Abney Park Cemetery

I suspect that most people have a soft spot for ramshackle, overgrown cemeteries - if you don't know Abney Park Cemetery, prepare to be amazed. Walking through the gates, as you leave the busy street and the dense foliage wraps around you, you feel as if you have stepped into an unwritten chapter of the Chronicles of Narnia.

One of London's "Magnificent Seven" cemeteries, it is almost entirely overgrown. You can see just how much in satellite map picture.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

The Stockwell Memorial

Another contender for the graffiti/mural theme day was the Stockwell Memorial. However, because of the stories around it, I left it until today. The mural itself is has a range of themes, I invite you to visit Mr Onionbagblog's page on the subject to read the background of them all.

The one I've selected here is to commemorate Violet Szabo, probably one of the bravest people you have never heard about. The Wikipedia summary of her life is here, and her dedicated museum site is here. And if you are after interesting, related, stuff to browse - don't forget Leo Marks and his love poem. A view of another part of the mural is here

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

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.

March Theme Day - Graffiti

Another month, another theme day. for March, it is graffiti. Over the years and months I've often featured images of the wealth of artistic - and not so artistic - imagery left on walls. So today, I've chosen something a little more cerebral, spied on the side of the hut in Soho square; I wonder if it was done for Valentine's day.



This month 145 blogs around the world have said they will join in, some may forget and time zones differ, but click about and see what they offer: , Motego Bay, JamaicaAdelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Detroit (MI), USA by Taittems, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Jsaltao, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montréal, Canada by Douber, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiIteanu, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK by Cassie & Chris, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Radonvilliers, France by Deslilas, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation by Lark, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Terre Haute (IN), USA by Zann, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Wroclaw, Poland by Loompi, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Browns Hotel

Forget about Claridges, Browns Hotel has always been the disreet, luxury hotel to stay in London. With rooms from £235 to £1,900 per night, you may not choose to stay but afternoon tea (at £35 a head) is an experience not to be missed.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

London's Elephants - No.22 in the series

It had to arrive, sooner or later - the London Elephant that everyone knows - in fact mostly just referred to as "The Elephant" - The Elephant and Castle. It's still one of the less salubrious areas of town; if you want to read about it, local authority blurb is here, a summary is here and interminable Wikipedia stuff here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

The elephant series is here.

Salt of the earth

"Salt seasons everything" - so says the the inscription on the coat of arms from the Worshipful Company of Salters. Supposedly, this refers not to Sodium Chloride but "sparkling thought well expressed, or to some good conversation when eating". I heartily concur with that.

The Salters are one of the "big twelve" livery companies, with a history dating back to 1394. These gates date from 1861 and were added to their hall in 1887. When that was bombed out, the gates were put in storage to emerge in 1991. A more general view is here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Cutting Edge

Looking at this photo, and the cost of the haircut, you would be forgiven for thinking that I either took it a long time ago, or in the suburbs. But no, I took it on Sunday in Greek Street, the heart of Soho. My confession: I don't know how good the haricuts are because, these days, I do my own with a set of clippers, which gives me a perverse pleasure.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

It's a relief

It used to be one of the more quirky, Gallic manifestations that there were open gents urinals in the Parisian streets. Civilisation has washed them away in Paris, but here in London they have returned.

In an attempt to fight the rising tide (sorry!) of men peeing in the street, Westminster council have opted for the return of the urinal. Rather stylish, these, and I suppose they are relatively vandal proof. This one is in Soho Square, a more general view is here.

Getting Away From It All

Well hello, I'm back.

Getting away from it all is part of what living in London is all about. Over the last week Mrs Ham and I have been doing just that - in the Lake District and also in one of the UK's best kept secrets, the Forest of Bowland. The equal of any region for beauty, it has one great thing to be said for it - astonishingly few tourists. Walking in the Lake District, everywhere we went we were almost trampled by the hordes walking the same paths. In the Forest of Bowland, we saw three other walkers in two day's walking.

We stayed at the Red Pump Inn, and its welcoming fire is today's image. I would thoroughly recommend them - excellent food and comfortable rooms. You'd have to go a long way to find better.

Two other images are here and here.

The Kennigton Oval

For today, I offer you the external view of the Oval cricket ground, which may well rank as one of the largest stadia ajacent to a city centre. It is set in the midst of what is now a veritable no-mans-land and is dedicated to cricket only.

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A different perspective

The car on the left is the G-Wiz, the smallest car on the road, an electric car with a range of 40 miles, free to park in Westminster, free of congestion charge. The one on the right isn't.

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Docklands Architecture

Every once in a while, I post a photo just because of the image it makes. This one is from docklands, and the way the curves and the rectangles fuse please me.

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Private Dancer

This charming statue of a young dancer is just opposite the Royal Opera house. Lifelike in its reflection of emotion, people are often moved to leave flowers with it, as here.

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Railway Maps

This old, tiled map of the London Boroughs and Southern Counties is tucked away in one of the arches in the entry to Victoria Station. It's quite entertaining to look at - there were probably as many stations in this small section then as there are in the whole network now. The sense of discovery on finding it is half the fun, so I'll leave you to do that on your own.

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Looking for Lunch?

I don't know about you, but I'm always on the lookout for new ideas for lunch. So I was rather pleased to find this in Southampton Row - Hummus Bros, a wholesome and entertaining change. Check out their "how it works" directions ont he website.


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A Freudian Slip?

I am happy nailing my colours to the mast - I am an Olympic enthusiast, I believe that pretty much come what may the legacy will be good and that on balance that good will outweigh the bad. Part of the scheme is that all the miles of hoardings around the site will carry pictures and adverts. I have to confess, I think this message is a bit of a Freudian slip. But it still probably reflect the true order things will be done.

Read the backstory of the Olympics here and updates here.

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Could it be magic?

Staying with the fashion show for one more day, I'd just like to introduce you to a bit of a genius, Guy Hills of Dashing Tweeds. What's so special, you may ask? What he has done is incorporate reflective strips into tweed fabric. To see the result, click on the image. I've prepared an animation showing how it appears under normal light, and what happens when you shine a light on it (in this case a flash). Here is their blog.


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London Fashion Week or You Don't Have to Wear Lycra

The London Fashion week is hot news at the moment, and I was invited to photograph at one of the events, Wheels & Heels.

Wheels and Heels was a showcase of designers, showing how to cycle without looking like a refugee from a man-made fabric hegemony. There's a growing movement in cycling towards the mainstream, like the excellent London Cycle Chic. It's come too late to save me, but it is very refreshing to see. You can see some of the gear on the designer's web sites 1 2 4 5 6 7 8