Ordinary Londoners - No 6 in a series

 

In spite of recent furore over Cash for Honours, changes since 1993 mean that ordinary people's efforts can be recognised by the system, which I think is good. So meet our local hero, Dame Gill James, MBE, Assistant Librarian and all round good sort. She has worked tirelessly and selflessly for our community for years and years, and is a worthy and popular recipient.

You can nominate someone for an honour here.

The Ordinary Londoners Series: No 1, No 2, No 3, No 4 No 5

The waters are receding...

Hoping to see a dove sometime soon.... Have you heard about the rain we've been having lately? You must click here if you want to read first hand accounts and pictures from one of the worst hit areas. This picure comes from the Bow Back Rivers, most of which area is closed off now until 2012.

A story of romance

Still in Spitalfields, still the same old excuse, this scene reminded me of a folk singer I heard back in the '70s. All I can remember of him was that he was part of Max Boyce's backing band, but was a hilarious performaer in his own right. He specialised in spoof songs, like the poor baker growing up in New York - "In the Gateaux", or that song of romance as a roadie - "that's when I fell for... the packer of the leads".

These girls were packing away after a public Salsa dance class/performance.

(for those that hadn't worked it out... it was to the tune of the Shangri La's "Leader of the Pack"

Shopping in a stable economy

Spitalfield is such a vibrant area these days, that I make no excuses about spending a few days here. Oh, OK, fair cop. I still haven't had time to get out to take photos.

This "odd things" shop always makes me smile, I hope it does you, too.

The Uk e ulele Orchestra

Normal service is not yet resumed but, thanks to those wonderful guys at Olympus I now have a camera to use.

And use it I have. Tonight I managed to catch the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain performing at Spitz in Spitalfields. If you get the chance, do go and see them. The music will surprise and please you, the performance will amuse and entertain.

While you are at it, Sign the petition to save the Spitz.

Normal service will be resumed.......just not quite yet

More Ukulele Orchestra photos here

London's Laundrettes

The Laundrette is dying in London, like this dingy place in Central London, whereas in Paris, they appear to be thriving still. It was my aim for a long while to get a photo of one of the fierce caretaker ladies with a cigarette hanging out her mouth, that used to be a permanent fixture of all laundrettes. I've only just realised that with our smoking ban now, that can no longer happen......

(and yes, I have left my reflection in shot)

See where London Daily Photo Map

Temple Bar Redux

As I intimated yesterday, Temple Bar has a very odd and mobile history. The "Bar" was originally just a chain placed across the road, but Christopher Wren built this fantastic monument towards the end of the 17th Century. When it became to obstructive to traffic in the 19th century, it was moved (from yesterday's location) to be the entrance to the country house, returning to Paternoster Square, just by St Pauls, in 2004.

Read Diamond Geezer's useful summary here and here, or the background here and here.

See where: London Daily Photo Map

Temple Bar

Over a year ago I posed the question, "Which London entrance marker isn't just a gryphon?" and failed to answer - it's high time I did. Here is Temple Bar, in Fleet Street. Victoria and Albert are inset in the pillar, surrounded by artistic and scientific imagery. This was the most famous of all London's gates, where taxes were paid and where, even today, the monarch pauses on their journey to the city.

More about the odd background of this place tomorrow.

See where: London Daily Photo Map

London's elephants, No 17 1/2 in the series

 

A small cheat, because you can't see this elephant for yourself (hence the "1/2") but I'm sure you will agree that it's worthwhile all the same. This elephant is part of the AS/A2 level art exhibtion at my daughter's school, Wanstead High School. I reckon that this post should really be subtitled "Britain's Got Talent". For those that don't know the UK exam system, this is the work of 16-18 year olds. Lauren Barrett was kind enough to let me take a photo of her work, some other of her elephants are here.


Click for No 1 in the series.
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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.
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Click for No 11 1/2 in the series.
Click for No 12 in the series.
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University College London

This rather grand building looks as if it is a major public building but in fact it is University College London, and tucked away from the casual prying eye.

