Happier Times

(Anyone coming here looking for Adam Regis, look two days down for the first post)
About one hundred metres from where fifteen year old Adam Regis' life was brutally ended is this statue of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hirst and Martin Peters. - England's Greatest (ever?) Moment, the '66 world cup. Match days, they are at the heart of the drunken revelry. They are looking the other way from where Adam died. How apposite.

Show you care, leave a comment here. Talk about it on your website, let me know and I'll link to it. Let's link around the world.

Nature Calls

If you are looking for nature in London, an organic lettuce is a good place to start - at least, it was for me today. We've hit the Spring equinox, nature is bursting forth and so are blogs. Or, at least, one particular Daily Photo Blog - London Daily Nature Photo. Not satisfied with his prime blog, Planarchy, Nic (a regular comentor here) has started this one. I have to tell you, his photos are really quite good and likely to be well worth the entry price (your time).

I also love the idea of meeting the bits of London's nature scene I mostly tend to pass by.

In Memory of Adam Regis

The dark side of London surfaces from time to time - what happened last Saturday night was dreadful.

A fifteen year old boy, Adam Regis, was murdered.

What an utter waste.

Take a minute out your day, think of Adam, a boy you never knew and now never will. Think of what it takes for a society to value life so cheaply. If you carry a knife because you think it protects you, or to make yourself feel bigger, think about this.

The story is here. Why does it feel worse that it was three miles from where I live? Is it better that a fifteen your old is murdered hundreds of miles away?

Another, poignant, photo showing some of the messages from his classmates is here.

===
(next day) It looks like Google have done their stuff and people are coming here to find out about Adam. I'd like to do something, so if you were a friend, or just have something to say, do make your voice known in the comments box. Anonymous comments are fine, I won't censor anything. If you have a website, I'll add a link here. Let's remind people Adam was a real person, not a statistic:

Jay's site

Memorial Site
Lynn's UK blog

The Blewcoat School

Two reasons to visit the Blewcoat School, just by Victoria Station. First, it's an old building, built by a brewer to educate the poor (to 'read, write, cast accounts and the catechism') and it's free to get in. Second, the reason it's free is that it is the National Trust London shop, and they have some nice stuff if you are looking for a more unusual souvenir or gift. a win-win situation.

London's Organ

Pollution melts bikes, I'm sure of it.

This does look a litle like strange organ pipes, doesn't it? However, what it is doing is measuring London's lungs - the pollution on our streets. These instruments are just by the side of Marylebone Road. Amusingly, Marylebone Road was the first bypass ever built int he 17th Century so that the steenkin' animals didn't have to go through town.

Here is the output from the site.

Molten Bikes

I'm fascinated how in all major cities, you can find molten bikes by the roadside. What causes it? I reckon it's the pollution.

The London Eye and 25,000,000 passengers

The London Eye are approaching their 25,000,000th passenger and they thought it would be a good idea to stage a photo competition to mark the event. As, along with almost all other Londoners I've taken the Eye to my heart, I confess to being chuffed to the knickers when I was included in the invite list. The Diamond Geezer has an excellent write up of the detail, so I'll just talk about pictures.

I tried to make my photos different, not an easy task with something so thoroughly photographed from every angle, it was a tough call whether this or the "zoom" one on the Eye website picture is my favourite.from the session (or maybe, the "Lighthouse" one...) There are quite a lot of rather good entries, though. The Eye has been used in several of the Londonists Touch Up London series, too.

Can I encourage you (yes, that's right, you) to upload your photos to the site? This has to be an occasion where the more, the merrier. Come on, join in the fun!

Eye do not believe it!

Tonight, I was invited in the illustrious company of the Diamond Geezer and Others to an event to celebrate the 25,000,000 visitor to the Eye. However, their site is not properly online yet and I'm knackered, so I'll leave you with a picture of what you see as you walk up to the Eye for tonight, and I'll carry on the story tomorrow.

