Hello Sweetie!!!

The sugar makers Tate & Lyle has a long and intimate history connected to London. Yes, that's the same Tate.

This is their Silvertown refinery where they still produce Golden Syrup, the UK's oldest brand.

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Sherbet Dab Swivel

"'Ere, anyone called a sherbet?" (Sherbet is Cockney rhyming slang for a cab - Sherbet - Sherbet dab - Cab)

This is a temporary installation outside the Royal Festival Hall, by Ujino, the Japanese artist in residence. Inspired by the many equestrian statues he found around the city, he based his work on a heroic figure on horseback. I must find out about Ugly Knitting and report back to you all.

Spring comes to Southbank

It was superlative in London today - Spring was well and truly sprung, the sun was in the sky and all was well with the world.

I wandered out on Southbank at lunchtime to see if I could capture some of the feel to share with you, this is my favourite. The "also rans" are here.

NOT for vegetarians

I am aware some people may not like this photo, but there are two reasons I wanted to show it.

First, I have long thought it is important for people to know and understand what they put in their mouths. The recent spate of TV chef focus on this subject can only be good. If you are going to eat something, you really should respect it. Meat is not an inanimate thing wrapped in clingfilm, it was once a living, breathing animal.

Second, it's always good to know where to get a good pork sandwich - Spitalfields in this instance.

London's Vantage Points - Beckton Alps

Beckton was pretty much just the gasworks for a long while, now just the vestige of one of the spoil heaps remains.

For a while it was a dry ski slope, now it has been left to nature. Clamber up the hill and you will be presented with probably the most extensive 360 degree view in London. Given where it is, I'd hesitate before saying it was the best view. Looking around the Internet, this rather infrequently-updated site caught my fancy, and you can read the Diamond Geezer's Beckton visit here.

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Athletics Track

When I took this, I thought I'd quite like the shot of an athletics track, but now I realise it has a serious failing - lack of athletes.

It's taken in Parliament Hill Fields, that bit of Hampstead Heath that pokes into the less well heeled areas like Kentish Town, so has to be called something else.

London's Elephants - No 27 in a Series

A pachyderm moment to round off the week, this is one of a pair supporting the columns in the facade of India House in the Aldwych.

Long Water

The Way We See It this week took me to Long Water, a pretty neglected bit of the Serpentine, near Ladbroke Grove Lancaster Gate, that's well worth the shoe leather to wander. For a park in the heart of a city, it has a very country like feel.

Food or Footy?

Despite the high cost of London Property, you are never far away from a 5-a-side pitch or two. In the City, West End, Southbank - there will be one closer than you think. Most lunchtimes you will find them occupied with people playing in leagues or just among themselves.

(And if anyone is wondering about the "lateness" of the posts over the last two days, "Blogger in Draft" isn't working properly)

Tap Shoes

These Tap Shoes are in the window of Orthotics in New Cavendish Street. These people are foot specialist, who say they can help you if our feet hurt.

Swishing

It wouldn't take a genius to guess I'd surface somewhere in East Festival. I rode up on Saturday, and came across the ethical fashion alternative that is Swishing. You take clothes along, you get stamped according to the number of items and you can take that number of items away. So simple, so elegant, so new millennium.

It takes all sorts

You do get all sorts at Camden Market. Check out the baby's hairstyle.

Cyberdog in Camden Market

If you are after radical, fluorescent clubwear, Cyberdog in Camden Market is the place to go. Even if you're not, it is still worth a look.

Clink Street Ray Gun

This week's The Way We See It took me to Clink Street, right my stamping ground and somewhere I have shown here before. But I had forgotten that I hadn't shown you this clever bit of trompe l'oeil graffiti. Your first impression is that it is a ray gun, but then you see it has been put together from culinary utensils. Interestingly it is a lot more effective in reality than in a photo.

Highgate Cemetery

From where I was yesterday, some might have guessed that I'd pop over to Highgate Cemetery. London's answer to Pere Lachaise, there are a lot of interesting folk interred, most famously Karl Marx. However, they charge for entrance and I didn't have time to explore so all I could do was poke my camera through the railings or at the gate.

I'll be back, in the meantime you can explore the cemetery from your PC.

London's Vantage Points - Suicide Bridge

This gorge was created inadvertently when the original road tunnel collapsed in the early 19th century; there has been a bridge here ever since.