Well, I'm back from a fantastic week in Cornwall, away from mobile phone signals and internet connection. Bliss. Thanks to Eric for keeping the pages turning. Also, I've been able to work out a solution for my broken cameras - all I need to do now is to get that shutter clicking.

Plants and bhudda

No, this isn't the jungle but a garden centre in the heart of Chelsea.

I'm away on holiday for a week, have a good time in my absence. Posting continues thanks to the archives and Eric.

Heart of glass

This glass sculpture is just behind Bressenden Place in Victoria, and is a pile of glass plates pushed about.

Sometimes, I look at modern art and think, yes that's good, sometimes I can't understand it and once in a while I have a minor insight. Look at that at see if you can recall the simple pleasure as a child, twisting a pile like that, or maybe fanning a pile of paper.

I'm away on holiday for a week, have a good time in my absence. Posting continues thanks to the archives and Eric.

Stairway to heaven?

These steps are the way you access a DLR train station in docklands. The simplicity of line appealed to me.

I'm away on holiday for a week, have a good time in my absence. Posting continues thanks to the archives and Eric.

Looking for dinner?

Leonis restaurant has always been a reliable place to eat, ever since the thirties when it first opened. The authentic deco atmosphere is all part of its charm. Now, Marco Pierre White runs it.

I'm away on holiday for a week, have a good time in my absence. Posting continues thanks to the archives and Eric.

Looking for breakfast?

No, this isn't the real one, for that you should go here or here. This is the allround enigmatic author Francis Bacon, outside the Museum of Mankind.

I'm away on holiday for a week, have a good time in my absence. Posting continues thanks to the archives and Eric.

Looking for lunch?

If you are at a loose end for lunch, why not try Brindisa, possibly the most authentic tapas you will find in London (don't expect Spanish prices, though). Mrs Ham & I had occasion to eat here recently and it was a very pleasnat experience.

I'm away on holiday for a week, have a good time in my absence. Posting continues thanks to the archives and Eric.

Boy with dolphin

Just by the north side of Albert Bridge, you can see this charming statue of a boy with a dolphin by David Wynne. It's been there since 1975, and the model was his ten year old son. The biggest shock to me was a few years ago, when I saw a plaque had been added, in memory of his son who died in 1999.

There's another David Wynne child and dolphin sculpture in London - I'm sure some of you know where it is.


See where: London Daily Photo Map

Girafes in London

The Tour de France last week brought all sorts of strange things to London, these giraffes arrived in Greenwich.

I'm away on holiday for a week, have a good time in my absence. Posting continues thanks to the archives and Eric.

The genius of Wren

This could be a comment on old and new buiding, but instead I'd like to tell you about the genius of Christopher Wren, the master builder who is responsible for so much about what we think beautiful in London.

I know you know St Paul's is rather nice to look at, but I bet most of you don't know its secret. That is, there are two domes. He knew that this shape, delightful from the outside, would have looked totally wrong and much too tall from the inside. So there are actually three domes. The one you can see here, the one you can see from inside, and one in between the two for structual strength. Genius.


I'm away on holiday for a week, have a good time in my absence. Posting continues thanks to the archives and Eric.

I'm going to keep you in the dark

You know, this exercise trawling back through my pictures is quite interesting. When I saw Eric's Paris photo the other day, I remebered that I'd looked at the London version and thought of the photographic challenge it represented - I'd quite forgotten I'd tried to create an image from it.

In this restaurant - Dans le Noir you are served and eat in the pitch black. I have to confess, I prefer Eric's treatment. If anyone has eaten there, do let me know. (added half way through the day: I've just thought, it should carry a warning: "Eating dans le noir may leave you dans le chocolat")

See where: London Daily Photo Map

Water Fountains

Not many public water fountains in London work any more, and this one is no exception. I rather liked the detail.
See where London Daily Photo Map

Rock on, Tommy

I think Chelsea Albert Bridge is one of the most elegant bridges, but there is always the question of how to photograph it. Either classic, offbeat or just plain odd, like this one. do you have a preference? And the title? Just up the road on Chelsea Bridge is where the Rockers used to hang out when there were mods around as well.

