Turn it around

You know this photo is of a modern building, and your mind accepts what it sees, but something is wrong. Turn it in your mind through 90 degrees (or put your head to one side), and all is OK - a glass lift shaft down the outside of a building.(This one is in Euston Centre). I rather like the tree-like aspect of the spars.

Banksy the sprayer

It's hard to convey the menace in this alleyway - one of the very few that must feel as they did a century ago. You see the image of Jack the Ripper and that red BLOOD - until you realise that it's a spray can that is being wielded, not a knife. This is Banksy at his best.

The strangest thing

I've often seen fascias being conserved and built into new offices, but I can't recall having seen anything quite like this, where the old front just sits there. It isn't particulalrly remarkable, either, and it is in a narrow street just behind Artillery Passage. Ah well, it must have seemed a good idea at the time.

The Crown and Sceptre

Magnificent Victorian pub signs like this, built into the wall are few and far between, but they do exist. They were probably fashionable for a while.

Another Sculpture...

Sometimes, the simplest sculptures can be equally effective. This is in the new development around the old vegetable market (now trendy shopping) in Spitalfields - I like it.

(I'm away for the weekend - posting continues)

Newton

This sculpture of Newton at work can be found in the courtyard of the British Library, and is another by Eduardo Palozzi. Although he sounds Italian, he was british (a Scot) which is why we are fortunate enough to have several of his works on display. It is inspired byb William Blake's Newton.

Words are dangerous

Words have wings and no chains can clip them. Chalton Street is right by the British Library, where this scupture sits. It doesn't matter which language you speak this image will talk to you.

Dressing up again

A while back, I showed you the window of Bermans & Nathans, the place that film makers go for their costumes. Of course, not everyone has film maker's money, so Lawrence Corner exists. They used to be mostly an ex-army shop, but these days they are more into dressing up for the cheap end of the market. Maybe this shot is a little unfair, here is another.

Toad the what?

So moving down Chalton Street, which I now know (thanks to Matthew) is a haunt for working girls, I came across a great mosaic, of which this is a detail.

Nuts to you, too

This week TWWSI took me down Chalton Street. It is just a nondescript London street without anything in particular to commend it. Certainly, it's one of those street I'd ignored although I lived in the area for years. So, it was particularly interesting to discover what this street had to offer someone who came looking. I'll come back as the days pass, but to start us, here is one of the local residents, wondering who is nosing around with a camera.

Oh dear....

Thankfully, there appear to be no reports of people being hurt in this building collapse, but I thought you'd like a picture. That pile of rubble in the road

A piece of old(er) London disappears

Sorry, but it is too late. The photo is of Lassco's yard in Mark Street where they used to occupy St Michael's Church (you can just see the yard in the google earth photo). They were are (and still are) an architectural salvage yard of the first order. If you want to buy an Adams Fireplace for £175,000, this is the place to come. The old entrance to Mappin & Webb for £45,000? Can do.

But, as of February, they are gone from here. One of my first jobs {cough cough} years ago was near here and I used to wander through their marvels in my lunch hour, rather like a museum. It's rather fun browsing their stock on the Internet, even now.

St Georges Gardens

 

Today's photo is another contender for London's most hidden park, You can see it in this satellite photo, but you won't from any road. I've known about it for years (I used to live near here), although it was TWWSI that sent me down there now.

It's an astonishing place, the first burial ground outside of a church dating back to 1713. It changes from a crowded picnic green at lunchtimes to a secluded nature reserve. If you are in the area, it really is worth a visit. It's that well hidden, it looks to me as if even the diamond geezer hasn't got here.

Tower Bridge at Night

 


The picture is another from the evening spent by the Pool of London.

What price is Love ????

Aparantly, anything from £4.99 to £50. London is awash with ways to lavish expensive presents on your loved one, or even your maybe loved one. Bahhh humbug. Shame they don't come with a money back guarantee, isn't it?

The Traitors Gate, Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the most iconic London landmarks, and the Traitors Gate (seen here bathed in red light) is particularly associated with its cruel and bloody past.

This picture is another from the "Switched Off" London series. Can anyone tell me if they've found some money for the meter since the weekend?

Pete Atkin

The Folk Music scene in London has always been vibrant. Simon and Garfunkel, Dylan, they all lived in London for that reason.

Tonight, I went in excellent company to the Walthamstow Folk Cub to see Pete Atkin.

Pete who? I can hear you say. Pete and Clive James (yes, that one) formed a songwriting partnership that has lasted (on and off) for over thirty years. And they are good. Browse the discography and the website to discover more. If you like brilliant words, and how they can become still better with the right music added, you are in for a treat.

Oh yeah - Pete is not folk, but that's the nearest category for him.

Other pictures I took are here.

Light in my darkness

Theoretically, tonight was a night of "Swtiched on London" - an extraveganza of light and design. But, when I turned up the only thing I found was hordes of bemused photographers, milling around with tripods in their hands and lost looks on their faces.

So we had to make our own entertainment, I took some photos (surprise). I was quite pleased with one or two, so I'll bring them to you over the next few days. Today's is of HMS Belfast, with their normal illumination. I think I managed to capture the light quite well - you may need the bigger version to see it properly.

