Reclaim the Night

Well, here's a bit of a first, using someone else's photo. The reason? Her coverage of the Reclaim the Night demo. I think it is entirely shocking that when my 20 year old daughter asked me "Will it be safe for me to walk" to our nearest town at night, in what must rate as a fairly average London area, I found myself unable to give a cheery, "yes, you'll be fine". It really shouldn't be like that.

With the recent student protest, I've been reflecting on demos lately and the undercurrent of violence that seems to rise to the top so very, very quickly these days. This kind of public demonstration, expressing a point loudly, clearly for all to see is what protest should be like. More people need to see and hear about it, so I thought the photo exception was warranted.

Now we are 5

It appears that after five years, I'm still about. 365 days a year for 5 years, that's a very lot of photos. Thanks all for coming by, I know I don't always find the time to answer people, but it is always good to know you are out there watching. And yes, the anniversary day was yesterday, but I forgot...

The Quieter Millionaires

If you want to live in London, somewhere truly exclusive and understated, then head over to Holland Park and Wycombe Square. This development of neo-Georgian homes (built around 20 years ago) has apparently the accolade of being the most expensive residential street with an average (!) price of £5.4M. If you want to have a look around, I've found one for sale at just over £10M.

Orange

There may be a lot more practical shelving arrangements than an old car, but few more stylish. In Notting Hill Gate.

It's fun to stay at the Y--H--A !

This fantastic house in an awesome setting - in the heart of Holland Park - is actually a YHA youth hostel. The Mansion was built at the end of the 16th century and has seen its fair share of the great and good of the last 400 years. You can stay there for about £20 a night, this has to be one of the best bargains going.

Oh, and if you want to watch that video click here.

Rook's Books - A True Master Craftsman

This is the office of Gavin Rookledge, a master craftsman who turns bookbinding into art. In Rook's Books he does much more than books, for example he has made probably the world's only leather bound car. The man is a true artist. Here are two books of his, one mine from twenty years ago, one my anniversary gift to Mrs Ham for our Leather Anniversary.

A Secret at The Gun

Three years ago today Mrs Ham & I got married and I promised at the time to tell you more about the place we held our small family gathering, and never did. Time to make up for that. It was at the gastro-pub The Gun, situated right on the banks of the Thames, part of what makes this place special is the private room in which we were eating. Reached by a secret staircase and seating up to 14 in some splendour, it is allegedly where Nelson had his assignations with Lady Hamilton, how appropriate. This is the view from the windows. One of London's better secrets, don't you think?

Oh yes, and Happy Anniversary to Mrs Ham.

I’m on the pavement Thinking about the government

A couple of days ago I showed a picture of a pump, and Nic pointed out I could have used the line "The pump don’t work ’Cause the vandals took the handles" from Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues. That reminded me that I knew where that famous film - perhaps the first "Music Video" - had been shot. Coming from the time Bob Dylan was performing in London it is in the alley behind the Savoy Hotel. Hasn't changed too much, you can see the vid here (Sorry about the ad, Sony seem to have stamped on all of the Youtube versions)

Bring out the big guns

This, the biggest mortar ever made, can be seen in Woolwich at the junction of Artillery Place and Hillreach. Made nearby to here in the mid 1850's it was intended to be used at the siege of Sebastopol, but the war ended and it never saw active service. Those 36 inch spheres are what it fired.

You Are The Big Picture

I wouldn't normally have anything to do with what is a blatant advert for an insurance company. But, it's rather a good idea, well executed. You may have see some of these super-size images about London, they are of ordinary people with extraordinary stories, you have to go to their website to find out about them: You Are the Big Picture. (Mind you, the site annoys me) It's a bit like my Ordinary Londoners series on a grand scale, now, whatever happened to that?

Inside St Paul's

There seems to be a degree of consensus that charging for St Paul's is a bit of a rip off, so another photo from the inside is worth having. The thing that strikes any visitor is how opulent it is, dare I say, how Roman?

Inside the dome of St Paul's Cathedral

One of the other benefits of the free day was that everyone was taking photos. Now to be fair, I've never paid to visit as a tourist, so I don't know if the photo prohibition is normally observed, but I thought I'd make the most of it. At £12 an adult (£4.50 a child) it's not the cheapest venue for a family; visiting at prayer times for free is probably worth the necessary decorum.

Kiss me, Hardy

Nelson towers above modern British history like his monument towers above Trafalgar Square. His tomb is in the crypt at St Paul's Cathedral which was free to visit last Saturday. He died after being shot at the Battle of Trafalgar. Given that some of his last words seem to verge into delirium (as the title), one has to question his reported ultimate breath: "God and my country", but I suppose poetic license must be allowed.

It is commonly known that after his death his body was preserved in a barrel of brandy to return to England, but I particularly like it that he was carried back in.... HMS Pickle.

Pump it up when you don't really need it

When you come across this pump in Broadwick Street, Soho, you might wonder why it has no handle. You might conclude that it has lost it over the years, but it has only been installed since the early 90's.

Instead, it is to mark the milestone achievement of John Snow, he of the eponymous pub a few days back. He was a doctor in the early 19th century who, by scientific observation of the incidence of cholera (very common in London, back then) discovered that it was likely a water borne disease. He identified a pump very near here as the source of an outbreak and took off the handle. Outbreak stopped, so simple and elegant and saved innumerable lives.

Now you can't get those glasses, the haircut and the tune out your head? OK then, click here.

