Men at work

This photo is a again part of the South Bank festive lights and I was wondering whether to post it, but then I thought it is such fun, because it looks exactly like a building site. That is, until you see the neon round the cement mixer and odd lights everywhere. Both yesterday's and today's are there till the end of January only.

More than ten green bottles hanging on a wall

There are always art installations around the South Bank, and this one caught my eye. It's part of the Festive Lights display, made out of recycled bottles.

Art Deco in the Suburbs

The simplicity and elegance of 1930's building has stood the test of time. Arnos Grove tube station is one such and one of the few remaining. Fortunately, all remaining ones are listed buildings now. Wikipedia has the history and background.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map.

London helps its own

This post started with yesterday's photo, because I noticed one of the sponsors names on the helicopter was Preston Motors. I knew them because they are a Skoda dealer in Forest Gate, To say they are less glossy than most car dealers fails to convey what Forest Gate is like. They've been around for years, too, since before VW days, when the name Skoda was a joke (How do you double the value of a Skoda? Fill the petrol tank). These post VW days, things are more shiny, but still, this is a small, east end, family business and no BMW showroom, believe me. I wanted to find out what the story was.

Turns out that they sponsor the response cars which are used by the HEMS Trauma Service at night when the helicopter can't fly. Simple as that. Gives you a warm feeling.

See where on The London Daily Photo Map

London Air Ambulance

The London Air Ambulance (HEMS) is unique in this country in that they bring the hospital to the patient. You can read more about it in this excellent article. They have a blog here.

I was riding riding back home when I saw the helicopter had landed in Gordon Square. Talking to them I found out that they were there becuase of an accident in Euston Station (hope whoever is OK), that the helicopter had four blades so that the blade span could be shorter and that the two things that look like guns in the front were actually airspeed indicators.

Who put the Bishop into Bishopsgate?

Kitty reminded me a couple of days ago that I hadn't shown you this.

This Bishops mitre marks the spot where the original city gate stood, look up on the wall to see it. The gate dates back to Roman times, and was used - like London Bridge - to tastefully display the heads of executed criminals.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Middle Temple Church

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This may not look it, but it is quite an exciting weekend. That is because for the first time in 400 years, the Middle Temple is opening up to the public. Not only can you see the Middle Temple church as here (the church of the Knights Templar, featured in the DaVinci Code) but you can see the very special Middle Temple Hall. I'm fairly certain you'll be able to read more about that here (crisp deficiencies notwithstanding).

Open Day continues Sunday, so get down if you can.

(There is a great HDR shot of the hall here http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianvisits/2203621619/)

Empty

Stands the clock at high noon
and will we be in Paris soon?
(with apologies to Rupert Brooke)

Turn around from yesterday's shot and you will be confronted by the abandoned Eurostar terminal. Not long ago this was your gateway to Europe, no matter when you looked, you found a hive of industry. Now it lies sad and empty. What's going to happen to it? It's going to be used for ordinary trains.

Bad hair day

It's very rare that pigeon protection adds anything to a scene, but the wild hair made me smile.

You can find this in the detail above the door to Eurostar House in Waterloo Station. It depicts Hermes, the Olympian god of boundaries and of the travellers who cross them. He is the god of thieves and liars, too, which I think is tremendously appropriate for those people who draw up train timetables.

The Fourth Plinth

It was two years ago that I last showed you Alison Lapper on the fourth plinth , the choice of the 2008 selection is in the news and I haven't shown you what's been on it in 2007. I'll fix that now.

This is Thomas Schutte's "Model for a Hotel 2007", a translucent sculpture designed as a hotel for those who visit the square. It's designed to change with the conditions and the light, so I went around the other side and took another picture: it does.

Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge

I've been wondering what to do with this photo for months now. Trouble is, the building is not very photogenic and its history - which is fascinating - is rather long winded and unsuited for my format. I was reluctant to abandon it because I like showing stuff outside of central London.

But now I have the perfect solution. Here is my best, moody, shot of the exterior, and here is a potted history, well reported (thanks, DG!).

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Russian Doll

One more shot from the Russian celebrations, I rather liked this one - check out her tattoo.

What was the whole show like? Rather strange, a lot of Russians, but quite fun. This was their idea of a photo opportunity.

Russian Culture

This Sunday saw Trafalgar Square turned over to the Russians, as part of the London's Russian Winter Festival celebrations, marking their New Year. The event was quite fun, with a range of performers, quantities of Russian beer (untried) and Russian food (tried - very good).

I'm guessing, but I think that Diamond Geezer will be providing a comprehensive review of proceedings (he had it flagged as his "Thing To Do This Weekend"), so it's up to me to provide the photo of the odd Russian pop group with singer in skin tight latex. (A view of the stage is here.)

A Large London Store

Nuff said?

If it doesn't make sense to you because you are a visitor to the UK, you may have to click here.

London's Vantage Points

London, like many other cities around the world is at the bottom of a bowl and you get great views from the outskirts. Part of the art of being a Londoner is knowing where to stand. I've shown you two others previously, here is a view from my edge of town. You might find it interesting that most of the nature photos from this site have been shot within a half mile of this point.

See where on London Daily Photo Map.

The Fishwives of Billingsgate

Following on from yesterday's strong woman, here is a mosaic commemorating others - the fishwives of Billingsgate who were famous for their strong language.

It is one of a series by Emma Biggs that have been installed in the shopping arcade in Canary Wharf that draw on London's colourful history. Next time you are there shopping, don't forget - look down.