Let this be a warning to you

This area in Wapping used to be called "Execution Dock" and was where pirates were executed. The pub, The Prospect of Whitby keeps the gibbet maintained - I don't suppose they have much of a problem with rowdiness.

Local Politics

Forget election frenzy, local politics is all about people who care sufficiently to get involved because they want to make a difference. It doesn't matter which party - left, right, centre. No glory, just hard work. Would you give up your Saturday morning to stand around to listen to people who want to complain?

(Which is what this chap is doign for the Labour party. I should point out that I think all the political parties are as bad as each other. Odd how they (politicians) always start out as people that care. Maybe they still do.)

Yes, we are still in Marchmont Street. I hope that this small photographic slice over the last three days (shot in a random ten minute session) gives you a small flavour of what the area is like

Well, well, well, you can never tell

Dont tell me this town aint got no heart.
When I can hear it beat out loud!

That line from Grateful Dead's Shakedown Street could have been written for Marchmont Street.

Hemmed in by corporate London on all sides, less than a mile from Oxford Street, this is one of the relics of a city mostly long gone - a place with genuine community. You saw the Ghanain community yesterday, today I've gone into "Perhaps", a small, privately run gift shop where you will find more than just the choice of Mr Hallmark, or Mrs Tie Rack. Their gift card selection is excellent, too. Marchmont Street is also this weeks TWWSI location

I used to live close by. I've watched it change - go now, see and support - before the future claims it for its own.

If you are psychic, you may see the shade of a twenty year old Ham, taking his washing to the laundrette each Sunday with his guitar, occasionally in ludicrous clothes, but that's another story.

Come to think of it, Shakedown Street could be the LDP anthem...

Dont tell me this town ain't got no heart,
you just gotta poke around.

Reaching out

When I first came across this scene, with people sitting on the pavement surrounded by odd household goods, I thought I was witnessing some sort of domestic problem. Turns out, nothing could be farther from the truth. What it is, is the the Ghana community in Bloomsbury who send all manner of stuff back to the needy in their country on a regular basis. Unfortunately, they don't have a website yet.

Don't forget, you can visit Ghana too!

London's Private Clubs

London used to be full of small private members clubs of varying degrees of respectability. These days, they are much rarer. One such is adverised by this discreet brass plaque - the "Club for Acts and Actors", or the Concert Artistes Association in Bedford Street, Covent Garden. The've been around since 1897. Whenever I see one of these old clubs I feel a small sadness that I'm not part of it.Checkout the website to find out what they offer behind this closed door.

London's Elephants - No. 14 in a series

Nobody guessed, it's elephant time again. I particularly like this one because it was a visitor to London that brought it to my attention. I had The Adelphi down to visit sometime, and knew of the friezes, but I knew nothing of the elephants. You can find them right around the building.



Click for No 1 in the series.
Click for No 2 in the series.
Click for No 3 in the series.
Click for No 4 in the series.
Click for No 5 in the series.
Click for No 6 in the series.
Click for No 7 in the series.
Click for No 7 1/2 in the series.
Click for No 8 in the series.
Click for No 9 in the series.
Click for No 10 in the series.
Click for No 11 in the series.
Click for No 11 1/2 in the series.
Click for No 12 in the series.
Click for No 13 in the series.

The Adelphi Building

Tucked away behind the Strand is the Adelphi Building, one of London's Art Deco gems. If you want to see it, you'll need to go looking for it - you can see it from the Southbank, but you will miss most of the detail.

I wonder if anyone will guess why I'll be here again tomorrow.

Fancy a pizza?

Just opposite the Crown & Sceptre pub (from a few days ago) is an Italian restaurant. I rather liked the friendly chef that was there to persuade you to come in.

Drinking Troughs

As you go around London, you will often come across drinking troughs like this. They were put there by the philantropic Victorians that didn't want to see animals suffering. These days, it is hard to imagine herds of animals - cows, sheep, pigs - being driven down the roads that only cars drive down now.

