Mews Living in London

I'm not certain why this photo appeals to me, Partly it's the squashed up feel, with the door recesed far inside, partly it is the contrast the size (small) and the cost (huge) as this is a mews address behind Harley Street. Mews houses were originally the stables to the grand houses at the front, you can see a wide view here. Think I'm exaggerating the cost? click here (this is in Harley Place).

Shopping is Boring

Or it is when you are little.

I don't know about you, but these days I find Borough Market increasingly commercialised. There are still the small producers, but increasingly it has a big business feel. So it was with great pleasure that I have found a well-kept secret - the Marylebone Farmers Market. Not well advertised in the street (regulations stop that), it operates in a car park Sundays from 10 to 2. As you can see, it is much more the feel of a genuine farmers market. Another stall picture here, Goats Cheese picture here.

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A Diamond Made of Glass and Steel

London's architects are world leading and whenThe Way We See It this week took me to Baker Street, I came across 55 Baker Street, the refurbished 50's HQ of Marks & Spencer. I learned it was designed in 3-d with a three tiered fish scale glazing. I dunno. If you are in the area, it is worth a visit.

Smile please!

This cheerful chappie is outside the Alessi flagship store in Brook Street. They're the Italian design house with an eye for the whimsical and amusing. Me? I just enjoyed the experience of taking a portrait without asking.

He's probably famous

On the 15th February there was a plaque unveiled to commemorate Peter Cook and the Establishment Club in Greek Street. Turned out I was a bit too late for the main action, and just caught the tail end of the festivities, and I'm useless at recognising celebrities. I reckon it would have been too crowded for a decent photograph, anyway, so it is an excuse for me to leave you with some video clips.

Nostalgia

As I've said previously, part of being a Londoner is getting away "from the smoke" - and then coming back.

I've spent the last few days walking in North Norfolk, and I thought I'd share this bit of nostalgia in the shape of the North Norfolk Railway. Standing close to this, it makes it easy to think why London got The Smoke" as its nickname.

Gustav Klimt meets Gary Glitter

While I was in Rivington Street the other day, I happened across the artist Hugh Gilmour at the end of his exhibition. I did like his stuff, and I loved the description "Gustav Klimt meets Gary Glitter in a dark alley". It's true.

I'm away for a few days, posting will continue.

The Two Commandments

A "first" for London Daily Photo today - two photos in one day. But there was no option, was there?

This is a work by Dr. D

I'm away for a few days, posting will continue.

More Light, More Power

Today, another thing that caught my eye in Rivington Street. This crest is the old motto of Shoreditch, the area we are in. Doesn't it echo the aspirations of that time when anything was possible, England ran the world; London was the heart of England and therefore the world?

I'm away for a few days, posting will continue.

I Gassed Myself

After several weeks absence, I rejoined "The Way We See It" for the foray to Rivington Street, in the heart of the East End, there were a couple of things that caught my eye I'll be showing here.

Today it was the disturbing image on this sticker on a sign that drew my attention. I wanted to know more about the ambiguity of the image. Was it the National Front? Something else? The link igassedmyself.com (warning: politically charged content, may offend) led me to the blog of Mike Marcus, an artist making a powerful statement - that the Israeli nation should know and do better than to put any people through anything like what the Germans did to them. I'm rather proud he's a Londoner.

I'm away for a few days, posting will continue.

Bevis Marks Synagogue

Bevis Marks synagogue is hidden away in the City of London, where it has been for more than three hundred years. If you don't make it to Open House, you can visit, or maybe go for a service. Or, see pictures and history on the web.

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I am a photographer not a terrorist!

I am really frightened. We don't even have the vocabulary to deal with this frightening erosion of our personal liberty that's happening around us and to us. Forget ID cards, this is the real thing. As of today, you can be arrested for taking a photograph of a policeman or soldier, and for those who say that the law is only there to get the bad guys, remember that six months ago we used anti terrorism legislation against Finland Iceland. And if you thought it was OK before this law, read this.

Many photographers (an exposure of photographers?) gathered outside New Scotland Yard to take pictures of as many police (or other interesting things) as possible and see what happened. Predictably, nothing except making it onto the news. And of course it's too late as it is already law, and I know it is just another facet of a ruling class out of touch with the people (I don't believe either main party is better than the other), but I'm still frightened.

I tried to think of a protest song that covers this sort of thing, but as I said, we just don't have the vocabulary. Here is what I came up with: Woody Guthrie, Your Land is My Land, The Clash - Clampdown ("We will teach our twisted speech to the young believers"), Billy Bragg - World Turned Upside Down, Bob Marley - Get up, stand up. To be a little less depressing, here's Style council's Walls Come Tumbling Down Any other suggestions? A short video clip from the event is here. A longer video here.

