Ooooo Look at me plumage

Probably an effective chat up line, just as long as the object of your affection is a Peahen (or possibly even a Peacock in these enlightened times). While you have to pay £17.60!!!! to enter the zoo, the magnificent Snowdon Aviary is visible from the canal path (on my way home) for free.

The West in the East

It is now only a few months away from the first of the Olympic site facilities opening - Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford. And for those who thought that the Olympics would do nothing for the area, look at the 1,000,000 sq ft of office space in an area where you would only have found council offices a couple of short years ago.

(Photographic note: a lot of my pictures over the last days have been from my Samsung phone, this is the first where its shortcomings are painfully obvious)

I wonder what it looks like from the top?

Wonder no more. Just click here and you will be transported to the top of Centre Point, and able to mess around with an 80 Gigapixel image of London. That's 80 and a very lot of zeros. HAve a play with it, the zoom is astonishing.

Scoot round for food

One of the more original options for seating is here, at Camden Lock. There are a whole host of generally attractive looking eateries where you can buy your food, and sit and watch the canal flow b.

Wind on!

Until I started riding home along the canal path, I knew nothing about this restaurant - Feng Shang. It looks as if it is well worth a visit, and it is on my list of places to visit, now. My pidgin Chinese translates Feng Shang as Wind On (as in, wind blowing) but I suspect that it might have lost a little in translation.

What do you think of it? It's rubbish.

To be more exact this mural is made out of rubbish, by Kevin Herlihy in conjuction with a local youth club. You can find it on the Grand Union Canal by Kensal Green.

I'm Not Angry

Not his most well known song, but "I'm Not Angry" immortalised Elvis Costello's time working at Elizabeth Arden in song: "Spent all my time in a vanity factory, wonderin' when they're gonna come and take it all back". This is possibly the most noteworthy part of North Acton - I'd be interested if others have more suggestions. If you want to hear the song, youtube video is here.

As it says in the words, Elvis has left the building.

A Cabbies Window

Anyone following my comments recently might have chanced upon a new blog. Cabbieswindow. There are some great photographs in there and some, if not all are shot from, well, the cabbie's window. I love the feel it gives, the way the cab helps form the shots and gives a subtly different perspective. So I nicked one of his photos, hope he doesn't mind. Check out his his archive here and click on a few.

How was your journey home from work?

My journey home from work is normally a bit of a cross-town slog on the bike, with lots of people and traffic. But today, I discovered the Grand Union Canal, which took me very pleasantly indeed from Acton to Camden Lock, which you can see here. The 7-ish miles took just less than 25 minutes, and that included slowing down for people time. It was brilliant.

Lawd Luv a Duck

Or goose in this case. I happened across these proud parents in the park just up the road from my house, and thought it would be nice to share.

Crystal Palace

The tower in the picture is the transmitting tower for the TV signal for most of London, and it has the distinction of until recent years being the tallest structure in London, currently demoted to fourth highest.

Just Another Brick

Well, following yesterday's Blogger meltdown, hopefully we are back to normal, or what passes for normal in this corner of the Internet.

This is much more like what you expect for sculpture in Leytonstone. It's a seat in the train and bus station, depicting various busses in brick. And, according to the Shady Old Lady, "At the heart of the central core of concrete and reinforced steel, and unknown to anyone other than the artist, Mr Pretor placed two items - a kitchen sink and a roll of wallpaper

The Honourable Artillery Company

Strange that this army unit isn't "Royal", especially since their Captain General is the Queen herself. But, as they are the oldest regiment in the British Army, they might be allowed some idiosyncrasy. This castle like building is in the heart of the city, on City Road near London Wall.

Beyond B-Leaf

Leytonstone is not the most salubrious of London Boroughs, although hey do have the benefit of quite a bit if forest. Leaf Memory is an unexpected sculpture, found near and possibly inspired by the Green Man roundabout (so named after a pub).

The weight of the world

Sometimes doesn't it feel as if it is all on your shoulders? You can find this road atlas in Poultry.

Some-Fin Funny

It's a while since I featured any graffiti, so a cheerful image for a Monday.