This one, tastefully planted, is in Mornington Crescent, this week's The Way We See It location.

Sunday League Footie

This is where football starts, kicking around a ball on a muddy field on a wet Sunday morning. There still a large number of football pitches around London, and a surprising number of teams.

Those dreadful shop names

What is it that makes people choose awful names for shops? Mostly it's hairdressers - Curl Up and Dye is one of my favourites, Is this a peculiarly British foible?

The Handlebar Club

A special treat for those of you who still visit on weekends(yes I know a lot of you only drop in from work, that's OK by me), I present for your edification the Handlebar Club.

I don't think you could get more idiosyncratically British than this. Tonight I visited the monthly meeting of the handlebar club at the Most Excellent pub, the Windsor Castle in Crawford Street. the criteria for memebrship? "a hirsute appendage of the upper lip, with graspable extremities" I couldn't join myself, but I nominated my dad posthumously as a member.

A pub worth visiting any time, and particularly on the first Friday of each month. A nicer bunch of folks you couldn't hope to meet.

Bunhill Fields

In honour of St David's day (yes, I KNOW they are narcissus, not daffodils, it's called poetic licence) Here is a shot inside Bunhill Fields, a fascinating place that deserves some explanation.

It is the last remaining London burial ground (as distinct from churchyard), a non-conformist cemetary from the early 1700. William Blake, John Bunyan and Daniel Defoe are all buried here.

It is also another contender for one of London's most hidden spaces, you could pass by for years without knowing it is here.

Theme Day - Men at Work

Today's theme is "Men at Work", so I thought to show you a quintessentially London scene of men at work. You can see the Household Cavalry on guard in Whitehall every day. They stand, seemingly without moving, despite all the antics of the tourists to distract them - especially in summer.

The regiment's history dates back to the 17th century, and they are the most prestigous part of the British Army. Famous Guards include James Blunt, Harry & Wills Wales.

62 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st March theme, "Men at work", please use the links to below to visit them.


1 (Greenville SC (USA) ) -2 (Hyde (UK) ) -3 (Tenerife (Spain) ) -4 (Albuquerque, NM (USA) ) -5 (Stayton, OR (USA) ) -6 (Rotterdam (NL) ) -7 (Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) ) -8 (London (England) ) -9 (Richmond, VA (USA) ) -10 (Sydney -Sally (Australia) ) -11 (Newcastle upon Tyne (England) ) -12 (Constanta (Romania) ) -13 (Evry (France) ) -14 (Lubbock, TX (USA) ) -15 (Szentes (Hungary) ) -16 (Villigen (Switzerland) ) -17 (Mumbai (India) ) -18 (Tel Aviv (Israel) ) -19 (Twin Cities, MN [USA] ) -20 (Jakarta (Indonesia) ) -21 (Houston -Candice & Megan, TX (USA) ) -22 (Budapest (Hungary) ) -23 (Singapore - Zannnie (Singapore) ) -24 (Dubai (UAE) ) -25 (Singapore -Keropokman (Singapore) ) -26 (Madrid -Dsole (Spain) ) -27 (Mazatlan -Kate (Mexico) ) -28 (Nelson (New Zealand) ) -29 (Vantaa (Finland) ) -30 (Kyoto (Japan) ) -31 (Tokyo (Japan) ) -32 (Joplin, MO (USA) ) -33 (Auckland (New Zealand) ) -34 (Sequim, WA (USA) ) -35 (Menton (France) ) -36 (Minneapolis, MN (USA) ) -37 (Istanbul (Turkey) ) -38 (Sydney -Nathalie (Australia) ) -39 (Sharon, CT (USA) ) -40 (Seattle, WA (USA) ) -41 (Anderson, SC (USA) ) -42 (Monte Carlo, (Monaco) ) -43 (Milano, (Italy) ) -44 (Grenoble (France) ) -45 (Wailea, HI (USA) ) -46 (Guelph, ON (Canada) ) -47 (Melbourne - John (Australia) ) -48 (New York City (USA) [Ming_the_Merciless] ) -49 (Cebu (Philippines) ) -50 (Bandung (Indonesia) ) -51 (Antigua Guatemala (Central America) ) -52 (Hamburg (Germany) ) -53 (London -Jonemo (UK) ) -54 (Hong Kong ) -55 (Stavanger (Norway) ) -56 (Paris (France) ) -57 (Naples, Florida (USA) ) -58 (Saarbrücken (Germany) ) -59 (Shanghai (China) ) -60 (Quito (Ecuador) ) -61 (Zurich (Switzerland) ) -62 (Joensuu ( Finland ) ) -63 (Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) ) -64 (Cheltenham (England) ) -65 (Brussels (Belgium)) -