See where London Daily Photo Map

Through a glass darkly

When you see a building like this, with blocked up windows, you may not think twice. However, this is a visible remenant of one of the most bizzare taxes in history - the window tax. Introduced in 1696 and lasting through to 1851 this was a tax.... on windows. The more windows, the more you paid. It will come as no great surprise to learn that people in London often just bricked up their windows.

See where London Daily Photo Map

Head over to Onionbagblog if you'd like a report and pictures of the Tour de France and prologue. Regrettably, all my cameras remain mashed.

The Tour de France comes to London

This is what happens when one of these comes into conflict with one of these. The bigger one wins.

I was a marshal in the LCC ride to the Tour de France prologue ride when my bike got mashed by a duck. So did both my cameras and all my lenses. Yes, I was on the bike at the time. I'm OK, sort of. Photos may become difficult soon. More details at some stage, not now. No photos of the Tour de France prologue, sorry.

A load of rowlocks

We've arrived at the end of my short Chiswick stroll. At this point you have the choice of two gastro-pubs, both of which look equally apealing and are great places to while away a lunchtime.

Along the Thames, there are many rowing clubs, this one is the Sons of the Thames.

See where: London Daily Photo Map

London has its knockers

It's a funny old thing, but if you leave houses for long enough, strange things attach themselves to the doors. As you walk eastwards along chiswick mall, the road takes a shimmy, and houses come between you and the river. They've been there for the best part of 300 years (except for the ugly 60's build that I'll gloss over), and gathered some fine knockers. Another one here.

See where: London Daily Photo Map

The Secret Garden

Moving down the road a bit, you come across Chiswick Mall, a most desirable ( £5.5M for a 6 bed house, average over £5M) residential street. If you look on the arial view on the Map (linked below) you can see that these houses have impressive back gardens, but the thing that sets them apart are their front gardens - for which they have to cross a road - on the banks of the Thames. Most of them are hidden, secret gardens like this. I liked this, more visible garden, with its fun group of statues.

See where: London Daily Photo Map

Fancy a pint?

I'd like to take you on a short walk over the next few days, not in East London, but in West London.

There is a small corner of Chiswick, sandwiched between the busy A4 and and the Thames, which is really quite special. We'll start today with the bit you can see from the road, Fuller's Brewery. Brewers of one of my favourite beers - London Pride - this independent brewery has been here since 1845, and is reputed to have the oldest wisteria dating from that time. They do tours as well. As averse as I am to chains, they have created a small chain of hotels branded "Ale & Pie", which I think are rather good.

See where: London Daily Photo Map

Let's make up

Need some blood? How about glitter? For over 160 years Brodie & Middleton have been providing stage make up in the heart of London's Theatreland. The shop itself is a bit like a cross between Aladdin's cave and a witches parlour. I'm sure they'd have some eye of newt if I'd asked.

Unfortunately, my efforts to photograph a pile of glitter weren't as asuccessful as I might have hoped.

See where: London Daily Photo Map

Remember

It was July the 1st on Sunday, and I wanted to find some way of using a little bit of London to remember the Battle of the Somme, 101 91 years ago (thanks Gordon!). It may be a bit of a sombre mood to start the week but with 57,000 casualties - 19,000 dead - in one day, it stands as a monument to man's mean spirits.

It's almost banal to say it, but maybe five million blogs like this may help stop anything like it ever happening again.

I found these ephemeral poppies while I was taking a last gasp walk around the site-to-be of the Olympic Park, before the barriers come down today. Watching in amusement in the battle of man Vs nature - if they don't get rid of the knotweed, it will come through everything they put down. Read more about this long forgotten and soon to be olympic-ed away site on Diamond Geezer here, here or in fact here any day this week.

See where: London Daily Photo Map