Old Father Thames

As you walk around London, it's interesting to see how often you come across the image of Old Father Thames, reflecting how deeply the Thames is bedded in the minds of all Londoners. This is on a building in Cecil Court off St Martin's Lane (and yes, his mate the Green Man is nearby, too)

Brassed Off

If you keep polishing your handles for a hundred years or so, it will begin to look like this, almost abstract, version at the English National Opera

London Rush Hour

This is one of the main reasons I prefer cycling to work, why would you put yourself through this day after day if there is an alternative. Stuck inside this metal tube chugging its way in tunnels hidden deep underground, or spinning along the streets in touch with... just about everything if you're not careful. Simple choice.

The Light Fantastic

The fountains at Marble Arch are much neglected, as they too are hidden on the central reservation, with four lanes of traffic steaming around all the time. However, the light made great play with them the other night, turning them into something unworldly

Jelly Babies!

This Jelly Baby family is installed in the central island at Marble Arch to cheer people up, and it certainly did it for me, especially with the light shining through.

Getting Ready... too late

Well, hello all. As Nic mentioned I was away over the weekend and pictures should have appeared in my absence, but a spanner seems to have got jammed in the works. This might have been a timely picture before the wedding, but is now just a very small part of history. Oh well.

Pride & Glory

Greene King, a Suffolk brewery are moving into the London Branded brew market, currently and for the recent past occupied by London Pride, a genuine London Brew. I have to report it is quite a pleasant drop, too.

The View From The Wild West

This view is from the A40 (the Westway) headed into London, taken by me on the way home from work. Fairly drab, but a little exciting to me, anyway, as today is the first time I have cycled into work for months. My various bits that are sub-par did mention that they weren't too enamoured with the 17 miles each way (my journey is now 8 miles shorter!), but I didn't take much notice.

Chelsea Harbour

With more than a hint of a hat-tip to Venice about it, Chelsea Harbour is a little bywater near Chelsea Bridge.

The Other Side of the Fields

Sometimes, looking at things from the side not usually seen or shown gives a new perspective. In this case, this is the church of St Martin in the Fields, by Trafalgar Square.

Back off holiday, but haven't quite caught up with myself yet.

Happy Easter

For Easter how about a cute duckling from Hackney City Farm? If all goes according to plan I may well be out with my camera again very soon.


Off gallivanting in France for a week, hope you all have a good holiday

I am cheetah

You can find this cat in the city, near St Paul's Cathedral.

Off gallivanting in France for a week, hope you all have a good holiday

Docklands

Time for a view of docklands, not much to say

Off gallivanting in France for a week, hope you all have a good holiday

Dragon Tales

George and the Dragon are closely tied into English culture (for an obscure reason I don't fully understand). Mostly, you will find George dispatching the dragon, but this one on top of Smithfield meat market appears to be hiding, and have escaped.

Off gallivanting in France for a week, hope you all have a good holiday

Remembering

There's something quintessentially East London about this memorial. A loved one - father, son - clearly died here in what was most likely a motor accident. And those left behind felt that car number plates was the right way to remember him.

Off gallivanting in France for a week, hope you all have a good holiday

Chinese Walls

In Samuel Johnson's house in Gough Square, there is a lump of rock, presented to him by the Chinese, from the Great Wall of China. Having seen the Wall, I wonder if it is in fact true, as the scale is just too small, but the adventure of the travel that many years ago still catches my imagination.

Off gallivanting in France for a week, hope you all have a good holiday

Stable Environment

Lancaster Gate also has one of the most central stables and riding schools, possibly of any major city. I rather like it that the mews houses here are still being used for the purpose for which they were intended.


Off gallivanting in France for a week, hope you all have a good holiday

Thunder Road

Today, thousands of people are going to be thundering around the streets for the London Marathon. Some are motivated by a desire to excel, some to raise funds for causes they hold dear. Whichever, it is still 26 miles to run and I take my hat off to them all. (even to the guy crawling around in a snail costume, 1 mile a day.


Off gallivanting in France for a week, hope you all have a good holiday

Lancaster Gate

Lancaster Gate is one of those areas often overshadowed by its neighbours, Hyde Park, Marble Arch, Queensway, and has suffered of recent years from an influx of lettings, as few individuals can these days afford to live in the style that the houses were built for.

Off gallivanting in France for a week, hope you all have a good holiday

What's your angle?

It is surprising how often you just need to go that little bit further to get the best angle on a tourist view. A little bit more westerly at Westminster and a little bit more easterly at Tower and you get more of London in the background.