Turn it around

You know this photo is of a modern building, and your mind accepts what it sees, but something is wrong. Turn it in your mind through 90 degrees (or put your head to one side), and all is OK - a glass lift shaft down the outside of a building.(This one is in Euston Centre). I rather like the tree-like aspect of the spars.

Banksy the sprayer

It's hard to convey the menace in this alleyway - one of the very few that must feel as they did a century ago. You see the image of Jack the Ripper and that red BLOOD - until you realise that it's a spray can that is being wielded, not a knife. This is Banksy at his best.

The strangest thing

I've often seen fascias being conserved and built into new offices, but I can't recall having seen anything quite like this, where the old front just sits there. It isn't particulalrly remarkable, either, and it is in a narrow street just behind Artillery Passage. Ah well, it must have seemed a good idea at the time.

The Crown and Sceptre

Magnificent Victorian pub signs like this, built into the wall are few and far between, but they do exist. They were probably fashionable for a while.

Another Sculpture...

Sometimes, the simplest sculptures can be equally effective. This is in the new development around the old vegetable market (now trendy shopping) in Spitalfields - I like it.

(I'm away for the weekend - posting continues)

Newton

This sculpture of Newton at work can be found in the courtyard of the British Library, and is another by Eduardo Palozzi. Although he sounds Italian, he was british (a Scot) which is why we are fortunate enough to have several of his works on display. It is inspired byb William Blake's Newton.

Words are dangerous

Words have wings and no chains can clip them. Chalton Street is right by the British Library, where this scupture sits. It doesn't matter which language you speak this image will talk to you.

Dressing up again

A while back, I showed you the window of Bermans & Nathans, the place that film makers go for their costumes. Of course, not everyone has film maker's money, so Lawrence Corner exists. They used to be mostly an ex-army shop, but these days they are more into dressing up for the cheap end of the market. Maybe this shot is a little unfair, here is another.

Toad the what?

So moving down Chalton Street, which I now know (thanks to Matthew) is a haunt for working girls, I came across a great mosaic, of which this is a detail.

Nuts to you, too

This week TWWSI took me down Chalton Street. It is just a nondescript London street without anything in particular to commend it. Certainly, it's one of those street I'd ignored although I lived in the area for years. So, it was particularly interesting to discover what this street had to offer someone who came looking. I'll come back as the days pass, but to start us, here is one of the local residents, wondering who is nosing around with a camera.

Oh dear....

Thankfully, there appear to be no reports of people being hurt in this building collapse, but I thought you'd like a picture. That pile of rubble in the road

A piece of old(er) London disappears

Sorry, but it is too late. The photo is of Lassco's yard in Mark Street where they used to occupy St Michael's Church (you can just see the yard in the google earth photo). They were are (and still are) an architectural salvage yard of the first order. If you want to buy an Adams Fireplace for £175,000, this is the place to come. The old entrance to Mappin & Webb for £45,000? Can do.

But, as of February, they are gone from here. One of my first jobs {cough cough} years ago was near here and I used to wander through their marvels in my lunch hour, rather like a museum. It's rather fun browsing their stock on the Internet, even now.

