Open for Business

It's not often you can talk about a shop's "Open" sign, but Paintworks art shop, opposite the Geffrye Museum, is the exception. I dare say they sell one or two cans of spray paint.

Shame on Cyprus

I commented last week how nobody can guess why people end up sleeping rough. In Connor O'Dwyer's case, you don't have to guess. He is trying to draw attention to the apparently shameful treatment he has received in Cyprus. When I met him in St James' Square, he came over as a regular guy, and the more you read of his story, the more you have to feel sorry for him. Why not spread the story about, if you can. All he has to fight with, is the publicity.

The Geffrye Museum

Those of you who said The Geffrye Museum, give yourselves a cheer. This little gem of a museum is astonishingly overlooked (ok, I confess, I hadn't been in for probably 40 years before this), although they do sterling work with local schools.

It shows the changing style of the English domestic interior in a series of period rooms from 1600 to the present day. And with the magic of the Internet, you can visit without leaving your seat. It's set in an old Alms House, so these luxurious interiors couldn't be more different that its original use. I would urge you to pay a visit if you've not yet done so.

Two more interiors here and here. Oh and a new addition to my "London Links", too.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

All is not quite what it seems

This scene from the 17th century ought to be from a grand house or maybe a theatre set. One or two of you will recognise where I am, but I'll warrant not many, All will be revealed tomorrow.

Did someone say "Cake"?

To ease you gently into the new week, here's a photo I took in Mrs Marengo's an offshoot of Mildred's, a vegetarian restaurant that was an early arrival in the gentrification of Soho, nearly twenty years ago.

Any more words are superfluous.

See where on The London Daily Photo Map

Jose Parla

I said a couple of days ago that Josie Firmin pointed me to two London things, the second was a gallery, Elms Lester, hidden behind London's Tin Pan Alley in Denmark Street. There, I discovered Jose Parla, an artist who is a catalyst, fusing street art into the viewer's psyche. He was holding a signing - every person got their own artwork inside the book.

This painting is titled "Hackney Canal". Whatever you may think about the photographic representation of art, I can tell you that his work has a vibrancy in real life that no photograph can capture.

Read the artist's statement here.

Music Coffee Bagels

Nice words, aren't they? There are relatively few independent music shops left in London, and when one is combined with an exceptional cafe, you know you've found somewhere special. So do a lot of writers, artists, locals - it's one of those rare places that has a real atmosphere. And that's Brill in Exmouth Market. Their website is here. (oh... Music Coffee Bagels and free WiFi)

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Hidden East End

The garment trade in the UK has all but disappeared over recent years. Where there once was a thriving manufacturing base, there are now designer shops and restaurants. The East End was full of small business once, full of people scraping a living and dreaming of better things. You'll find those dreamers in Bangladesh, Macao, the Philippines. But, if you look carefully down the side streets there are still one or two places left.

Ordinary Londoners - No 19 in a series

Josie Firmin is one of the artists behind Cosmo China and a Londoner to her core. It's not that often I get useful recommendations for pictures and places I hadn't heard about, but Josie gave me two - the Hunterian Museum (three days ago) and another - yet to appear. We chewed the fat for a while about living in the centre of town (I used to many years ago), how things have changed and yet remain the same.

You can see examples of the prodigious talent of the Cosmo China artists on their flickr pages.

The Ordinary Londoners Series is here. See where on London Daily Photo Map

Blog Action Day '08 - Poverty

Today is Blog Action Day 08 with the theme of Poverty where around 9,000 sites and 9,000,000 readers will focus on one idea.

Some will look at poverty around the world: there are many countries where poverty will grind you to death and, if you are moved to, there are many organisations that need your help.

As I'm a Londoner, I'd like you to think of the poverty that exists right here: living on the streets is when you have reached the very bottom of the pile. There's no telling how people get there - some to seek their fortune, some to escape abuse, some from drugs, some because there's nowhere left to go. You really can't judge.