High Five

Superficially, you might compare the Lord Mayor of London's Show with a slick American performance and consider it amateur. But then you look at the fantastic organisation that takes place, the split second timing (has to be a joke, but still) and you realise that that there is something more. The show is all about taking part, playing your part and being part. By being there, you are part, that's very special.

This is my favourite photo from the day, you can browse my album here. I may yet choose another tomorrow.

The Lord Mayor of London

On Saturday I went to the Lord Mayor's Show, one of the best spectacles this country has to offer. It doesn't have the polish of the Americans in the New Year's Day parade, and it has an amateur thread that runs deep. In contrast, there is a assured professionalism that is unmatched. I'll be talking more about that in days to come.

For today, I will just share with you the very best place to stand on the whole parade - on the Victoria Embankment just north of Blackfriars Bridge - and leave you with a video clip of the mayor in his carriage.

Remembrance Sunday

Today is Remembrance Sunday, when we remember those who fell in war. But, truth be told, we would not know much about these events without those who went along to report. This is the only memorial I know of to the Special correspondents who died in war. That's a special kind of gallantry.

(This plaque is in the crypt in St Paul's Cathedral)

Fancy a pint in the snug?

Isn't "snug" a lovely word? You would expect the beer to cost more than in the Public Bar, but you could expect a small, cosy, private room where you couldn't be seen from the outside. In contrast to the public bar, ladies would also feel free to sit and have a private drink with friends. Now there is another reason why you might have wanted to drink beer at this pub, and that's tied in to its location - Broadwick Street - and the pub name - The John Snow. More of that another day.

Mrs Marengo

The perennial question for anyone visiting London is, "Where shall we have lunch?" Now, although I had photographed Mrs Marengo before on account of their fantastic looking cakes, I hadn't eaten there. However, I've now put that right and am pleased to give them a definite thumbs up. This is a beetroot burger I had, with chips, and it was as good as it looked. It is vegetarian but would hold its own for omnivores along with the best.

November 11th

Imagine for a moment, if you will, feeding every single person in London into a mincer. Because that was what happened in WWI. The combat deaths of the allies alone were equivalent roughly the entire population of our city. That many you could not see all of them in your lifetime. The guns fell silent on the 11th of November, but after Versailles they were only catching their breath.

An extremely good program was shown on BBC, and is still available on the iPlayer The First World War From Above. Watch it to see Ypres and Paschendale in a way you have never seen them before, and remember.

Message in a Bottle

Nelson's ship next to Nelson's column - the Fourth Plinth has a relevant artwork for a change.

Never underestimate our freedom

This demonstration in Trafalgar Square over the weekend was a reminder, if we needed it, of just how much we take our freedom for granted. It is the consensus of informed opinion that the elections in Burma were as rigged as it is possible to be, the National League for Democracy boycotted them. And this weekend (supposedly) Aung San Suu Kyi will be released from her house arrest, conveniently after the election.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond

Alongside the veteran car Brighton to London, there was a Brighton to London rally for "Eco Cars", with the aim to use the lowest energy. This here is Mr Nick Mason (or, maybe not, I dunno. But it could be). with his 0-60 in 3.9 seconds Tesla electric sports car.

Old, Old Cars

Today, Sunday is the annual London to Brighton car run. Only cars made before 1905, can take part, and they all formed up in Regent Street on Saturday, which gives better opportunity to see the cars close up. Before seeing this picture you might have thought that Spyker cars were just modern supercars, now you know better. They were one of the very first manufacturers. This was made in 1904, reckon you car will be running in 100 years time?

Edit: An album of my photos from the parade is here, and I think this is the Spyker from Genevieve, the Darracq certainly was (here). And here is a link to the car race scene (here) worth watching for the views of London streets in the fifties.

Dandelion Clock

It's the 5th November and Diwali, so fireworks are just about obligatory. I went along to Newham's display on the Wanstead Flats, right on my doorstep and wa quite taken with the display. Had an air of "We won't have the money next year, so let's make the most of it".

The Flight of the Concordes

For years, the model plane that greeted the traveller on their way into Heathrow Airport was Concorde, now it has gone. Bit of a shame that. Still, I know where you can still see a Concorde at Heathrow and I will take a photo one day. What I love about the design of Heathrow is that the terminals are inside the runways, with very little car parking possible because when it was designed air travel was such a luxury it was expected that travellers would be brought their by their chauffeurs.

Nothing to crow about

The underground was shut down for another day of pointless strikes yesterday. Bob Crowe, the militant leader of the union, claims they are to preserve the safety of the tube, that keeping people in the ticket offices - even though these days most use Oyster - is essential for travellers safety. Yeah, well. This picture is the queue for the bus at Stratford station.

As a cyclist, it doesn't affect me directly, but the gridlocked streets were unpleasant. The sad thing is those who might be trying cycling go away with the impression commuting is like that.

Not Quite Deco

A cursory glance at the Barkers of Kensington building might lead you to think it is a 20's Art Deco façade. However, examining the detail of the carving reveals details like a delta wing aeroplane that mark it down as 50's built.

Roll up, Roll up

If you go through Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens, you are almost bound to see people skating. They have to learn somewhere. Hyde Park by the Albert Memorial is this where.

November Theme Day - Public Transport

The November theme for the worldwide City Daily Photo community is Public Transport. As London now has bikes for people to hire, what else could I feature? Bikes are far and away the best way to get about town.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants and see the theme of Public Transport around the world