Royal Courts of Justice

They say it's the Royal Courts of Justice, but they really mean they are courts of law. Still, an independent judiciary uphold an ancient tradition, and so probably deserve a fantastic building.

Helllooooooo

I'm on the phone, dontcha know. That was a state of the art phone in its day, you know. And it's only 14 years old (in Wallbrook by Canon Street Staion

Ham on the Hoof

The Hackney City Farm is a wonderful place for kids who would otherwise not ever come into contact with animals to get some understanding and respect for what animals are. Conveniently, I am also happy to report that I am now back on the hoof, but it may be a couple of weeks before I can get out with my camera again. I'm looking forward to that.

Holborn Viaduct

The figures on the Holborn Viaduct are worth a closer look if you have a moment. They represent commerce, agriculture, fine art and this, science. I can't work out why they chose a steam governor for her to hold in her hand, and there is a mini statue just behind, showing a globe plugged into a battery.

Paul Butt, Danielle Carter, Tom Casey

As you look at the delightful reflection from the glass sides of the Gherkin, spend a moment to think about Paul Butt, 29, Danielle Carter, 15, and Tom Casey 49. They were the three who lost their lives today in 1992, when the IRSA blew up the Baltic Exchange where the Gherkin now stands.

Why was Eleanor Cross?

The Eleanor Crosses were erected by King Edward I at the end of the thirteenth century, in memory of his wife Eleanor of Castile. There were twelve, marking the journey of her body from Lincoln to London. The most famous - this one at Charing Cross - was the most grand. Reproduced faithfully by the Victorians, this spot has marked the point distances to London are measured from for 700 years.

pBooks

In an age of eBooks (and I am an enthusiastic advocate) it does well to remember the paper kind, by walking down Charing Cross Road. Less Fewer bookshops than there used to be, far less of the fewer quirky bookshops, but they are still there. The odd elements of this photo made me smile.

AL-- BERT!!!

Somehow, I can't imagine Queen Victoria screaming "Albert" to call him in to dinner, from mucking around with his scientific friends. Which is a shame, because I feel Albert is a name that lends itself well to being screamed. This is detail from the Albert Memorial, recently restored.

Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris

As was alluded to in comments, Bomber Harris is just around the corner from Samuel Johnson. The man credited with carpet bombing whole swathes of Germany in WWII is often reviled and even cast as a war criminal these days. Now I know that the indiscriminate bombing of Dresden, for example, is different but even know we seem able to countenance bombing our enemies, just as long as we think they are bad enough, and there is some PR puff about the accuracy of the targeting. I'm just glad I didn't have to make any decisions back then. Oh yes, and the anniversary of his death was yesterday.

Samuel Johnson

Critic, Essayist, Philologist, Biographer, Wit, Poet, Moralist, Dramatist, Political Writer, Talker. So says the inscription. It doesn't say he was nice to his cat and he loved London, but he was and he did. The statue is in St Clement Danes, by Aldwych, around the corner from his house - "The gift and handiwork of Percy Fitzgerald". So now you know.

London at the Centre of the World

This frieze above the entrance to the Express Building in Fleet Street speaks of a time when England and London were the centre of the known world. At least, that's what it must have felt like in the twenties.

Things you only see in a photograph

Sometimes, a photograph shows more than you expect. Looking at Southwark Cathedral, I noticed that high on a cross was some writing (the one just below the clock in this picture). As I had a telephoto shot of just that, I was able to decipher most of what it said (which appears to be only part of an inscription):

Towards the ??? of the and of cast
and the choir of the church
was laid in the presence of the
wardens and gentlemen commoners
the committee of church repairs
by George Sadler Esq
Warden of the great account

September 17, AD 1574

??? ?wilt(?)
Architect

Makes you think, eh? (A zoomed and over-sharpened version is here)

Odd Shops

This unique, rather special vintage (and new) clothes shop and hire is tucked into London's Colombia Row flower market. What makes it more odd, is that it's opening hours are the same as the market:Sundays, 8:30 - 3:30. And - shock horror - they appear not to have a website!

April City Daily Photo Theme Day - 'Edges

It's the first of the month, which is another in the worldwide City Daily Photo theme days, and the theme this week is 'edges, and this is my favourite 'edge in the 'ole of London. Click here to see how others around the world interpret the theme.