Fare Deal?

I would be very surprised if London bus fares weren't a bit of a mystery to anyone outside, so let me help out and explain.

If you have an Oyster card you can either buy advance credit - in which case the fare is £1 - or you can buy a season ticket - in which case the incremental cost of your journey is likely to be zero. Of course, if you have already travelled on your oyster during the day then you may not have to pay extra because the fares are capped at a maximum of £3.30 for bus. That is unless you are combining with tube journeys in which case it depends how many zones you have travelled through. Always assuming that you remember to "touch in and touch out" otherwise you may end up paying for the maximum fare possible - particularly relevant if you make journeys that include those segments of the transport system that due to privatisation are run by companies not in the Oyster system. If you pay cash you need to buy the ticket before boarding which will cost you £2 for each journey, unless you realise that the daily bus ticket is £3.80. Of course, if it is a bendy bus you could do the same as a large number of unscrupulous locals do and travel without paying.

Makes you proud to be a Londoner.

Or you could go by bike ;-)

The Passing of Woolies

There as been a lot said and blogged about Woolworth's closing, and I don't suppose that this all too visible sign of the global recession has missed the news in most corners of the world. For all sorts of reasons, it was probably inevitable, but it doesn't make it any less sad for the 27,000 employees starting the new year without a job. I can't find how many of the 814 stores were in London, but there were few areas without one nearby. Their passing will affect a lot of Londoners quite deeply.

Whitechapel Week - Day 10 - None so blind

Was there ever a pub better named? The Blind Beggar is notorious for being where Ronnie Kray shot George Cornell in cold blood. Walked in and shot him in front of everyone, and nobody saw a thing. Read the story on Diamond Geezer.


I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period (you get good value weeks round here!)

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Whitechapel Week - Day 9 - Ideas are free

I saw a sign that said "Ideas Store" and went in to investigate. It turns out that it is a re-branded library - they are trying to encourage local people that might not normally go into a library. I love libraries, so I hope they succeed.


I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period (you get good value weeks round here!)

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Whitechapel Week - Day 8 - The Market

The market in Whitechapel sometimes seems like a giant table, piled higher than you would think possible. Quality is variable, but there is some good stuff to be had.


I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 7 - No Junks

The East End has always been home to the latest wave of immigrant. These days, life is probably a little more complicated.


I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 6 - An angel's wings

Just outside the underground station is a memorial with an angel on the top with wings outstretched protectively. This was put there in 1911 "In grateful and loyal memory of Edward VII... erected from subscriptions raised by Jewish immigrants."

Classed as one of the finest monuments of the period, it reflects a subcurrent of anti-Semitism that was beginning to brew, fuelled by the wave of immigration over the turn of the century. These people were truly grateful to have found a safe haven.

So let me wish you all a Happy Christmas, and spare a thought for those in countries around the world where they don't take our freedom and wealth for granted.

And as I've found an Internet connection, here is a Christmas Card to all my readers, from Les Houches ( Chamonix).

I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 5 - Christmas Cheer

One of the perennial features of the area is the number of homeless and drunks that litter the streets. Although it was about 10 in the morning, this group was feeling no pain and carol singing for entertainment. I was going to reject this shot on the grounds that it is slightly out of focus, but then I decided that was quite appropriate.

I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 4 - Can you tell what it is yet?

I consider myself to be pretty informed about food but I found myself amazed that, of the 24 different foods that you can see in this photo, I could only name and use 12 of them.


I'm away on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 3 - No Class

Am I the only one that finds the idea of two classes of post very strange? What do they do with second class that makes it cheaper ? It still goes from the same place to the same place, they must just chuck it into a corner for a while to serve you right for being such a cheapskate. I can't recall seeing anything this bizarre in any other country.


I'm on holiday but daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 2 - Urban Jungle

I don't know anything about the quality of the food and drink here, but I do like the colour scheme, that and the idea of a salsa class in a pub. I hope they practice their fancy footwork at the beginning of the sessions.


Daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Whitechapel Week - Day 1 - The Towers of Babel

This week while I'm on holiday, the photos will all be from Whitechapel High Street. It is a curious place, a true melting pot.

Let's set the scene - this is what the street looks like looking west. I rather like the way the Gherkin and Tower 42 are lost in a city-soup of mist and pollution - a modern day confusion of Babel. On your left, London Hospital, on your right, the underground station and a market.


Daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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I'm Offski!

Yes, that's right, I'm off skiing over Christmas so let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, peaceful and healthy Christmas.

This photo is outside Wow Retro, a great vintage clothing shop in Covent Garden.

Daily posting will continue over the holiday period.

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Button Paradise

You can see there is a Christmas theme to this window, and you would be excused for thinking that this is a very ordinary scene. Having said that I'd wager that there are some of you reading this who will instantly and correctly think "Ah-ha! The Button Queen!"

This shop in Marylebone High Street has the most incredible selection of buttons, apparently it is "London's only shop exclusively for antique and modern buttons". I wonder how many other button shops exist. It's one of those places, once seen never forgotten. I didn't know there WERE that many different buttons....

