An East End Event

A relatively common sight in this part of London is a horse drawn funeral. For all the dignified spectacle, you can never stop wondering exactly what criminal had died (it's the aspirational end for all east end villains)

Sorry about the lack of daily reliability, will get back to it but I have been working from home a lot so not getting out much.

Local art

Many local boroughs in east London have planted bits of art in random places over the last couple of years. I assume that it is as a result of Olympics money sloshing about. Here we have a prime example planted by Redbridge in the desolate area over the north circular. All rather odd but a possible  improvement. I just hope they didn't spend much of our council tax on it.

So here's the deal. I have been quite surprised how much time I have had back over the last couple of months. I used to think blogging didn't take up that much time really - I was wrong. I am going to try to resurrect the blog but it will be very much day to day. If I find a picture or something to say I will post it, probably using my mobile phone, so I may have to play with the picture afterwards. I won't be building up a stock of pictures and if I'm not around there won't be a photo. Hopefully once I get used to the camera it will improve and the immediacy will compensate a bit for the lower quality images.

Pub karaoke

There is something quintessentially naff about pub karaoke, but still endearing. The good, the bad, the ugly.

Am I back? Maybe. This time sightly differently. It's a smartphone. Let's see how it goes.

Admitting Defeat

After all these years, regrettably I'm going to have to admit that I don't have the time to maintain this blog as it needs to be, so I will call a temporary haitus. I hope to be back in September, we will have to see.

But for the moment, thanks to all those who have visited over the years.

Another helping of gherkin

It has been a while since I've had a photo of the Gherkin.

Not quite abstract

And no, it's not a mahoosive bar of chocolate, but the handrail in one part of the Barbican centre.

Le Tour

We're into the third day of the Tour de France, this photo is from the last time (only time, so far) the Tour visited the UK back in 2007. This year, the race is wide open, anyone's guess who will win, I'd like to think Chris Froome might. Oh, and one thing I did learn from the last time they were here - a compact camera just isn't up to the job - whoooosh!

Abstract?

No, it's a pile of cafe chairs....

Hills

We think of London as flat, with hills to the north and south, but the city was founded on two hills. Over the years they appear to have been flattened, but the view down from Percy Circus reminds you of how it was.

Staying in the park...

...for some exercise. One of the remarkable things about London as a city is the sheer number and area of green spaces, even in the centre most of which are open to the public. This is Bloomsbury Square Gardens.

Parklife

I prefer the more chaotic planting to the formal regimented flower bed, but they are all glorious at the moment.

Inside the British Library

The central hall over what used to be the Reading Room is a rather excellent piece of function architecture, and worth a visit for that alone. Of course, the British Museum does have unbelievable riches from all around the world, but this is good, too.

The Benefit of City Farms

Without city farms, like this one in Hackney, many children would never get closer to an animal than a picture book.

The Non Wobbly Bridge

It doesn't seem 13 years ago that the bridge had its first wobble, and the two years taken to fix it are long forgotten. It's just a part of London's landscape now.

The Eagle is Landing

You'le find this memorial to the Eagle Squadrons in Grosvenor Square. What were they? Three RAF Squadrons where US volunteer airmen served before the USA joined the war; 244 died, alongside 16 British.

A Busy Thames

Time was when it was said you could walk across the Thames (or at least one of the docks) from boat to boat, these days it's the sightseeing boats more than anything. The eagle eyed among you will notice this is an old sklyine, I must go back to the same spot to see if it is better, worse or just different now.

What made Eleanor Cross?

Probably that she was dead. The story of the twelve crosses was that they were erected by Kind Edward I in memory of his wife (conveniently called Eleanor) as they processed her body from Lincoln to London, at the end of the 13th Century. This one, at Charing Cross, is a Victorian "improved" replica, and is the point to which all distances to London are measured.

Cosmopolitan

We take for granted the way in London (and frankly, just about anywhere) you can get fresh food from anywhere around the world. Fresh fish is one thing you can't fake.

Cricket Season

There is something odd about a game that can last for up to 5 days, but we understand it. Village green cricket is still alive and well, and yes his middle stump is just about to disappear.

Bit of history

This shot of the canals at Bow predates the Olympic building project, it is all very different now.

Service!

London has a large number of waterways, which often presents an issue of the services crossing over. Sometimes, they are hidden in bridges, sometimes not. East London is pretty much cut off from the rest of the city by the Lea and other canals. There are still only a handful of roads east west that cross a line drawn through Bow.

The Boss

London is probably the number one city to see anyone in performance, and Saturday I was fortunate to go to see Bruce Springsteen in the new Wembley Stadium. Three and a half hours solid made the stadium come to life, you can see the video I took of Jackson Cage here.

Cosmopolitan City

This line of give away paper bins outside Euston covers the lot: Russia, South Africa, Australia, Greece, Brazil, Spain ... the list goes on

Magic in the Open Air (Theatre)

The Open Air Theatre in Regents Park is a truly magical venue, I was there last Saturday for To Kill a Mockingbird, a most excellent production that I would thoroughly recommend.

It had to happen....

"Authentic Street Art Tours" by a street artist. Alternatively, go for a walk around curtain Road, Hackney Road, Bethnal Green Road. Having said that, if he knows some of the artists it could be quite fun.

Put out more flags

It's nice to see the Coronation anniversary being celebrated in a fairly low-key manner - here's what Regent Street look like at the moment.

London's Naked Bike Ride

Picture is from a couple of years back, when I was able to ride it. Unfortunately, yesterday apart from a brief 60km early in the morning I was car-bound and unable to join in. Not just car bound but continually stuck in traffic, as is so common in London these days. Looking at the mile after mile of near stationary traffic (it was the same the other side of the road) and the glum faces in the cars, it struck me that this one simple message - we CAN change this, one car ride at a time, we need to stop being dependent on oil - is one to take away from the ride. Not every journey is possible by bike - I was in a car, after all - but so many are.

Hand Knitting

At Patricia Roberts, there are some very lovely things. Featured previously here, it is one of the perennial favourites on this site for search engine results.

Soho Alleys

People still live in Soho, and ever now and again the streetscape reminds you that is the case.

Bridge the Gap

Probably about time for another Tower Bridge photo, this one letting you see just how much steel is involved.

Guy's Gates

The detail on the coat of arms on the gates to Guys Hospital is quite fascinating, I'm pretty sure that it is supposed to be three panthers with crowns, but they look like three old men to me, rather appropriate for the hospital.