The view across London is fantastic, but standing here it is hard not to be jostled by the spirits of the troubled souls who must have stood in exactly the same place before ending their lives. It is apparently one of the most frequented such places worldwide. Here is a picture looking down; I'm not inclined to provide links, if you want, just search for Suicide Bridge, London.


See where on the London Daily Photo Map
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Credit Crunch?

Times are tough for bankers in London, nothing else to do but to investigate all avenues to make money.

London Visitors - Art in the Picture - No 1 in a series

I came across the site Art in the Picture website, which inspired me. What would it be like to take a camera to these London places? What would the image show?

Looking at the pictures, I realised that there were some I could copy in fact, and others I could copy in style. This first one is London Visitors by James Tissot in 1874, and I recognised the location as the National Gallery, so went for the straightforward reproduction. I think the Tissot original is a fascinating counterpoint to this, the interplay between characters is so different and so redolent of the time the image was made.

March City Daily Photo Theme Day - Glass

So the theme for the worldwide City Daily Photo for March is "Glass", And I've taken a picture, not only of an obviously plastic bottle, but one that has apparently nothing to do with London, what gives?

But you see, this IS London, and in London we speak Cockney rhyming slang. That's where you say the first word of a pair, to indicate the other word, and so by rhyme the real word. Easier with an example. You hear someone say: "I'm going up the apples": apples is the first half of "apples and pears" and it means stairs. "I'd better go home to the trouble" - Trouble, trouble & strife, wife. Easy really.

It started as a way for east end market traders talking to each other so that the customers couldn't understand.

And "bottle" is one of the more well known cockney rhyming slang words, as in: "Get your bottle over here" And the meaning? bottle & glass, arse.

So really, this is the most London way I could think of to interpret the theme. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants. You'll probably get to see a lot more real glass.

Mews Living in London

I'm not certain why this photo appeals to me, Partly it's the squashed up feel, with the door recesed far inside, partly it is the contrast the size (small) and the cost (huge) as this is a mews address behind Harley Street. Mews houses were originally the stables to the grand houses at the front, you can see a wide view here. Think I'm exaggerating the cost? click here (this is in Harley Place).

Shopping is Boring

Or it is when you are little.

I don't know about you, but these days I find Borough Market increasingly commercialised. There are still the small producers, but increasingly it has a big business feel. So it was with great pleasure that I have found a well-kept secret - the Marylebone Farmers Market. Not well advertised in the street (regulations stop that), it operates in a car park Sundays from 10 to 2. As you can see, it is much more the feel of a genuine farmers market. Another stall picture here, Goats Cheese picture here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map
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A Diamond Made of Glass and Steel

London's architects are world leading and whenThe Way We See It this week took me to Baker Street, I came across 55 Baker Street, the refurbished 50's HQ of Marks & Spencer. I learned it was designed in 3-d with a three tiered fish scale glazing. I dunno. If you are in the area, it is worth a visit.

Smile please!

This cheerful chappie is outside the Alessi flagship store in Brook Street. They're the Italian design house with an eye for the whimsical and amusing. Me? I just enjoyed the experience of taking a portrait without asking.

He's probably famous

On the 15th February there was a plaque unveiled to commemorate Peter Cook and the Establishment Club in Greek Street. Turned out I was a bit too late for the main action, and just caught the tail end of the festivities, and I'm useless at recognising celebrities. I reckon it would have been too crowded for a decent photograph, anyway, so it is an excuse for me to leave you with some video clips.

Nostalgia

As I've said previously, part of being a Londoner is getting away "from the smoke" - and then coming back.

I've spent the last few days walking in North Norfolk, and I thought I'd share this bit of nostalgia in the shape of the North Norfolk Railway. Standing close to this, it makes it easy to think why London got The Smoke" as its nickname.

Gustav Klimt meets Gary Glitter

While I was in Rivington Street the other day, I happened across the artist Hugh Gilmour at the end of his exhibition. I did like his stuff, and I loved the description "Gustav Klimt meets Gary Glitter in a dark alley". It's true.

I'm away for a few days, posting will continue.

The Two Commandments

A "first" for London Daily Photo today - two photos in one day. But there was no option, was there?

This is a work by Dr. D

I'm away for a few days, posting will continue.