Architectural Detail

I've focussed in on an architectural detail: it won't be obvious to anyone what it is. Here is the whole building, which comes across as just another modern steel and glass office block, the photo is of the facing panels. However, these panels are natural Welsh slate. I'm not quite convinced by the execution, but I love the idea of the synthesis of man made and natural substances, and I love the pattern it makes, too.

Looking for the summer

The cold, the snow and the travel chaos was here again today as predicted, so lets look forward.

Here's the music (click on play):

and here are the lyrics. Where was the photo taken? My garden.

Desolation Alley

London used to be full of car breakers: places you could go to clamber over a pile of cars four high to find that elusive bit of trim or pipework to repair your car with. These days, they have either been Health & Safety'd or priced out of existence. Shame really, because it was recycling at its most efficient.

This breakers yard is just inside the M25, near Dartford.

The Blitz

Yesterday's post reminded me of the Blitz, and made me think what that part of London would have looked like afterwards. History long buried was reborn and whole areas flattened.

This photo of St Paul's surrounded by smoke is one of the most iconic photographs of the time, I imagine recognised instantly by any Londoner. It was the firemen that saved London then, and this memorial, just south of St Paul's is to honour those 1,027 who died carrying out their duty.

Here is a page of firefighter's history in the blitz.

Barbican Frieze

This is a detail of a frieze from one of the only buildings from the (old) Barbican left standing after the blitz in 1940. The buiilding was owned the firm of gold refiners and assayers, W Bryer & Sons, founded in 1815 and who still trade in Hatton Garden.

You won't see this by car, as it faces away from the road, so here is the full frieze. here is the map of where it is, and I've marked its exact location here.

London's Elephants - No 13 in a series

The latest in the series is in Notting Hill Gate and is title is "Carnival Elephant".

Interestingly, an intrepid scout from the U.S. of A. on a trip to London has found me another elephant that I didn't know about....it will be along next time.



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.
Click for No 10 in the series.
Click for No 11 in the series.
Click for No 11 1/2 in the series.
Click for No 12 in the series.

Cow recycling

Anyone want to recycle a cow????

Grafitti Wall

I rather liked this grafitti wall in Camden, as it looks like several aretists have collaborated. The taggers have left it alone, too.

The Bloomsbury Set

There's not much left to see of the haunts of the Bloomsbury Set: those Bohemian artists who made such an impact to Edwardian London and the world - Virigina Wolff? John Maynard Keynes ? (yes, that one). However, when I was going down Tavistock Place at No. 22 I saw this mosaic, now gracing the step for the fire exit of one ofthe dubious hotels that line the street now. I could just see the shadow of the people who decided to put it there - I hope you can.

Theme Day - What annoys me about London

 
Today's worldwide daily photo theme is "What annoys you in your city". For me, it is London house prices. How on earth can anyone afford to live here now? Look at the numbers - average London salary - £42,000. Average London property - £352,000. It simply doesn't add up. The pictures and hte prices are from my local area, nothing special, nothing affordable. My first two bedroom flat here cost £20,000 when I was earning £6,500. Now, you can see one bedroom flats starting at £225,000. It just isn't fair.

52 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st December theme, "What really annoys you about my city", 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 (Portugal) ) -2 (Stayton, OR (USA) ) -3 (Albuquerque, NM (USA) ) -4 (Tenerife (Spain) ) -5 (Greenville, SC (USA) ) -6 (Dubai (U.A.E.) ) -7 (Evry (France) ) -8 (Jakarta (Indonesia) ) -9 (London (UK) ) -10 (Sequim, WA (USA) ) -11 (Buenos Aires, (Argentina) ) -12 (Seattle, WA (USA) ) -13 (Minneapolis, MN (USA) ) -14 (Stavanger (Norway) ) -15 (Joplin , MO (USA) ) -16 (Nelson, New Zealand ) -17 (Milano, Italy ) -18 (Singapore (KeropokMan) ) -19 (La Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala) ) -20 (Nottingham UK ) -21 (Singapore by Zannnie (Singapore) ) -22 (Budapest (Hungary) ) -23 (Not Strictly Seattle, ) -24 (Bandung (Indonesia) ) -25 (Vantaa (Finland) ) -26 (Hyde (UK) ) -27 (Madrid by Dsole (Spain) ) -28 (Oulu (Finland) ) -29 (Saarbr?cken (Germany) ) -30 (St. Paul [Carol] ) -31 (Sydney (Australia) ) -32 (Tokyo (Japan) ) -33 (Kyoto (Japan) ) -34 (Trujillo (Peru) ) -35 (Shanghai (China) ) -36 (Rotterdam (NL) ) -37 (Chicago, IL (USA) ) -38 (Nice, (France) ) -39 (Naples, Florida (USA) ) -40 (Hong Kong ) -41 (Santa Clara, CA (USA) ) -42 (Quito, Ecuador (South America) ) -43 (Cottage Grove, MN (USA) ) -44 (Paris, (France) ) -45 (Manila (Philippines) ) -46 (Brussels (Belgium) ) -47 (Auckland (New Zealand) ) -48 (Newcastle upon Tyne(England) ) -49 (Houston, TX (USA) ) -50 (Sydney by Nathalie (Australia) ) -51 (Mumbai (India) ) -52 (Anderson, SC (USA)) - 53 - Chelteham