Ho, Ho, Ho

Seasons greetings, folks. Spotted last Thursday in Somerset House. Only 177 days left to Christmas.

All the World's a Stage

Passing by this from the road, it looks like some strange interpretation of a totem pole; it is only when you look closer you see that it is an interpretation of the Seven Ages of Man.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map
For the first 200 Map places, click here.

Sausage in a Bun

The street vendor can be found the world over - the "sossige inna bun" is probably uniquely British - I can't imagine many other countries would put up with it. But there is something strangely alluring about them - the frying onions are probably what catches you.

Suburban Semi

The suburban semi is the core of London's housing stock, and the aspiration of many trying to get on the housing ladder. These were built in the 30's, and could be in any of London's hundreds of suburbs. The reason for this choice? It was a special photo request from a fellow blogger.

Roo With a View

As another part of the Australian promotion, (and succumbing to their blandishments) Southern Australia have a 'roo hunt competition after placing 20 around central London, all you have to do is locate four to enter to win a holiday. Hints on Twitter, and this one is the north side of Waterloo bridge.

If you can't get there, you can always visit by proxy.

Bondi on Thames

I'd love my job to be sitting around drinking beer all day. For a few people, today, it was. Australia seem to be having a major promotional push in the UK a the moment, and converting a corner of the southbank to Bondi Beach (cough cough) was one of the gimmicks of G'day UK. You can even win a trip to Sydney if you want.

Play me I'm yours

Over the weekend, pianos have sprung up all over town as a part of the Street Pianos program. Sit and play or walk on by, the choice is yours. Diamond Geezer got there yesterday and has a good write up.

What? You want to here the Squeeze track now? OK.

This is Madness

The main event was Madness (who are playing the main stage at Glastonbury next week). My vid excerpt of One Step Beyond is here, and the somewhat rough version of Waterloo Sunset here. Skye (from Morcheba - try this if you don't know them) who has one of the most distinctive voices ever was there, too. Pic here, vid here. Mutya too, pic here - ex Sugababe, whatever that is, also an outfit called the Charlie Rivers Band that sound pretty good - pic, myspace. There's still time to bid on the signed stratocaster here.

I was going to use this to relaunch my cancer fundraising efforts (together we raised £1,500 last year, thanks to all and whoo-hoo!) but the people at Justgiving.com have completely screwed up their site upgrade, carried out on their busiest weekend of the year (!!!), and they still haven't got it working properly. Speaking personally, I won't be trusting my card details to them until they have things sorted a bit better.Oh well, lets see what happens in a few days.

Sorry about the single location shots these last few days - hope you enjoyed the photos and videos.

Busking Cancer - Zarif

On Saturday night, I went to the "Busking Cancer" event on board HMS Belfast. It was a fantastic event, the most intimate imaginable - a warship's deck is not the first venue that would come to mind looking for a rock venue. During the performances, I was less than ten feet away from the artistes.

I came away with a shed load of decent stuff, this is Zarif. If you haven't heard of her, I reckon you will, soon enough - she has an amazing voice. You can see my video of her rendition of "Teardrops" here (pause the video if the audio starts breaking up to let it buffer), her website is here, and myspace here.

Sorry, but there will be more stuff from the evening over the next couple of days. Oh, and Rod Stewart is one of the patrons of the charity. The other? well, that's part of what's coming up.

Rubbing shoulders with celebrities

Up close and personal with Rod Stewart (and the present Mrs Stewart). I will tell you more about why tomorrow, I'm rather tired tonight.

London Fields

The Pub on the Park is one of the features of London Fields, an area with a name that makes it sound as if it was invented five years ago, but can trace its history back to early 16th century. Back then it was a place that animals used to graze on their way into London's markets. These days, they'd have to be certain their diet could adjust to tofu.

I'm fascinated by the wall that you can see. looks like there was another building there that suffered bomb damage, and ten chimneys.... must have been grand.

Moove over darling

It was just an udder day in London and I was steaking out the Southbank, listening to the moosicians, taking in the scenery. All of a sudden I came across this scene, which took me cowmpletely unaware.

Turns out that they are promoting Udderbelly, a performance venue by the London eye, picture here. And if the title struck a chord, here's Tracy Ullman's version.

Eponymous Businesses

He should have been an accountant,but this is good, too.

A little S&M anyone?

Sausage and Mash, of course - what did you think I meant? This great looking chain of cafe's have several sites with the fifties theme (see their website) but if the LRB is to believed - and they normally are - they are better looked at from the outside. This one is the Essex Road one.

