Limehouse Library

The Limehouse Library is a building with that faded glory you get just before it a place is redeveloped (as it certainly will be). I had to choose this picture because it made me smile (look at the older picturest if you need to see why). The overall view of the front is more pleasant, and I'm going to have to go back because it is only looking at that picture I noticed the red figure on the roof. Anyone know about that?

You're On Air

As regulars know, I enjoy The Way We See It, not only for the photographic challenge but because it gets me to look again at what are often very familiar places. That's the case this week, which sent me to Langham Place, the home of the BBC. I discovered a window in the side of the BBC building that has a wonderful jumble from the 85 years of its history. Even if you don't get off on technology, it's rather fun to see how far we've come since the cat's whisker.

Doing the Lambeth Walk

After Lambeth Bridge, I had to bring you down to Lambeth Walk. Well, let's be honest, you wouldn't normally get there, and if you did you wouldn't find much of interest except this Healthcare Centre. The song featured in "Me and My Girl", a musical first aired in 1937; the song became a symbol of the London cockney spirit in the Blitz.

You can see a stage version of it here, a version with goose stepping Nazis (edited back in the 40's) here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

April Theme Day - Water

The Thames is so much part of what makes London the city it is, that I could choose no other subject. The challenge I set myself was to show you an unusual perspective. I may be fooling myself, and I'm sure a lot of people will recognise this, but I also suspect there are many - even Londoners - that will not. Here, I have come to Lambeth Bridge, looking north, just to the right of the frame is the Houses of Parliament. It looks halfway Parisian, doesn't it?

This month, 178 City Daily Photo bloggers participate in this theme day. See how they have interpreted "water" on the City Daily Photo portal or visit each of them individually. Some are in different time zones, some may have forgotten, but here are all the links: Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Gordio, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn

The Seamen's Mission

And have you seen the old man
Outside the seaman's mission
Memory fading with
The medal ribbons that he wears

Ralph McTell sung about one in the "Streets of London": This seaman's mission in Limehouse had gone to rack and ruin a few years back. It's been refurbished now, and it's a "Character Conversion" with a one bedroom flat for £225,000. Doesn't that just say it all.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

The Lock

It's almost always a good when a restaurant is confident enough in their food to have the kitchen on show, The Lock is no exception. I was there for a birthday celebration and I can confirm that the food is good enough to warrant beating a path to their door. Not so certain about the service, though,

Jazz Beat

Someone asked me the other day if I thought London has a heart - I'm sure it does, and the rhythm is a jazz beat.You can take its pulse at the Jazz Cafe in Camden - check out who's appearing there.

Three and Out

There's a film on release soon that has angered the rail unions. Called "Three and Out" it is centred around a Tube driver who witnesses two deaths under the wheels of his train then learns that if he sees a third, he receives a payoff from his job. So he seeks out suicidal people to become his next victim.

Courtesy of Annie Mole, the source of all things Underground, I was included in the invite list for a private screening at the Empire Leicester Square. I'm pleased to report that the film is rather good; a prime example of British humour and worth seeing. Beleive it or not, it deals robustly but sensitively with the issues, and I think the driver's anger is misplaced. The hospitality wasn't quite as good as that for Juno , but they did run to a free drink and popcorn.

l'Entente Amicale

The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, is on a state visit to the UK at the moment, who is in all the news talking about Anglo French friendship. The general attitude taken is one of wry amusement: "Of course we'd like to believe it, but let's wait and see what happens"

I thought it would be appropriate to show the statue of possibly the greatest Frenchman of the 20th century, Charles de Gaulle. I'd wager a small cash sum that very few of you knew where it is, as it is tucked away in a hidden corner in Carlton Terrace, a place few people ever venture. And of course being so inaccessible NOT a comment on the Anglo French relationship, it's just where he set up the Free French HQ in the war.

