Royal Navy Air Service

The reason that HMS Illustrious was there and the rest of Greenwich was buzzing was to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Navy Air Service. Now I wasn't going to argue when I was told this, but I did wonder. So, I started investigating when I got home. The official website cites 1912 as the start date, but poke around and the ever-reliable Wikipedia comes up with the goods: ...the use of aircraft for military and naval purposes should be investigated....a rigid airship based on the German Zeppelin be designed and constructed by the firm of Vickers. After much discussion on the Committee of Imperial Defence the suggestion was approved on 7 May 1909. The airship, named Mayfly, never flew and broke in half on 24 September 1911." You couldn't make it up.

HMS Illustrious

Those that follow interesting Greenwich blogs will know why HMS Illustrious is tied up in the Thames by Greenwich. The rest of you will have to wait a day or so. Of course, I'd link to a load of other blogs if I wasn't insanely jealous that I wasn't invited to the trip onboard.

National Maritime Museum

The colonnades at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich are one of my favourite sights in London, can't quite explain why. Photo taken on the Bronica.

Trinity Hospital, Greenwich

Not to be confused with Greenwich Naval Hospital, Trinity Hospital is the oldest building in Greenwich Town Centre, dating from 1616, worth a look or even a detour as you walk along the riverbank.

I'm on holiday for the next week, but pictures will continue (if Blogger doesn't play up).

Quantum Cloud

More familiarly known as Gormley's Millennium Man, back in 1999 the Dome's oh-so-bright management stated their desire that this would become better known than the Angel of the North. Probably because it is (surprisingly) taller. Unfortunately, they failed to realise that where the Angel is on a hilltop and is a strong figure clearly visible for miles, the cloud can barely be seen from the north of the river, that few people will pass close by on the south side, and that the best view of the man inside is from a moving boat in the river. Ah. Also, you would not be blamed for thinking it was a pile of scrap iron.

However, you can see the figure of a man (yes, it's Gormley, again...) inside, and I'm rather fond of it.

More info here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map (link should be to the "Streetview" version)
For the first 200 Map places, click here.

Stand by to repel boarders!

With the G20 conference coming to London this week, and the ensuing pitched battles predicted, this very businesslike gun emplacement (on the Greenwich Peninsular) could be useful to both sides. And here is a visualisation of quantitative easing (Warning: coarse and vulgar humour)

Fishy Business

In Greenwich, just off the tourist track are a small group of some of the most excellent food shops you could hope to find. This fish is as good as it gets and passes the ultimate test for a fish shop - can you imagine these fish swimming? I can. A nice touch is the laptop they provide with a pen and paper so you can find recipes, like on their website,. I bought some Turbot, and very nice it was too, but I was too late for the samphire, it was sold out. Have the benefit of the Greenwich Phantom's experience here.



See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Fork King, Lovely

Still on a wander through Greenwich, today I dip into the market.That's where I found this jewellery, made out of old forks. I thought they made for a cool image. And the best thing is, it turns out that no matter where in the world you might be, you can buy one

The Greenwich Wheel

Followign from yesterday, I think I may stay in and around Greenwich for most of this week, with a gentle hat-tip to The Greenwich Phantom along the way, the best place for all things Greenwich. And true to form, the newly installed wheel in Greenwich makes an appearance there as well. If you want to know what it's like to round in it, let me point you to the most excellent Diamond Geezer who was one of the first to circumnavigate. If you want to find out why you don't have to go round in it, come back here - not tomorrow because that's a theme day - but Wednesday.

Of course, there's a perfect song to go along with this picture. Can you guess what it is before clicking on the link?

Greenwich Flea Market

OK. I found another £5 camera on eBay. This one is a 30's Voigtlander Bessa, that produces 6 x 9 negatives. The shutter needed fixing, and it looks like there are other issues, but I got one decent shot out of the test reel.

This was taken today at the small but interesting flea market in Greenwich. Because it is slightly out of hte town centre it is often neglected, but it is certainly worth the visit.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map.

For the dog that has everything

London is host to some fascinating shops, this one Pets and the City amused me. It's a pampered pets pad, the sort of place you can find diamanté collars in all shades to match your outfits. But this is a Le Corbusier chair. For Dogs. Really. Go on, click through their website and tell me it didn't make you smile.

Leisure Suit Hammy in the Land of the Lounge Lizards

I couldn't let the O2 visit go by without a comment on the "VIP" area. First, it is huge. There are obviously an inordinate number of important people. Second, I confess they do it well. After you enter the gates having tops of water bottles confiscated (it's an elf and safety fing, mate), you then enter the VIP lounge where - apart from being able to buy water bottles, you can buy a wide selection of good food (mostly cooked in front of you) lounge around and prop up bars (as here) At the appropriate time you go up to your private room (with soft seating and a free bar). The room then leads out into the seating, sandwiched between the two steeply raked banks of seating for the hoi polloi. Definitely the way to go.

I know this isn't the best photo with the menu in the way, but I couldn't resist it or the title. Remember that?

The O2 Dome

I was fortunate enough to be invited as a corporate VIP to the O2 dome to see Alicia Keys. I could carry on at great length on the subject, (and may yet) but let me just leave you with the conclusion - it is a fantastic venue.

Greenwich Foot Tunnel

Here's the view inside the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, looking much as it has done 24 hours a day for the last 100 years.

You will all be familiar with research - that process where you read someone else's writing and then pass it off as your own. The Greenwich Phantom is the obvious source for all things Greenwich, but this time instead of plucking highlights, let me urge you to research their tunnel scientific experimentation, and the tunnel information is good, too.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

The O2 Dome

Turn 90 degrees from yesterday, and you get one of the best views of the O2 Dome.

It's quite funny, when I started my elephant series, I planned to include the Dome as London's largest (white) elephant but events have overtaken me and it has since been rebranded "The O2" and has staged some pretty impressive concerts. To start with, I bridled at the blatant commercialism of the branding exercise, but actually, why not? It was only mouldering beforehand, and they've breathed new life into it. Good luck, say I.

Oh, and because I couldn't find the right clip for Private Frazier's "We're all doomed" catch phrase (which comes to mind each time I think of The Dome), here is a link to more Dad's Army clips than you can shake a stick at.