Emmeline Pankhurst

I don't know what to think about the hullabaloo from the primaries in the States but the possibility that the next president of the United States could be a woman or a black guy is amzaing - especially when you consider how the Suffragettes and Emmeline Pankhurst had to fight for the vote less than a hundred years ago.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

The Hardy Tree

Here's another bit of London strangeness. From the plaque: "Before turning to writing full time, Thomas Hardy studied architecture in London... During the 1860s the Midland Railway line was being built over part of the original St. Pancras Churchyard. Blomfield was commissioned by the Bishop of London to supervise the proper exhumation of human remains and dismantling of tombs. He passed this unenviable task to his protegé Thomas Hardy in. c.l865. Hardy would have spent many hours in St. Pancras Churchyard ... overseeing the careful removal of bodies and tombs from the land on which the railway was being built. The headstones around this ashtree would have been placed here about that time. Note how the tree has since grown in amongst the stones."

If the feeling comes upon you, you can read all of Thomas Hardy's work here.

See where on The London Daily Photo Map

Chapel Market

I may be wrong, but I suspect that most Londoners that know of it think of Chapel Market as one of their "secret" places. Not as famous as Portobello, without the cache of Camden, this has always been one of those places you could find something different - it's got me out of a hole for finding a present on more than one occasion. This rather super frock (for £65) or the lampshades (for £9) illustrate this perfectly.

Oh yes, and I forgot to add - for those who like dresses this looks a pretty interesting site. (I had quite a few visit from there when I had a dress shown the other day)

See where on The London Daily Photo Map

Ordinary Londoners - No 11 in a series

Today, I would like to induct Chris Paraskeva in to the ranks of Ordinary Londoners. Chris is a trader in Camden Passage, Islington and has been for the last eighteen years. He is a real Londoner in that he makes London both his home and his living. In days gone by, he would have sold bric-a-brac, these days, we call it antiques. I'll show you more of the market tomorrow, in the meantime, have you noticed I've added the ability to rate my pictures with a single click?

The Ordinary Londoners series is here

Twelfth Night

Ah well. Christmas is over for another year, time to pack away all the decorations and contemplate calories once again. Santa was going to come round to help you, but I'm afraid his tractor got clamped. He should never have let Donner & Blitzen loose on the Babycham.

May the coming year bring you and your loved ones all you wish for.

The Older Borough Market

Borough Market is open on Fridays and Saturdays, and it is a fascinating place, but in the excitement of the shop people often neglect to observe the art deco facade. Bit of a shame, really.

The First Sloane Ranger

Come on girls, tell me honestly - do you think this is one of the most attractive men you have ever seen? Let me ask you again at the end.

We're in the same area as yesterday. This statue is of Hans Sloane, he who gave his name to the square and thence to the vapid socialites. Maybe not the first name to trip off the tongue if you were asked to name a great London physician and scientist, but he was a true giant of the Age of Reason; his achievements were legion. It was his collection that founded the British Museum, and then the Natural History Museum.


What do you think of him now, girls? Oh, sorry - did I forget to mention he invented milk chocolate?

London Beneath your Feet

If you come out of the alleyway with the schoolchildren (from New Year's Eve) you will find yourself next to a recently created space - the Duke of York's Square. Embedded in the pavement is a reproduction of what I guess must be an 18th century map of the Kings Road, although curiously it isn't marked as the King's Road (which is what it was - the King's private road until 1830). Anyone have any more detailed info?

I find it fascinating that it attracts so little attention - yet call it art and people will flock. While you are contemplating it (and its fascinating detail like "Bloody Bridge"), you can also have some of London's best ice cream.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

A Naked Sausage

You may have reservations about buying hot food from a roadside stall, but I am here to tell you that London boasts one of the very best hot dog stalls (quite apart from anything you'll find in Borough Market). The Naked Saussage in Chapel Market is the place. They are to hotdogs what Crufts is to an ordinary mutt - something to aspire to. The best sausages, good bread, choice of sauces - what more could you ask for?

See where on The London Daily Photo Map

January Theme Day - the Best of 2007

It's a worldwide City Daily Photo theme day one more time, for which I had to select my best photo of 2007. For me, there could only ever be one high spot - that is the portrait I did of David Bailey. Whatever the technical merits, meeting and photographing an icon of photography was one of the best things to come out of doing this blog (apart from meeting all you great folk out there).

A very happy and healthy 2008 to you all.

Over one hundred people around the world have posted a picture on this theme today, although if past history is anything to go by quite a few may have forgotten, and some are on different time zones. Click around and see what's out there.

Paris, France - London, England - Hyde, UK - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Grenoble, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Riga, Latvia - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - New Orleans (LA), USA - Wichita (KS), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Francisco (CA), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Mainz, Germany - Melbourne, Australia - Portland (OR), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Toulouse, France - Naples (FL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Brussels, Belgium - Stayton (OR), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Torun, Poland - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Nashville (TN), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Prescott (AZ), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Evry, France - Trujillo, Peru - Arlington (VA), USA - Denpasar, Indonesia - American Fork (UT), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Coral Gables (FL), USA - Montpellier, France - Joplin (MO), USA - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Boston (MA), USA - Torun, Poland - New York City (NY), USA - Dunedin (FL), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Chateaubriant, France - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Budapest, Hungary - Austin (TX), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Cypress (TX), USA - Bicheno, Australia - Wroclaw, Poland - Brookville (OH), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Cheltenham, UK - Wellington, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - London, UK - Haninge, Sweden - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Arradon, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Mumbai, India - Terrell (TX), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - Delta (CO), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Saigon, Vietnam - San Diego (CA), USA - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Belgrade, Serbia - Auckland, New Zealand - Seguin (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA - Oslo, Norway - Singapore, Singapore - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Cheltenham, UK