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Consume, consume, consume

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a window display. Like this one of Selfridges that says "The More The Merrier"

Why?

Or is that just humbug on my part?

Christmas is coming!

Don't know about you, but for me there is normally some moment when I realise that Christmas is on its way. Sometimes it is the smell of Christmas spices in baking, maybe just a frosty morning, or a candle in a window. This Sunday, I was in Oxford Street crisp and early on a Sunday morning and the Salvation Army were playing carols. That did it for me; I walked away with a smile on my face and a spring in my step.

Scary Santa

Following on from yesterday's intentionally scary snowman,today I bring you another. Only this time, it wasn't meant to be scary, but I think it is. It's Carnaby Street's Christmas decorations. Bit of a laugh, but still a bit scary none the less. How would you like one of these jumping on top of you?

The Snowman Cometh

When I saw this seasonal sign outside the London Dungeon, I realised that I hadn't noticed that anagram before. Am I alone?

Tea, anyone?

If you are at a loose end this weekend, or in the area, the Bankside Southbank area (by the Tate Modern) is putting on a Frost Fair. I saw this teapot on Thursday, it probably takes a couple of days to brew up. If I get down there today, I'll get you some pictures.

Knit for Peace

There's a great thing going on at the Oxo Gallery at the moment - Knit for Peace. Just drop in and knit something for the children in Afghanistan. I know it sounds political but as a bloke who knits, it did get me thinking.

And what I thought was more men - especially politicians - should knit, because is seems to me:

• If you are doing something useful you don't need to worry about looking silly, the last laugh is with you
• Making real things by knitting makes it hard to destroy real things whatever they are
• You learn to appreciate all sorts of people who can knit
• It's very easy to talk to anyone when you are knitting
• Knitting is stress relieving in a way little else is
• If all else fails, you can poke 'em in the bum with a knitting needle instead of dropping a bomb

And I'm less than half joking.

Underneath the Arches

This is the light at the end of the tunnel. No, really, it is. This is just south of Blackfriars Bridge and part of Southwark Council's program for regeneration of Bankside, they call it "The light at the end of the tunnel". The purpose is to make the passages under the railway line more inviting. I'm not about to criticise anything that brightens the place up, but I can't help wondering if they are somewhat overestimating the amount that the general public think about these things.

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El Vino

El Vino is part of the fabric of London: wine merchants since 1879. It's hard to believe that until quite recently they didn't allow women at the bar and men had to wear jacket and tie. The most famous of their branches is in Fleet Street, I'll go there one day, this is in New Bridge Street. It always feels like stepping back in time as you walk through their doors.

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It's a Dark Night These Days

Holy photographers, Robin!! Kerpow!! Wham!! I was somewhat surprised to come across the Batmobile on my way into work this morning. It was all to do with GMTV's featuring the Batman movie on this morning's show. I couldn't find the footage of the car online, but here is the interview with Aaron Eckhart, following release of Dark Knight on DVD.

See more photos here.

A Window on the World of Booze

It seems like Gerry's has been in Soho forever, so redolent is it of old time London - a shop that you are unlikely to find anywhere else. In Gerry's case, booze is their raison d'etre and it would be a strange person who didn't stare at their window in wonder at the sheer variety on display.

Maybe it is my imagination, but I seem to remember them arriving in the early eighties, settling into what was then a fascinating hodge podge of different stores, next door to an amazing coffee house that roasted their own coffee. All the rest are gone, Gerry's is still there. Turns out they are online now, too.

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A London Pub Crawl

I was passing through town when I cam across this rather good natured bunch of friends out on a pub crawl. They'd obviously gone to a lot a trouble, and Santa(s), Rudolph, Elves, Fairies, Christmas Tree, Snowman and more were all in evidence. I suspect they went on to have a good night out, but I'm pleased I met them at 7pm, and not later in the evening.

Wonky Clock

Today's reminder of a bygone age (a perruquier is a wig maker) is just opposite yesterday's Amusement Arcade in Whitcomb Street. As ever, looking up in London's streets is always worthwhile. Except perhaps when you are crossing in front of traffic, maybe.

What do you mean, the photo is wonky? Ah, this will be why.

Amusements

I can never pass this Amusement Arcade without remembering a particular story.

It must have been about 1989, around the time the Berlin Wall came down. A friend of mine with east European connections had a Russian friend staying. This girl had worked in a mine and taught herself English: this was her first trip out of Russia, courtesy of a small legacy from her Father.

I was playing London host, walking around, showing the sights when we came across this place. "Ah-muuse-mentz" she read out loud. "Vot iz zis?" I explained it was a place you went into, put money into machines and then walked out. She thought for a second: "Zat must be very amusing for ze owner".

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A Taste of Spain?

 

After yesterday's taste of Spain, here is some wall art just off Hanover Square. I think it ought to at least advertise Spanish oranges, but all it is is an office block.