My Holiday Snapshot

As you may have noticed, I was away on holiday last week with Mrs Ham, and we spent it in a very relaxing part of France. Despite unseasonable grey skies we had a great time. Given the excellent names of the towns in the district, you will excuse this holiday snapshot I am sure.

Tomorrow is a theme day, on the subject "sister cities" so it will be Tuesday before I settle back to London pics.

Memories of the Past

There are quite a few places in London where, if you look, old stonework has been inset into new. This one dates back to 1669, shortly after the Fire of London and is in the maze of alleys of Cornhill. REgrettably, I have no knowledge of its background, but I still like it.

The Knocker White Thames Tug

Isn't there something strangely attractive about rope, in a way that just doesn't carry over to polypropelene cord? This stanchion is on the old Thames tug boat, the Knocker White, moored outside the Docklands Museum. You can't even see it in the full shot, but the funnel hinged and folds back to allow the boat to travel under bridges at high tide.

Tools Heaven - Buck & Ryan

I know that this title will make some of you switch off, others will perk up, but bear with me, please. Because, Buck & Ryan is a London institution. For longer than I can remember, their name has been synonymous with good tools. For years (since 1824) a family business, it is still a place where you can go and chat to the cousin of Donald Campbell.

Looking down on a jungle ... the Barbican ?!?!

Just back off holiday, but haven't caught up with myself yet.

I think I am divulging one of London's best kept secrets today - the conservatory garden at the Barbican. You can see the 10 meter tall bamboo ( a variegated Phyllostachys) from outside the Silk Street entrance, but you probably wouldn't realise that it was part of rambling conservatory garden with around 2,000 varieties of plants. Or, that you can wander in and around there on a Sunday (or on any other day when they are preparing the conservatory room for a function, if you ask the gardeners nicely enough). Even if you aren't that interested in green growing things, may I recommend that you have a look one day, if you can? If you don't like it, I'll give you your money back (it's free).

Singularly difficult to capture the lushness in a photograph, this is my best effort.

Barbican Oasis

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

The Barbican is a strange place, combining the forbidding with inviting, kitch and exquisite design, hustle and calm. This is a shot of the oasis at the centre of the Barbican, you can get to it through the Silk Street entrance or the high walks. If you haven't visited, I would recommend you do.

Still on holiday.....

Saturday Night Fever?

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

If you think there's something wrong about this photo, I've turned it upside-down. It's not a dancefloor, but the lighting in the Barbican Centre. I'm still on holiday, so the photos will be hanging around the Barbican for the next day or so.

High Street 2012 - No 10 - Stratford Art

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

It was a few years ago that they started trying to tart up Stratford, long before the Olympics was even a hope. These strange sculptures were fixed to the railings between the carriageways. I always felt it particularly appropriate for the area that the bird appears to be a dodo. I'm not too fond of them - there always seems something a bit creepy, rather like this shot.

My East London has come a long way over the last few years, and it hasn't stopped yet - I wonder what it is all going to look like and feel like in the end. But, this is the end of my High Street 2012 series, hope you enjoyed the views I've shared.

High Street 2012 - No 9 - Stratford Trains

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

After yesterday's sculpture, here's the real thing. Stratford has (maybe, had - check with Diamond Geezer I reckon) one of the largest freight rail depots, it has a Eurostar terminal which probably isn't ever going to be used except for the Olympics.

High Street 2012 - No 8 - Stratford Art

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

Moving along to Stratford, there is a strange steel sculpture that looks as if it was made out of train rails. But each time I see it from this perspective, I think it looks as if it is erupting, and I'm reminded of Bob Hoskins in the Long Good Friday - "I've treated you well, even when you was out of order, right? Well now there's been an eruption." Probably the best British gangster ever made, I couldn't find that clip, but here's the ending.

High Street 2012 - No 7 - Bow Graffiti

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

I'm still up on the flyover, because this is probably the best place to appreciate a piece of cool graffiti and urban decay. The words say "Look what happened to all the pidgens" (sic), it's all rather fun. And it's going to get bulldozed very soon.

High Street 2012 - No 6 - Bow Church

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer

Still in Bow, this is Bow Church. At a guess, go back to Saturday or Sunday on Diamond Geezer to hear about the fascinating history of this ancient Church. Whajavascript:void(0)
Publish Postt will probably surprise you, if you don't already know, is that this is on an island - cut off by two lanes of very busy road which curves around it on both sides. I suspect that this is the sort of thing you find only in London.

