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.

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.

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.

Baubles

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

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.

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....

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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)

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.