yesterday's, everything and nothing has changed and this tug hauling its load of rubbish down the Thames sails through the last echoes of the light on the water.

To make up for the lack of excitement in this picture, here is the video to the Style Council's "My Ever Changing Moods" which deserves a prize for one of the oddest videos. What ARE those nymphs meant to be doing? I'll not forget the time twenty years ago, travelling to France on an overnight ferry - the ship was empty but for us and this video was playing on a big screen.

My ever changing moods

I know I've posted views on the Thames before, but I'd like to give you a sense of its ever changing moods - one of the reasons I love London so. As I was crossing the non-wobbly-bridge, this light illuminated the scene for seconds only - I had my camera ready and grabbed this. I'll show you a picture taken a minute later tomorrow.

Art Deco Heaven

Today, as a result of The Way We See It, I'm in Church Street. You can see my efforts to be creative over there. Here I can tell you that this is the place to come if you are into Art Deco, and are looking for the highest concentration of 20's antique shops in one place. Oh yes, there was another photo from there that I wanted to see the light of day.

On the Road Again

I'm going to venture outside of London today, because I and five others took it into our heads to cycle to Cambridge which is over 100Km away. Here we are at the highest point in Essex (from the left: Paul, Josh, Henrik, Dan & Matt) in the exquisitely named Toot Hill. We are well served for odd place names in this part of the country, really very close to London. We went through Matching Tye (unfortunately there is nowhere called Handkerchief), near to Theyon Bois (there is no Theydon Girls - BTW it's pronounced "Boys", not "Bwah"). We could have gone through Ugley and it's not far from Nasty. Aren't they fun - do you have any to add to the list? Here is the end of the road.

A disappointment

I went out for a curry in Brick Lane, which is "renowned" for its Indian Restaurants. I hadn't done this before and I would love to say that it was a pleasant experience. If you enjoy being dragged into restaurants as you walk past, annd getting mediocre food over salted then it might have been. Sorry, I didn't enjoy it and, unless someone has a particular recommendation, I won't be going back. There are a lot better places to eat locally. A desultory photo for a desultory experience.

Faded Glory

When St Pancras Church was built at the start of the 19th Century, it was the grandest to be built since St Pauls. On the edges of Bloomsbury, it must have been quite special. Now, it has turned into one of those anonymous corners that everyone passes by. If you find yourself anywhere near here, come and have a look at these caryatids and imagine what it must have been like to swing up to the church doors in your carriage.

No, No, No!

I was going to turn this into the start of yet another series - "London's Hidden Green Spaces" I may yet. You will never find this, unless you go looking for it. The Phoenix Garden is behind the Phoenix Theatre, boxed in on all sides, and was established as a community garden in the 80's, on a second world war bomb site.

STOP PRESS: I've just discovered I've made it into the top 50 most influential UK bloggers! Yay! Thanks folks. ( I rather like the cartoons, too)

Tate Modern Slides

Everyone is talking about the Tate Modern slides, because they are Art. Well, actually it's because they are fun, but isn't that the best kind of art?

So which photo to show you? The DNA View? The "What is it?" View? The Abstract View? I chose this one because I think it is art. The spotlights throw these fascinating shapes on the wall, and most people are too busy looking at the slides.

The Infant's Hospital

This cameo (the proper term for a plaque like this - if it was recessed it would be intaglio) is one of a few left from the Infant's Hospital in Pimlico. With roots going back to the 18th century, it pioneered research on malnutrition in children. Now, it's a block of flats.

A ski jump in central London

OK, I'm lying. Before leaving Vauxhall I had to show you one of the more bizzare pieces of London architecture. This is not a ski jump for a giant but a bus station. This is the design. Why??

For reference, the Elephant and Castle from yesterday is directly behind this.

London's Elephants - No 10 in a series

Another week, another elephant (or two). First, this elephant spotting comes to you courtesy of the excellent Kitten Heels, for which much thanks. Location is the old Elephant & Castle pub in Vauxhall. I had forgotten it - last time I was there it was a dive, now it is a Starbucks and I have to confess for once that's an improvement.

Keep reading for another of my favourite London trivia. The Russian word for station is Vokzal (or вокзал in cyrillic - thanks Julia!) One of the reasons given for this is that at the start of the railway revolution, the Russians sent a delegation over to England to see what it was all about. Unfortunately, They didn't speak a word of English. They were shown Vauxhall station (one of the earliest ones) and went away assuming that the word for station was Vauxhall. Isn't that beautiful?



Click for No 1 in the series.
Click for No 2 in the series.
Click for No 3 in the series.
Click for No 4 in the series.
Click for No 5 in the series.
Click for No 6 in the series.
Click for No 7 in the series.
Click for No 7 1/2 in the series.
Click for No 8 in the series.
Click for No 9 in the series.

Beam me up, Mr Scott

This is BT's main satellite uplink station, by the banks of the Thames alongside the Woolwich ferry - where most of the TV and Telephone links beam out from London to the world.

