Monday, December 31, 2012

New Year's Eve



Rather quiet and a little picturesque in this shot, Trafalgar Square will be heaving to see in the New Year, it has been very many years indeed since I ventured into the throng.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 4

Sunday, December 30, 2012

London's Alleys - again



Another of London's alleys - this is St Martin's Court off St Martin's Lane, well worth a trip for the antique shops (although many have now gone). The rain at least adds to the mystique of the place.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Odd Shops



It is so uncommon these days, that it is wort comment - a tobacconist. No matter that I think the reduction in smoking these days is a good thing, I'm pleased to see a diversity of shops, over and beyond the wall to wall fashion & food.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Friday, December 28, 2012

Baubles



These decorations inside the Covent Garden market really make the place look festive.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Thursday, December 27, 2012

St Paul's Church



You really wouldn't need to read teh street sign here - Inigo Place - to know this church was designed by Inigo Jones. You can read the history here.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Tree



Boxing Day was the one day of the year when servants did not have to work, and serfs turned up at the Lord of the Manor for their Christmas Box. This is the Christmas Tree in Covent Garden, someone seems to have had all the presents away....

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Happy Christmas



A very Happy Christmas to you all, I hope Rudolph brings you all the things you want this Christmas. Fascinating fact: Rudolph, Donner, Blitzen: they're all girls. Stags lose their antlers before winter, only the does keep them.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 3

Monday, December 24, 2012

London's Alleys



Despite it being many years since it ceased to be that common, I still associate alleys with London, like this one here by the side of the Sun tavern in Long Acre, Covent Garden.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 7

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Naughty but Nice



I'm away on holds again, so the next few days will be spent wandering around Covent Garden. Why not have a slice of cake? Richoux is a pretty good place to stop, you know you want to.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Saturday, December 22, 2012

The Cycle of Life



A little plaque at the eastern end of Long Acre marks the spot that the first bicycle was made in England, as a Hobby Horse (pushed along with your feet). It's come a long way since then, and is still the best way to get about London. The inventor - Dennis Johnson - amusingly shares his surname with the current Mayor of London whose first name is now indelibly linked with the bike hire scheme.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Friday, December 21, 2012

What They Did Before Lasers



Looking at the work done in the brickwork back in 1892, these days you would say it was laser cut. Then, they just had hammers and chisels.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 5

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Robert is your mother's brother



This old steam engine is stationed in Stratford, it used to be around the corner but it must have got in the way of Westfield. Glad it is still there, though.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Mini Docklands



I meant to try to find out why there was a mini Docklands built on the Greenwich peninsular, I assume it was something to do with the regeneration projects afoot in the area, but I don't know. Pretty substantial efforts though.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

It's a wind-up, or perhaps not



The new cablecar across the Thames is a curious thing, basically the cheapest way Boris could look as if he was doing something new and shiny whilst hoping people didn't realise it wasn't very useful (rather similar to the mayoralty, wouldn't you say?). Most travellers these days are tourists and it looks like a good ride. I will try it one day, but on this day they weren't running "because of the wind". Hah, someday, whoever set that criteria ought to go skiing if they wanted to see whether they work in the wind. Still, I suppose the passengers might have felt unsafe.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Crystal



The Crystal is London's newest addition in the Royal Victoria Dock, it was launched with a bit of razzmatazz, and it does look interesting, I've even read Diamond Geezer When it opened, but I'm still not sure what it's about.

posted by Ham at 08:23 -- Comments here: 0

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Up and Over



The view from Trinity Buoy Wharf includes probably the best view of the Dome, and the new walkway that takes you way up high above the O2. You can just see the people on the top if you look.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Mad Jack Fuller



Before we leave Trinity Buoy Wharf, a couple more shots. The wharf has been made into an artist/small business workshop, with many different artists studios here. There are quite a few works of art about here, this by Andrew Baldwin. I'd love to see it in action, there is a video on his website here.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Friday, December 14, 2012

Looking Out a Lighthouse



I couldn't walk up the lighthouse and not show you the view from the top, now could I? There are chairs up here to sit, watch and listen to the music.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Just an Aeon



You've heard of Just a Minute? The BBC Radio panel game in which the contestants are challenged to speak for one minute without hesitation, deviation or repetition? Well, this is Longplayer, a musical composition that has been running since December 31st 1999, and is intended to run for 1,000 years without repetition. You can listen to it from this page, if you'd like; it's actually quite calm and beautiful. When the lighthouse is open, you can sit inside and listen.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Shine a Light



Now you know what Trinity Buoy Wharf is all about, it makes sense that you will find a lighthouse here. There's a surprise inside for tomorrow. Oh, and that's Faraday's hut on the left by the door.

posted by Ham at 00:17 -- Comments here: 1

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

A Faraday Cage



Or more accurately, a Faraday Hut.

At this stage, it would probably to benefit you to know about Trinity Wharf:
The Corporation of Trinity House was an association of shipmen and mariners dating back to the reign of King Henry VIII. They were a granted a royal charter in 1514 and received its coat of arms in 1573 along with the authority to erect and maintain beacons, markers and signs of the sea.


Of course you knew that Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, without which we wouldn't have generators. But you probably didn't know he was Scientific Advisor to Trinity House nearly thirty years. This hut sets out to recreate what his working conditions would have been like and provide information.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Monday, December 10, 2012

Lightship LV93



There's quite a bit to see in Trinity Buoy Wharf, this is an old lightship now used as a photographic studio by Michele Turriani.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Sunday, December 09, 2012

Fatboy's Diner



Trinity Buoy Wharf is the location for Fatboy's Diner, an original vintage diner from Arizona dropped into London. Well worth the visit in my view.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 2

Saturday, December 08, 2012

Boy oh boy



For the next few days I'll be in Trinity Buoy Wharf. The one thing about buoys is that they always seem too big and heavy to float, but they do.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Friday, December 07, 2012

Bow Creek Nature Reserve



This oasis is ignored my most Londoners and visitors, but as Diamond Geezer reported in 2006, it is well worth a visit.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Contrasts - The other side



The last four days have been two pairs of photos, each from pretty much the same place, from either side of the flyover; that new (rather upmarket) tower block gives you the centre point. I find the alternative views fascinating.

That's the end of the short contrasts series.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Contrasts - Reed bed in sunlight



Moving a little from yesterday (not very much, you'll see tomorrow) you get quite close to nature. This reed bed is in Bow Creek and makes for a rather nice image, anyway.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Contrasts - Canning Town 2012



...and it is in the shadow of the Docklands development.

I turned through 90 degrees to take these two photos. Just on the other side of the road, there is more wealth and gloss than you can image. This here is the wrong side of the tracks.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Monday, December 03, 2012

Contrasts - Canning Town 2012



Let's throw a few pounds at a derelict working mens club, to brighten it up and make it less embarrassing for our foreign visitors to see. There was a lot of that this year. There's little doubt that it is more scenic than it was before, but it is still derelict....and...

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 1

Sunday, December 02, 2012

Contrasts - The Greenway



Again, an internal contrast. This off road path is actually the Northern Sewer Outfall, and that's what it was called until a few years back when they thought to make it sound more attractive. So, maybe more of a euphemism than a contrast.

(By coincidence it appears that Diamond Geezer is on the Greenway, today)

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 0

Saturday, December 01, 2012

Contrasts - the A13



You wouldn't really know that this was taken within yards of the photo from yesterday, would you? The most ironic thing is that almost all those who dash past are unaware of the little piece of history sitting just by the road.

posted by Ham at 00:02 -- Comments here: 3

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Name: Ham Location: London, United Kingdom View my complete profile






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