On the offchance that someone somewhere hasn't heard it, I'll leave you with possibly the oldest joke in the book: In Heaven, the cooks are French, the policemen are English, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian, the bankers are Swiss. In Hell the cooks are English, the policemen are German, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss, the bankers are Italian, and the customers are American.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

The Widow's Son

The Widow's Son is a pub in East London with one of the more quirky backgrounds that you will find. The story runs that at the start of the 19th century, when this was just a house, a widow had a son in the navy. He was due to return home on Good Friday and asked for his mother to bake some hot cross buns. This she did, but he never came. But never the less each year the woman made a bun ready. When she died they were all found hanging from the ceiling. When a pub was built, they carried on the ceremony; each year a sailor brings another bun. You can see the current buns (sorry!) in the net, and some of the sailors hats on a shelf behind the bar (they leave one each year). Tragically, they only have keg beer, no cask.

Click here for another bun picture and my bun recipe.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Bank Holiday Monday Funfair

There is something ineffably sad about an empty funfair. Not just for the barkers and carnies for who it must represent a disaster, but in and of itself - the hollow ring of whitened bones. It was no surprise, given the weather, that few people were there, the bigger surprise was that, as ever, there were a still some stalwarts who hadn't let the freezing weather and the snow put them off.

Two other of my photos are here and here

Please Do Not Adjust Your Set

It's not static on your screen - it is snow. OK, it's my fault. Snow on Easter Day in London, England. You see, I've just replaced the bike that got mashed last July, so I was determined to got out on it whatever the weather. This is what happens. If you want something more seasonal, you'll have to make do with this Easter Bunny I found on my travels. (Photo in the garden Chez Ham.)

Burger, anyone?

The Burghers of Calais is a Rodin sculpture that you can see in any one of a number of places (12, to be exact), the original is still in Calais but this particular one is just by the Palace of Westminster. Rodin's intent was to show that "heroic deeds are performed at great sacrifice by average people".

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Who wants yesterday's papers?

An artist by the name of Sumer Erek did, apparently. He, with help from loads of people turned 85,000 discarded free papers into a house. You can see an article and video about the making of the house here. I saw it in Dalston, now it's off on its travels around the country.

And talking of recycling - have you noticed my new feature on the right hand side? Now, you can click the button and get taken to a random page from the more than 800 daily photos in this blog.

Pied Bull Yard

Pied Bull Yard is another of London's hidden gems, not even on the map, close by the British Museum. In this small yard, apart from the camera shops, I give you two compelling reasons to visit. The London REview Bookshop is an exceptional bookshop in these days of best seller dominance. Then, there is Truckles, a wine bar that takes you back in feel to Dickens' London, worth visitng for the pleasure of a pint of ale served in a pewter tankard.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Bijou Residence

The Camden Bus estate agents (in Camden, oddly enough must have one of the more original office buildings, and one of the most memorable for a London business. This gent outside is clearly waiting for them to open in order to acquire a suitable residence.

A view of the political battleground that the Routemasters left behind can be read on the Diamond Geezer.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Dance Yourself Dizzy

For this week, The Way We See It took me to Cecil Court, a short passage stuffed full of interesting shops. Antiquarian and specialist bookshops, curios and antiques, art galleries - they are all here. And at the St Martin's Lane end - Freed and more ballet shoes than you can pirouette at.

See where on The London Daily Photo Map

London's Elephants - No 23 in a series

The Worshipful Company of Cutlers is one of the City's livery companies, dating back to the 13th Century, it gained it's Royal Charter in the 15th Century. The elephant on its shield probably refers to the ivory that was used for the handles of the best items. Whatever the reason, it means they have possibly the finest pair of knockers in London.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map


The elephant series is here.

The London Stone

The London Stone is an unexceptional looking stone set in a hard to find viewing area of an ordinary wall in Cannon Street. It is also possibly one of the oldest London artefacts, dating back possibly to the Druids, with a history that has often ascribed magical or mystic powers to it. Read all about it here and see what can be seen of it from the street (not a lot) here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Crane Hire

It's a sad fact about my chosen blog format that I can't show two pictures - one that says Crane Hire, and one that says Crane Higher and Higher. In the City of London, come the weekend, roads are closed and the City is taken over by building works. I can tell you, you would have been thankful to be on my bike and not in a car.