The man in the corner is a security guard had just told me that I couldn't take photos from the road, where I was standing. "Why?" I asked "oh..." he said, "it will go badly for you". You know, I have to confess he was right - it's not a great photo - I hope you don't mind ;-)

The day of the cycle

You've seen London's bicycle police before - but have you seen the bicycle ambulance? I'd be surprised if mosts cities with the same congestion problems didn't use them.

The Age of Aquarius - Hair as Art

This place made me wish I still had hair - yes it is a real hair salon - you have to love a hairdresser's called The Bald Patch. At least, I do. To quote their website:

Having worked in the field of hairdressing as senior hairstylists and salon owners in London, Bilbao, Barcelona, Vienna and Tokyo, and having collaborated on various projects as free-lance artists, we have now decided to approach hairdressing from a new point of view,

You can find it at the moment in the car park at the top of Brick Lane.

A Lunar Landscape

You might have thought I have played around with this image in photoshop, but those colours are real. This is the mud banks of the Thames at low tide, quite near the building from yesterday. I love that feeling of desolation.

Competition Time! - What is this?

I can't resist, I'm afraid. What do you suppose this stainless steel, glass topped building is for? London Daily Photo Postcard for the winner. Just guess, why not?

OK - now TWO prizes are up for grabs, the first to the right answer but as I am convinced that nobody will get that, another prize for the most creative guess!

(later) Well, I was wrong. Jing guessed correctly, well done! It's a sewage farm. Google Maps satellite view of it. On Sunday Mrs Ham & I cycled the Thames Path from London out to Dartford; when I saw this astonishing structure I had to take the picture. (Just be GLAD you can't smell it!!)

The "Try for the Creative answer" competiton is still running, I'll anounce the winner tomorrow.

The George at Wanstead Cherry Pie Stone

The Stonemason's Story

A picture and the comments from Eric in Paris put me in mind of this stone, that can be seen in the wall of my local pub (picture of pub and closeup of stone).


This inscription was uncovered inside the wall when it was being rebuilt around 1900 and it reads:

"In Memory of
ye Cherry Pey [Pie]
As cost 1/2 a Guiney [52.5 pence]
ye 17 of July
That day we had good cheer
I hope to so do maney a Year
R C 1752 D Terry

The story goes that the stoenmason working on scaffolding on the pub - much as this workamn is here - was tempted by cakes passing by from the bakers next door. One day, the temptation overcame him and he stole a cherry pie. For his pains, he was fined half a guinea (52 1/2 pence, or a dollar or euro). Whatever the truth, I like the way the story was hid away for over one hundred and fifty years.

Money money money....

Here's an opportunity not to miss, the dumbest of all dumbass competitions but if you win you get loads of wonga.

The Big Star in the photo is stuffed full of cash. Virgin Radio are asking you to guess the amount, if you get it right you get all the money. Easy. Here is te link, I can tell you that there is between £50,000 and £145,000 in there.

Theme Day - Taxis

Today's theme day for the City Daily Photobloggers is Taxis.

Now I've spoken about London taxis before so for this theme day, I'd like you to imagine sitting here for eight hours a day. Now consider Fred Housego, a black cab driver who became one of Mastermind's most popular winners. (Mastermind is a UK TV quiz that combines searching questions on specialist and general knowledge subjects)

Taxi courtesy of Colts Taxis.

46 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st October theme, please use the links to below to visit them.

Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.

1 (Porto ) -2 (Albuquerque ) -3 (London ) -4 (Seattle, WA (USA) [Kim] ) -5 (Edinburgh ) -6 (Stayton, OR ) -7 (Greenville, SC ) -8 (Budapest ) -9 (Antigua Guatemala ) -10 (Alexandria, VA ) -11 (Manila ) -12 (Twin Cities ) -13 (Szentes ) -14 (Paris ) -15 (Portsmouth ) -16 (Ryde ) -17 (Sydney ) -18 (Oulu ) -19 (Singapore [keropok] ) -20 (Santiago ) -21 (Melbourne, Aust ) -22 (Dubai UAE ) -23 (Bandung (Indonesia) ) -24 (Copenhagen ) -25 (Sequim ) -26 (Singapore ) -27 (Tenerife ) -28 (Sharon, CT ) -29 (Tuzla, B&H ) -30 (Jakarta (Indonesia) ) -31 (Rotterdam ) -32 (Brussels ) -33 (Stavanger (Norway) ) -34 (Aliso Viejo, CA ) -35 (Oshawa, ON, Canada ) -36 (Vantaa, Finland ) -37 (Trier (Germany)) -38 (Newcastle upon Tyne ) -39 (Hong Kong ) -40 (Shang Hai ) -41 (Brussels ) -42 (San Diego, CA (USA) ) -43 (Sydney (Nathalie)) -44 (St Paul (USA)) -45 (Delta, USA) -46 (Trujillo, Peru) -