Ordinary Londoners - No 20 in a series

The eagle eyed among you yesterday spotted a cove in a topper, that individual is Ray Frensham, today's Ordinary Londoner.

A Screen Writer extrordinaire, Victorian Stroller,blogger, Londoner and all round good egg he is just the sort of person this series set out to showcase: there is no such thing as an "ordinary" ordinary Londoner.

The Ordinary Londoner Series is here.

Looking for love...

...in all the right places. It was Valentine's Day and this is Valentine's House in Valentines Park, and this is the queue to go into Valentine's Mansion on the first day of opening after refurbishment. It's rather strange having a 17th century mansion house on your doorstep.

Read about it on the Diamond Geezer today.

Out for a Ruby

In London's Cockney rhyming slang a Ruby is a curry - Ruby Murray - curry. Just about eveyone knows that. I wonder if they know she was singer and if anyone who uses that phrase has ever heard her sing? Good job we have Youtube then.

The Cyclosaurus

In honour of Charles Darwin's 200th Birthday, I present the Cyclosaurus. It's a sad fact, but London eats bikes. On my way into work, my chain snapped. Riding home in the cold and wet I had a visitation from the Puncture Fairy. And you want a happy photo?

(And in case you are wondering, yes it is still better than going by public transport)

Learn how to drive with London Daily Photo

How to navigate a mini roundabout in two easy lessons. 1) Give way to traffic on your right 2) If you decide NOT to give way, just don't choose a London Bus to argue with: you will lose. If you can't work out what happened, the bus came from the left of the picture, the failed car came from where the grey car is driving towards, and got it wrong.

Low Tide

Getting a new angle on the familiar is always fun. At low tide, you can walk along the southern bank of the Thames, and see things with a new perspective.

A terrace with a view

I'll end my night-time jaunt around here with a sit down outside the Founder's Arms. Those funny looking glowy-things are actually patio heaters, so you can sit with your pint of Young's or coffee, or whatever in any weather. And, as you can see, people do. Not surprising, given the view.

Unilever Building

Unliver Building by Blackfriar's Bridge is one of London's finest Deco buildings. Worthy of close scrutiny by day, it comes into its own at night. But I really must try to get inside.

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Anthropomorphication

Walking across the Millennium Bridge the other night, it struck me how much St Paul's Cathedral echoed the shape of a person. That's all.

Coffee and Football

The coffee in the Bar Italia used to be better - it is still good but rather expensive. However for a place to go and hang out, it has few equals. A piece of classic London for the last 60 years, open through the night. Just don't visit when Italy are playing a match.

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Mind the Gap

For one reason or another I spent last week on public transport, rather than on my bike, and thoroughly unpleasant it has been, too, although there are some that revel in the tube.

"Mind the Gap" has become synonymous with London, here's the background. But what surprised me was the small print - "last year 74 accidents".

Ukulele tales

I love London. Where else would you find a weekly ukulele jam session?Karauke is a weekly ukulele get together which, on the evidence I saw, is rather fun. I think their aspirations are towards the Ukulele Orchestra, featured here previously, but none the worse for all that.

A short video showing the fun to be had.

100 New Bridge Street

What do you do if you are an architect, designing a building surrounded by Victorian and Edwardian magnificence, and 60's London Dull? If you are modern architects, the answer is a very creative modern stained glass, best viewed from the inside, or of a winter evening with the light shining through.

After reading the Diamond Geezer's exploits at this address, I wasn't surprised when a security guard bustled out immediately I started to photograph. But, I was surprised when he apologised, said that he had to ask and was happy with my explanation that I found it of sufficient artistic merit to photograph.

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Deep and Crisp and....

... almost even. As London shivers to a halt with a few inches of snow, I bravely ventured forth in search of a photo. I was looking for something a little different to illustrate the scene, and came across this scene in the nearby City of London Cemetary. The bumps are the floral tributes left.

And of course, the link.

Chinese in the New Year

It was Chinese new year last week, and the London celebrations were this Sunday. I didn't make it to that, but here is a picture from my Chinese lessons in the Bishopsgate Institute on Thursday. Here, we are learning to write Chinese characters (my own effort is in the front of the shot). I'm hoping to learn Chinese before going there on holiday in July; I managed to order a Chinese meal "by numbers" in Mandarin so I'm quite optimistic.

February Theme Day - Passages

February theme day for the worldwide City Daily Photo community is paths and passages. London is a city of passages and this is my favourite photo (from my Bronica, on film).

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants, how this theme is expressed round the world.