Stepping Out

My morning commute takes me through Hyde Park, where I caught a Guards Regiment out with their horses, a magnificent sight. Several ride with their swords out, brings a new complexion to going out for a hack.

Patriotism is not enough

London is stuffed full of statues, how often do you wonder about the background of them? This statue is of Edith Cavell, a nurse executed in the First War for helping save Allied soldiers. Read her story here. The words on the statue "Patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone" were what she said on the night before her execution.

London's Elephants - No 34 in a Series

Once again I have to thank Andreas for keeping his eyes open while riding around London, doing The Knowledge. He found this one on the Chelsea Fulham border - cheers Andreas!

The Plimsoll Line

It was a simple idea, put a line on the side of boats to stop them being overloaded and people drowning. But it took an astonishingly long time for this simple piece of safety legislation to become law. The reason? The large number of ship owners in the Houses of Parliament. Nothing much changes. The statue to Samuel Plimsoll is on the Victoria Embankment.

Eye eye!

While we are close by, a picture of the London Eye is probably appropriate.

Jubilee Oracle

This is a sculpture on the Southbank, near the Eye. For years I've been hoping to get a shot of it with the sun streaming through, this is the closest I've got The artist is Alexander, and his text on the pedestal is worth quoting:

Mankind is capable of an awareness that is outside the range of everyday life. My monumental sculptures are created to communicate with that awareness in a similar way to classical music. Just as most symphonies are not intended to be descriptive so these works do not represent figures or objects.

The Southbank Complex

Here it is in all it's concrete utilitarian beauty. It can be attractive, when cleverly lit or otherwise adorned, but pretty it isn't. Some people loathe it, but I've grown quite attached to it over the years. Love it or hate it, the facilities inside are excellent.

A Pot of Gold

Surely, you are asking, that looks like a small pot of ice cream on a theatre seat, not a pot of gold. However, you did not just pay £3.20 for it. I expected at the very least a gold plated spoon.

However, I can also report that War Horse is a truly astonishing piece of visual theatre that will hold you enthralled for two and a half hours. Although I'd heard some buzz, I knew nothing about it before I turned up. Not deliberate, but I would recommend that approach, too. (Which is why I am not linking to anything).

Swing Bridge

This swing bridge, behind the Highway, E1, has always fascinated me. I've never seen ito open, I wonder if anyone has.

The Speed of Light

If you follow Diamond Geezer or other information sources you may have managed to visit this fascinating exhibition using only laser light to create images and experiences before it closed. Unfortunately, all you have now are the pictures. Hopefully, it will come back soon.

First they go Bankrupt.

Then they set themselves on fire?
Iceland. Insurance job?

It made me laugh. I found these sand sculptors down on the Southbank foreshore, and for once I even contributed to the collection. These guys are seriously good, and they even have a website.

A nod to spring

We're at the tail end of the daffs now, but they are a glorious sign of spring in all the London squares and parks.

Left Luggage

#It's a Left Luggage Office. It must be Paddington Station.

Day after day

Alone on a hill,
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still

That's because he was stuck in a traffic jam.

I promised you more pictures from my daily commute. Here, you are looking at about two miles of solid traffic on the Hayes bypass. It's the same every day. And, as I wizz past on my bike I notice that almost every car has only one person in it, and I wonder just why they think their car is the best way to travel. For some people it must be, for sure. But all these? Really?

It's an ill wind that blows no good

You can hardly have missed the news of volcano eruption in Iceland, and the disruption the ensuing dust cloud has caused. As promised, there was a spectacular sunset over London tonight.

Not just an elegant doorway

It is an elegant doorway, but what sets it apart is the lo-o-o-ng tower of brass name plaques which provide the hint that this is Harley Street, the number one street for the medical profession in London and England, possibly the most famous in the world. This elegant Georgian street became the centre for the medical profession in the mid 19th century, mostly because of its placement near the train stations serving the North and West, that brought the moneyed and sick gentry from the provinces.

Not a plain red bus

You might have thought that my east-to-west commute would produce a fund of pictures. The truth is that what with the speed and time I have to travel and the nature of the journey, few stories have made it here. Today, though, with the longer days I bring you a rather colourful bus from Southall, a centre of Asian society in London. Looking for more information about it I came across this site.

Holiday Snapshot

My normal excuse for posting a holiday snapshot is that having a short break and coming back is part of London life. This shot at the Strasbourg Racetrack Easter meet is also a nigh-on perfect hand pan of horse and jockey in the last furlong (or 100 meters or whatever), so I thought I would share it. London service resumes tomorrow.

Thomas Beckett

Born in Cheapside, London, over 800 years ago Thomas Beckett is one of the only, perhaps the only saint recognised by the Catholics and Anglicans. he was one of the formative characters in the development of English society. Moreover, he indirectly had a huge impact on London, as it was the establishment of a pilgrimage following his last journey (from Canterbury to London, along the A2) that led to the rebuilding of London Bridge. You can read up on him here and play a "Henry II & Thomas Beckett" game here. This plaque is near his birthplace, around 90 Cheapside.

Attention to Detail

This is right on the top of the dome of St Paul's cathedral, so you won't normally see it. They didn't skimp on the detail, though. Perhaps they thought that particular attention might be paid, as it was closer the heavens.


On holiday for a while, happy Easter to all.

Draggin' the Wind

Isn't is a shame that the exquisite work in this weathervane in Cheapside is missed by most people?


On holiday for a while, happy Easter to all.

Changing Times

Just a couple of fronts in Bishopsgate, in Shoreditch. I wonder how many sitting in the trendy caff realise that it used to be a factory, and the furniture shop, probably a synagogue? Does it make a difference?


On holiday for a while, happy Easter to all.

Nuff Said

Short and sweet.


On holiday for a while, happy Easter to all.

These instructions on a house in St James Square made me smile..


On holiday for a while, happy Easter to all.

Streetlight

A Mayfair streetlight. Probably converted from gas to electricity at some point.


On holiday for a while, happy Easter to all.

Not Quite a Pub Sign

This strange sign is outside Tom Baker the tailor, in Soho. No, not THAT Tom Baker. But, he does have a bit of a funky website. http://www.tombakerlondon.com/

On holiday for a while, happy Easter to all.

It's the Goldfinger

And the last thing from Golbourne Road is the view of the Trellick Tower, designed by Emo Goldfinger who is moer famous for having inspired a particularly coldhearted fictional villain. Not that there is any connection.

On holiday for a while, happy Easter to all.

The Other Side of the Road

Directly opposite yesterday's shop, was this pile of secondhand shoes laid out on the pavement. Don't know about you, but I always feel that there's something about secondhand shoes that makes me glad I've never had to wear them.

On holiday for a while, happy Easter to all.

Chi-Chi Shopping

So we're back in Golbourne Road again, this close scrutiny of a very short area of one street serves two purposes. First, in my mind this 100 yards of street is a perfect microcosm of the macrocosm melting pot that is London. Second, it makes the best use of a scarce resource - my time to take photographs! Today, I'm focused on a trendy shop, the sort that want you to pay lots of money for things you don't quite need. That slogan on the bag made me smile, then made me a little queasy.

April Theme Day - Red

This month, the theme for the worldwide City Daily Photo theme day is "Red" - absolutely perfect for London: Red Buses, Red Phoneboxes, Red Postboxes spring immediately to mind. But I thought the number one red emblem for London is the scarlet of coats of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. This one is a Coldstream Guard - one of the oldest regiments - you can tell as he has a scarlet plume in his bearskin (and, buttons in pairs).

To see how this theme is interpreted around the world, Click here to view thumbnails for all participants