To ease my conscience, I support Shelter. You can listen to this track while you are thinking.



Some other B.A.D. blogs:

Daily Photo Blog Action Day
• Houston, TX (USA)
• Greenville (USA) by Denton
• Tacloban City (Philippines) by agnesdv
• Tauranga (New Zealand) by Lisa Sarsfield
London-ish Blog Action Day:
• Crazy Brit Heaven
• Anchors & Masts
• Ausgrind
• Blog till you drop
• Musings and Marketeerings

Cosmo China

If you are looking for an extraordinary present, for someone special or yourself, Cosmo China is there for you, as they have been as a family business for over twenty years.

I love the freshness and fun of the designs and the pleasure you get each day from using them.It helps that they are porcelain, rather than coarse pottery.

And, there's a connection between today's shot, and yesterdays. But you'll have to wait for that.

The Hunterian Museum

I couldn't take photos inside, but I have to tell you about the Hunterian Museum. Based in the Royal College of Surgeons, it has the most fantastic collection of gory stuff you will ever see.

A worthy candidate for one of the most overlooked museums in London it is primarily the collection of the work of John Hunter who died in 1783. This collection charts the growth of human medical knowledge and the search for understanding that leads to this day, where medical science provides a safety net for our lives. Although you can't photograph inside the museum, the website has excellent pictures and history. A picture of the impressive staircase leading up to it is here.

And very pertinent today, as I am entrusting my wellbeing to a member of this august society for a minor op.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Problems with neighbours?

The perfect, perfect answer.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Sunset and a Kink

This sunset and shape is outside the Theatre Royal Stratford where I went with Mrs Ham to see the musical "Come Dancing" by, and featuring, Ray Davies. It was an interesting show; although not entirely consistent it was worth seeing - one where the sum of the whole was greater than the parts. The show is set in the time when ballroom was giving way to rock'n'roll and the characters touch chords in the memory.

By all means go to see it, but see The London Revue first.

OK, OK, here's the song you want to hear.

Ordinary Londoners - No 18 in a series

James Michalos is responsible for the music and lyrics of the London Revue - did I mention yesterday that you need to go and see it if you can?

James teaches singing at Guildhall School of Music & Drama and his love and fascination for London comes through loud and strong in this production. Also, if - like me - you enjoy Musicals you will be fascinated by the way you can identify influences in the work from an astonishing range: from Rice & Webber through Gilbert & Sullivan, Bernstein, even Flanders & Swan and Sondheim. What's more, he does it well.

The London Revue at the Hen & Chickens

If you possibly can, do go and see the London Revue at the Hen & Chickens. Really.

It's an hour and a quarter of full-on entertainment; pathos, bathos, fun and laughter, a slice of London life. Four people, with voices that make you want to listen, sing about the things you know and things you see but also things often left unsaid.

For those that can't make it, here's a short video clip (note:unless you have a very fast connection you may need to pause before playing to let the video buffer)

I may well tell you more about it tomorrow.

Stretch Limo-nette

Sometimes, you just have to take the picture.

It's a Classic

Anybody following this blog will know that I'm an enthusiastic cyclist - what you won't know is that I love cars and motoring, too. My personal prefence is also for cars with character, which have long disappeared from the mass market. That character has been replaced with reliability, so that's probably a good thing. But motoring? you can't do that in the UK much any more.

So I'm rather pleased to bring you an idea born in London and now spread around the world - The Classic Car Club. The idea is simple. You pay an annual sum (from £3,000 or £1,500 for "low end" cars only) for which you get to drive any of their fleet. No repair bills, no aggro, just fun.

Even thought this is the Bertone rather than Farina bodied Dino, it still ranks as one of the more desirable cars in my hierachy. Trivia: the Dino was named after Mr Ferrari's son, who died.

Will I join? No, but that's because I enjoy mucking around with them myself (here's the last one I had)

See a view of the showroom here and see where on the London Daily Photo Map.