High Street 2012 - No 5 - Bow & The Olympics

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

I can almost hear you say "That's a boring photo". Well, that's as maybe, but you are looking at the future Olympic stadium area - in 2012 this is going to be a lot different. Not only that, but this is taken from an angle that you won't often see, except from a moving vehicle. I'd put money on the Diamond Geezer not having a picture from here. To add a bit of pizazz to a pretty ordinary shot, click here for a 360 panorama shot. Sorry it's not animated or anything.

High Street 2012 - No 4 - Bow & Gladstone

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

Rattling down the road, I'm now in Bow, with the statue of Gladstone with his hands painted red. I'm sure Diamond Geezer will have told you about that. Me, I prefer this view where he seems to be saying "Just look at my toilets! Closed! and me stood here in all weathers!"

High Street 2012 - No 3 Mile End Park

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

I'm moving down the road at a completely different pace to the Diamond Geezer, but I'm hoping that mine will weave in and out of his. I'm also hoping that he will tell you about the Green Bridge - a brilliant idea to join together two halves of a park that was slashed in two by an increasingly busy road, and the result is greater than the sum of the two halves. I'm also hoping that he hasn't shown you this peaceful idyll only yards from screaming traffic.

High Street 2012 - No 2, Trinity Almshouses

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

I'm guessing that Diamond Geezer is going to talk about all (or most) of the places I'm going to show you, which frees me to witter on. The Trinity Almshouses are a fascinating piece of live history, with a straight line back to the 17th Century. for me, though, part of the fascination are the ships planted on the entrances (four in total) - I am so tempted to start a series on boats on buildings in London, but there are sooooooo many.

High Street 2012 - No.1

While I'm on holiday, a series of photographs of the quirky or surprising taken along the route of High Street 2012. To find out more about HS2012, visit Diamond Geezer.

Alberts is one of the remaining shops from the old East End. Run by the original family until the 90's, talking to the present owner I was struck by his genuine affinity and association with the value of the history of his little bit of the East End. He told me that he wouldn't have considered changing the name, and that he intended to re-gild the Star of David above the door (which was there from a synagogue that used to occupy some rooms) although doing it properly was going to be expensive. I found that strangely heart warming. Diamond Geezer's report on this stretch is here.

Ordinary Londoners - No 16 in the Series

Allow me to introduce you to Mike, a doorman at the Ritz and a Londoner through and through. Born in the East End, not a flunky, but a real human to welcome - you can see it in his eyes.

The Ordinary Londoners series is here.

Putting on the Ritz

Another London landmarkand and institution that mysteriously hasn't made an appearance here before is the Ritz Hotel, now rectified.

Saville Row

One of the things I like about doing The Way We See It is the way it forces me to try to see things differently. This week we were in Saville Row, a street full of history and familiarity, synonymous with fine tailoring. I was very pleased with this study in reflection. Seconds to decide to focus in the distance - focus on the other side of the road, swing round, compose and click. (and this film shot is straight out the camera - via the scanner)

Sir Joshua Reynolds

Sir Joshua Reynolds was the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts, a most excellent institution and one always worth your time if you are in London. I was taken by the garland, I hadn't noticed before just how .... flowery .... he is.

A self portrait, bold as brass

Riding through the City of London I was struck, as ever, by the sheer quantity of polished brass on show on people's doorways. There is, as yet, no way I know of creating this effect short of manual labour. It struck me as an excellent opportunity for a self portrait.

The word is on the street

Coming across this doorway in the City full of textual grafitti made me smile - you can see the whole door here.London's grafitti artists are evidently literate.

Derelict London

I was sent a review copy of Derelict London the book - not the website - some time ago. it's taken me a while to getting around to talking about it.

I can tell you that it is a rather good collection of photos of London's disappearing places. It's fun to pick up and leaf through, especially people of a Certain Age, you will recognise and remember more than you'd imagine at first glance. You'll get a feel by browsing the website, but it's not the same as a book. A couple of fellow bloggers reviews are here and here. My photographic offering is of some of the buildings around Smithfield market, which are quite astoundingly falling into disrepair. I can assure you it won't be that long before they rough hand of progress and modernisation brushes against them here.

Ha! as I typed this, I've just heard on BBC news that Planning Permission has just been refused to turn this into shops and offices!! Synchronicity or what!!!!! (news article here)

Interactive Food

I was quite taken by the interactive menu outside this restaurant, Busaba Eathai in Store Street. It looked interesting and reasonably priced - a Thai fusion restaurant with a no booking canteen style setup - rather like Wagamama. However, having browsed some reviews, I'm no longer sure I'll be visiting.