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.

Paddington Basin

No, it's not a sculpture, or a boat being built. It's a footbridge in the Paddington Basin, just behind the station. It's a small oasis that has been created out of what was a derelict area. Well hidden - you can't see it from any road - it's worth a visit if you are in the area. A more normal view of the bridge is here

See where on the London Daily Photo Map (you can see where yesterday's shot was taken, too.

Paddington Station

Today, we're passing behind London's Paddington Station, of of those Victorian temples to the industrial age. Have a look at that wrought ironwork showing through the glass.

In the footsteps of the greats

London's Soho has always been associated with the film industry; last night, I was privileged to be invited to a screening in the (very comfortable) Soho Screening Rooms. Looking around, the signed posters attest to the films and people that have passed through, like this one from Woody Allen.

The film was the soon-to-be-released "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", watching the trailer I had reservations about it, but went along with an open mind. Glad I did as it turned out to be quite fun - I'll put my full review in the comments.

A Wednesday Quiz

Terminal 5 is an elegant building, but I'll leave the detailed reporting to others. I'd rather focus on the quirky, like yesterday, or this "interactive" installation. On a wall just outside the terminal (in position that means few may notice it) is this wall, with sequentially flashing lights. BUT.... how many of the 3-letter airport codes from around the world can you translate (without the Internet)? The full list is: ALT, TUN, VIE, FRA, MIL, WAS, KIN, DEL, TLV, ACC, SOF, IST, GVA, LOS, SEL, PRG, SJO, WAW, NCE, PIT, CAS, HAV, SEA, BJS

The i-Generation

In case you haven't heard the term, the "i-Generation" is the term coming into use to describe the generation growing up with the Internet, iPod, iPhone etc etc One or two of you will recognise where this is, others may guess. It is inside the new BA Terminal 5 - very much in the news lately. (and in not quite news, too)

These information people are everywhere - almost outnumbering passengers - cheerful, helpful and very obvious. In fact, everyone has obviously been told to go out their way to make the experience as pleasant as possible. I've no doubt that the shambles will be sorted out, and London will be left with a world class terminal. I liked the place. More pics tomorrow.

Distilled London

The statue of Anteros (no, it's NOT Eros) in Piccadilly Circus is quintessential London, so it's a little surprising that I haven't shown you a view of it before. Rectified.

London's Art Deco

Sticking with the deco theme from yesterday, the old Barkers department store building in Kensington is a well known piece of art deco architecture. But it is the beautiful detailing that people often go straight past without looking. Next time you're there - take the time to have a look around carefully.

Snow Show

Well, I'm back off holiday, and unfortunately this one wasn't skiing. Still catching my breath, though, I hope you enjoyed Brixton.

One of the key identifiers of any big city, and thus for London par excellence, is that it can and does breed specialist shops. The Pullman Gallery is an Art Deco gallery in the heart of St James, and they have the best selection of Winter Sports art I've ever seen. Gifts of the skiing stuff would be appreciated, but rest assured that anything from here would be welcome, too.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Brixton Week - Day 8 - Cafe Las Americas

To finish Brixton Week ( 10% extra, free! I should be back tomorrow) I've got a recommendation for you. If you like to be a little adventurous in your food, try Cafeteria das Americas in Popes Road. A Brazilian butcher and cafe, they make the most wonderful..... well, he called them black pudding, but they had vegetables and more in, entirely recommended. And, a lot of other stuff being cooked that I'd like to try one day.

Brixton Week - Day 7 - Electric Avenue

You can't visit Brixton without rocking down to Electric Avenue, a bustling market that has changed a lot over the years, but is still a good place to shop.

Brixton Week - Day 6 - Sanitary Steam Laundry

On first acquiantance, Brixton doesn't have a lot that makes you smile, although as you look around that changes. Here in Coldharbour Lane is a Victorian workshop building that clearly shows their desire to make their surroundings beautiful (although, I suspect, not for those working in it) and it is still a laundry to this day.

Brixton week - day 5 - Joy

Around the corner from the Ritzy,there is the superbly named "Joy" I've not been into it, but it's described as "The brainchild of Maureen O'Brien, Joy combines the world of kitsch with fashion" Sounds ineresting. Their website is under construction, so I couldn't investigate further.

Brixton Week Day 4-The Ritzy

Still away, still out of Internet touch (will I survive?) and it is day four of Brixton week. So today, I can show you the Ritzy, a genuine independent cinema. They show good films, don't they?

Brixton Week Day 3 - The Land Time Forgot

I'm still incomunicado and the Brixton week continues. Carry on ino Brixton and you will see this curiosity, an M&S store that hasn' been refurbished since.... early eighties? what do you think? I reckon M&S don't have Brixton high on their money making priorities

Brixton Week - Day Two - the Soweto Memorial

Still on holiday, on day two of my Brixton week I'd like to show you a very emotive statue standing just outside Brixton town centre.

Dedicated to the 116 children who died on the 16th June 1976 in the Soweto Uprising, it was enough to make me go and find out what happened.

Brixton Week - Day 1 - Brixton Church

I'm on holiday for the next week, so I thought I'd run a "Brixton Week" on London Daily Photo. The area itself has had a lot of bad press over the years, but there's enough of interest there to warrant a visit.

This church is the first surprise, you'll find it in Brixton Road on the way in. Built at the turn of the last century in Byzantine style, it is an Anglican church.