The Ghost Bridge

You've still got a couple of weeks to get down to see the Ghost Bridge and other works in the Drift 8 series. This is a recreation of the old Blackfriars Bridge with lasers. A fascinating concept, I was there a little early in the evening for the full effect.

The lack of dark wasn't my only problem - there is a dredging pontoon blocking the lasers, too. But one of my shots was a bit of a lucky accident - here it is, in my fancy this is something Turner might have done deliberately, if he lived in the 21st century.

A London Autumn

I've been following the pictures of autumn of autumn over at London Daily Nature Photo when I realised I had the perfect London Autumn photo. The London Plane tree leaf (maybe maple, but it was near a load of London Planes), the damp, the pavement and the chewing gum. Says it all.

It's fun to stay

The original text to this picture is below, but as Chris pointed out in the comments box, this is the Youth Hostel Association, not the YMCA. Glad some of you are awake, anyway. But I'm sure it's fun to stay at the YHA, as well.

This ordinary but somewhat curious building is in the shadow of St Paul's Cathedral which makes it a truly great place to stay, especially seeing as how it is part of the YMCA. The Y was started in London back in 1844, now it spans the globe. Go on, spoil yourself - you know you want to see that video.

Who Cares?

This poster - in Stratford High Street - is part of a substantial campaign around London for the Christian Alpha Course - without intending to cause offence - they are a bunch of people who believe god is the answer whatever the question (I suspect they would be happy with that description).

The question here in my mind is, what will happen to the people in the high rise blocks? What you are looking at, in four years time, will be one of the transport hubs for the 2012 Olympics. Those blocks have only recently been spruced up and they house what you would normally term the more economically and socially disadvantaged. Call me a cynic but somehow, that will change between now and 2012, and I doubt that those that live in the block will see much of the benefit. And who cares?

I wasn't going to link to the Alpha Course, but I found their page where you can write your question to god and read other's which amused me.

Goodbye to the summer

Summer in London is a time when Things Happen, so I wasn't that surprised to come across Alice and the Rabbits in the street around London Bridge a couple of weeks ago.

Alice was a French tourist ("Bonjour, je m'appelle Alice") with a backpack and map asking passers by for directions to her rabbit hole ... and there were these rabbits, too. They trailed a random route around London Bridge and it was only when I got home and looked closely at the pictures that I discovered that it was arranged by Team London Bridge. It amused me, quite a bit.

But that's it for the summer, until next year.

Another photo here.

October Theme Day - Lions

October's City Daily Photo theme is "Lines" and here are some of London's finest lions. I considered using the tourist's favourite, the Trafalgar Square Lions - put there to guard Nelson's column, and a damn fine job they've made of that - but decided to go with the ones making sure no one makes off with Buckingham Palace.

The statue is "Victoria Memorial" a carving by Thomas Brock, one of Victoria's favourite sculptors. It's one of those where everything means something - the lady with the sickle represents "Labour" or some such.

164 other blogs have said they will join in this theme; some will forget, some are in other time zones, you can see other's offerings: Click here to view thumbnails for all participants or click about through these:Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Auckland, New Zealand by Baruch, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Ilse, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by 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Guest Post - A 21 Bum Salute

Courtesy of Ineke of Rotterdam Daily Photo, here is a photo of the Horseguards on Horseguards Parade.

Obviously prime tourist photo stuff, but why my title? That's because in four years time you will be able to watch beach volleyball right here.

Guest Post - Gabriel's Wharf

Today's picture is a guest post, courtesy of Ineke of Rotterdam Daily Photo from a recent London visit.

The photo is one of the wooden chainsaw sculptures by Friedel Buecking, whose work you can see and buy in Gabriel's Wharf on the Southbank. As it happens, I have a piece of his work from twenty years ago, when he was carving using wood from trees blown down in the 1987 storm.