St Georges Gardens

 

Today's photo is another contender for London's most hidden park, You can see it in this satellite photo, but you won't from any road. I've known about it for years (I used to live near here), although it was TWWSI that sent me down there now.

It's an astonishing place, the first burial ground outside of a church dating back to 1713. It changes from a crowded picnic green at lunchtimes to a secluded nature reserve. If you are in the area, it really is worth a visit. It's that well hidden, it looks to me as if even the diamond geezer hasn't got here.

Tower Bridge at Night

 


The picture is another from the evening spent by the Pool of London.

What price is Love ????

Aparantly, anything from £4.99 to £50. London is awash with ways to lavish expensive presents on your loved one, or even your maybe loved one. Bahhh humbug. Shame they don't come with a money back guarantee, isn't it?

The Traitors Gate, Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the most iconic London landmarks, and the Traitors Gate (seen here bathed in red light) is particularly associated with its cruel and bloody past.

This picture is another from the "Switched Off" London series. Can anyone tell me if they've found some money for the meter since the weekend?

Pete Atkin

The Folk Music scene in London has always been vibrant. Simon and Garfunkel, Dylan, they all lived in London for that reason.

Tonight, I went in excellent company to the Walthamstow Folk Cub to see Pete Atkin.

Pete who? I can hear you say. Pete and Clive James (yes, that one) formed a songwriting partnership that has lasted (on and off) for over thirty years. And they are good. Browse the discography and the website to discover more. If you like brilliant words, and how they can become still better with the right music added, you are in for a treat.

Oh yeah - Pete is not folk, but that's the nearest category for him.

Other pictures I took are here.

Light in my darkness

Theoretically, tonight was a night of "Swtiched on London" - an extraveganza of light and design. But, when I turned up the only thing I found was hordes of bemused photographers, milling around with tripods in their hands and lost looks on their faces.

So we had to make our own entertainment, I took some photos (surprise). I was quite pleased with one or two, so I'll bring them to you over the next few days. Today's is of HMS Belfast, with their normal illumination. I think I managed to capture the light quite well - you may need the bigger version to see it properly.

Architectural Detail

I've focussed in on an architectural detail: it won't be obvious to anyone what it is. Here is the whole building, which comes across as just another modern steel and glass office block, the photo is of the facing panels. However, these panels are natural Welsh slate. I'm not quite convinced by the execution, but I love the idea of the synthesis of man made and natural substances, and I love the pattern it makes, too.

Looking for the summer

The cold, the snow and the travel chaos was here again today as predicted, so lets look forward.

Here's the music (click on play):

and here are the lyrics. Where was the photo taken? My garden.

Desolation Alley

London used to be full of car breakers: places you could go to clamber over a pile of cars four high to find that elusive bit of trim or pipework to repair your car with. These days, they have either been Health & Safety'd or priced out of existence. Shame really, because it was recycling at its most efficient.

This breakers yard is just inside the M25, near Dartford.

The Blitz

Yesterday's post reminded me of the Blitz, and made me think what that part of London would have looked like afterwards. History long buried was reborn and whole areas flattened.

This photo of St Paul's surrounded by smoke is one of the most iconic photographs of the time, I imagine recognised instantly by any Londoner. It was the firemen that saved London then, and this memorial, just south of St Paul's is to honour those 1,027 who died carrying out their duty.

Here is a page of firefighter's history in the blitz.

Barbican Frieze

This is a detail of a frieze from one of the only buildings from the (old) Barbican left standing after the blitz in 1940. The buiilding was owned the firm of gold refiners and assayers, W Bryer & Sons, founded in 1815 and who still trade in Hatton Garden.

You won't see this by car, as it faces away from the road, so here is the full frieze. here is the map of where it is, and I've marked its exact location here.

London's Elephants - No 13 in a series

The latest in the series is in Notting Hill Gate and is title is "Carnival Elephant".