Put Out More Flags

The scene is looking down The Mall while the flags are still out from the Queen's birthday shindig. The title is that of Evelyn Waugh's novel, which I would recommend as a cracking good read.

Where's my vote?

I imagine scenes like this are being played out world wide - what has been going on in Iran? I don't know, but it does smell, very strongly.

It's London

Sometimes, photos don't need explanation.

Discovering Elegance

Isn't it odd how you can find elegance in the strangest places, and how a photo can help show that? This small, inconspicuous statue is on the north side of Blackfriars Bridge, here is the Google Maps Streetview. Different, isn't it? Shot on my Olympus Trip, a little point & shoot 35mm film camera.

London Phoenix

London plays host to innumerable organisations and clubs, including the London Phoenix, a cycling club. I'm not a member, but when I was out riding one day recently I came across and joined them for a while one of their training rides. What is amazing about this photo is that I am in it - not behind the camera! I'm the one in the black shirt and shorts. You may be able to see the 120km route I took if you have Google Earth. The file itself is here, or the post containing it is here, courtesy of my little GPS device.

Traffic Chaos

Today, the effects of the tube strike were being felt across town. Traffic chaos was unbelievable - as bad as I've seen it for years, since the introduction of the congestion charge, probably. Suggestions to beat the strike here, musings on the iniquity here, and my alternative photos here.

London's Elephants - No 30 in a series

When I wandered into the grounds of Kings College I was brought up short by a bizarre sight - a bike shed with these plaster plaques recovered from the original St Dunstan's House demolished in 1976. Well, they had to do something with them, didn't they?


The elephant series is here.

Chelsea Harbour

As I mentioned the other day, Chelsea Harbour is a manufactured office, housing, shopping and marina development. Not sure what used to be here: I'm pretty sure this would have been a harbour for some time, probably to land the coal for the power station, but there used to be a gasworks in the area, too. Go back not too many years to the 70's, and it was a very poor area. Not so any more.

Putney Bridge

Putney Bridge has a curious history. Apart from being the only bridge with a church at both ends, it was apparently built because the ferryman was drunk or lazy. Also THE boat race starts from here.

Not Venice

To me, those stripy poles scream "Venice", but in this instance it is Chelsea Harbour. In my mind, I remember a pier and houseboats here long ago, before the new Chelsea Harbour development, but maybe not.

D-Day

Today is the anniversary of D-Day, the day that was the final turning point for the war that changed history and our lives. While the European elections continue, I belive we need to be reminded that no place is truly an island, not even England, not London. This is the memorial in the Peace Museum in Caen. Says it all, really.

Inner Sanctum

Here's a view many of you will not have seen, because it is inside the courtyard of King's College down Chancery Lane, The Maughan Library. Nothing to stop you walking in, it's just not in our nature to wander when it looks like private property.

The building is 19th Century Gothic, so not as old as it first appears. But do go and have a look if you get the chance, it is worth it.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map
For the first 200 Map places, click here.

Sandy Shores

Just along from the jetty yesterday, just by the Oxo Tower, there is a patch of sand that is exposed at low tide. Of recent years it has spawned a surprising numbers of sand sculpture buskers, like here. I reckon this must be another unique London feature compared to other capital cities around the world.

Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

As London basks in sunshine people look around for somewhere to sit and eat their lunch. Curiously, the piers on Southbank rarely get crowded. Go on you know you want to hear it.

Play me I'm Yours

Across the city of London, Pianos have sprung up in the oddest places. Sit down and play or just pass by - the choice is yours. It's part of the Street Pianos project. Diamond Geezer got there yesterday and has a full write up.


What, you want to listen to the Squeeze song? OK.

Shell Building

This sculpture is probably the most elegant thing about the Shell Building. But how many others - like me - cannot pass the building without thinking of the Shell Oil Junior sequence in Some Like it Hot?

June Theme Day - Feet

I had a different photo in mind for the theme day, but then I heard on Sunday that a Blue Plaque had been unveiled to Douglas Bader, commemorating where he lived in London for the last 27 years of his life. And, even though I've had to borrow the photo, I had to run the story.

Douglas Bader's life is the stuff that might be dreamed up for "Boy's Own" or the like. If you haven't heard the story or seen "Reach for the Sky" (the film based on his life) I urge you to read it here or here. It was he who lost both feet (and lower legs) in a plane crash, went on to fly and fight in WWII, escape repeatedly from prison camp (until they took his artificial legs away) and spent his life after the war campaigning for and helping the disabled.

If you want to see how this theme has been interpreted around the world, Click here to view thumbnails for all participants