Interestingly, an intrepid scout from the U.S. of A. on a trip to London has found me another elephant that I didn't know about....it will be along next time.



Click for No 1 in the series.
Click for No 2 in the series.
Click for No 3 in the series.
Click for No 4 in the series.
Click for No 5 in the series.
Click for No 6 in the series.
Click for No 7 in the series.
Click for No 7 1/2 in the series.
Click for No 8 in the series.
Click for No 9 in the series.
Click for No 10 in the series.
Click for No 11 in the series.
Click for No 11 1/2 in the series.
Click for No 12 in the series.

Cow recycling

Anyone want to recycle a cow????

Grafitti Wall

I rather liked this grafitti wall in Camden, as it looks like several aretists have collaborated. The taggers have left it alone, too.

The Bloomsbury Set

There's not much left to see of the haunts of the Bloomsbury Set: those Bohemian artists who made such an impact to Edwardian London and the world - Virigina Wolff? John Maynard Keynes ? (yes, that one). However, when I was going down Tavistock Place at No. 22 I saw this mosaic, now gracing the step for the fire exit of one ofthe dubious hotels that line the street now. I could just see the shadow of the people who decided to put it there - I hope you can.

Theme Day - What annoys me about London

 
Today's worldwide daily photo theme is "What annoys you in your city". For me, it is London house prices. How on earth can anyone afford to live here now? Look at the numbers - average London salary - £42,000. Average London property - £352,000. It simply doesn't add up. The pictures and hte prices are from my local area, nothing special, nothing affordable. My first two bedroom flat here cost £20,000 when I was earning £6,500. Now, you can see one bedroom flats starting at £225,000. It just isn't fair.

52 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st December theme, "What really annoys you about my city", please use the links to below to visit them.

Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.

1 (Porto (Portugal) ) -2 (Stayton, OR (USA) ) -3 (Albuquerque, NM (USA) ) -4 (Tenerife (Spain) ) -5 (Greenville, SC (USA) ) -6 (Dubai (U.A.E.) ) -7 (Evry (France) ) -8 (Jakarta (Indonesia) ) -9 (London (UK) ) -10 (Sequim, WA (USA) ) -11 (Buenos Aires, (Argentina) ) -12 (Seattle, WA (USA) ) -13 (Minneapolis, MN (USA) ) -14 (Stavanger (Norway) ) -15 (Joplin , MO (USA) ) -16 (Nelson, New Zealand ) -17 (Milano, Italy ) -18 (Singapore (KeropokMan) ) -19 (La Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala) ) -20 (Nottingham UK ) -21 (Singapore by Zannnie (Singapore) ) -22 (Budapest (Hungary) ) -23 (Not Strictly Seattle, ) -24 (Bandung (Indonesia) ) -25 (Vantaa (Finland) ) -26 (Hyde (UK) ) -27 (Madrid by Dsole (Spain) ) -28 (Oulu (Finland) ) -29 (Saarbr?cken (Germany) ) -30 (St. Paul [Carol] ) -31 (Sydney (Australia) ) -32 (Tokyo (Japan) ) -33 (Kyoto (Japan) ) -34 (Trujillo (Peru) ) -35 (Shanghai (China) ) -36 (Rotterdam (NL) ) -37 (Chicago, IL (USA) ) -38 (Nice, (France) ) -39 (Naples, Florida (USA) ) -40 (Hong Kong ) -41 (Santa Clara, CA (USA) ) -42 (Quito, Ecuador (South America) ) -43 (Cottage Grove, MN (USA) ) -44 (Paris, (France) ) -45 (Manila (Philippines) ) -46 (Brussels (Belgium) ) -47 (Auckland (New Zealand) ) -48 (Newcastle upon Tyne(England) ) -49 (Houston, TX (USA) ) -50 (Sydney by Nathalie (Australia) ) -51 (Mumbai (India) ) -52 (Anderson, SC (USA)) - 53 - Chelteham