One good corner shop deserves another

Of course, the ultimate "corner store" has to be Fortnum & Mason in St James. It's where the queen pops out when she runs out of sugar and she has guests coming round. Ever since Harrods has been trashed (except if you are a magpie looking for shiny stuff) Fortnum's is really the only place to go - since 1761. OK, it's a fair cop - I don't shop here from one year end to the next, but I'd like to. However, it really is one of the places you must visit in London, well before Harrods.

You may notice the clock which was - even though you may think it old - made in 1964. On the hour, Mr Fortnum and Mr Mason pop out and bow to each other.

June Theme Day - the Corner Shop

The June theme for the worldwide City Daily Photo blogs is "Corner Shops", and although I considered a photo of a shop where they sell corners, I opted instead for the straight story for once.

A lot of London's corner shops sprang up in the seventies and eighties - Asians expelled from Idi Amin's Uganda came over here and many opened shops. By working hard with their families, they made livings out of them. Just like my local corner shop and Mr Jagdesh Patel, who has built this cornucopia, an Aladdin's cave, here since 1981, and now part of the very fabric of the community. But countrywide their existence is threatened by changing shopping habits and the incursion of the mega-supermarkets into their territory. We can't and probably don't want to stop the world turning, but I suspect that we will have lost something when the last of these establishments is steamrollered by progress.

You can see that it is a true corner shop by the outside photo, here. See where on the London Daily Photo Map

This month, 174 blogs have said they will join in the theme day, some may forget, some are on other time zones, but click around to explore the world by its corners or Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey by afyonblog, 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, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Folkestone, UK by Clare Unsworth, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gainesville (FL), USA by Leah, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hangzhou, China by Chanin, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Los Angeles (CA), USA by Martha Perez, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monroe (GA), USA by Tanya, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Posadas, Argentina by Lega, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Fotos. Riga Photos, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sequim (WA), USA by Norma, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Urayasu, Japan by Zono, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, 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, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Party Time in London

I was out and about in Covent Garden Friday night, when I came across this party of South Wales lasses, all set to have a good time for "Leanne's Hen Weekend". It was early, and none looked worse for wear yet, but I suspect that might not have been the case later. I wonder, is the over-the-top party a uniquely British thing? I can't say I've noticed it in other countries (except with Brits travelling overseas for the occasion).

Simpsons

Continuing the beach theme from yesterday, here is the magnificent entry of Simpsons in the Strand (which, of course, used to be the beach of the Thames). Look closely and you will see the tiles are a chess board and pieces - Simpsons started as a chess club!. Famous for the theatre it makes from serving food, it's Ten Deadly Sins breakfast is not for the faint hearted.


I'm away for the week, but daily posts continue.

By the seaside

And today, another of my images from the test roll I put through the old Olympus Trip, of some girls playing on the Thames beach. Nothing else.


I'm away for the week, but daily posts continue.

The Helm

There's a statue of a solidier in armour outside Southwark Cathedral that has been defyingmy attempts to photograph it for a long time. I wanted to try to capture some of the atmosphere of it. Turned out that a 30 year old camera was the way to go. Oh, and I also discover I don't know much about it, anyone?


I'm away for the week, but daily posts continue.

Ordinary Londoners - No 14 in a series

Meet Sancha, one half of the driving force from the Arts Regeneration project, Gallery 491 that featured yesterday. It's people like this that make London the great place that it is.

I'm away for the week but daily posts continue.

How does your garden grow?

with a lot of effort, is the normal answer. Here, we are in the arts regeneration project Gallery 491, where they transformed a derelict sote into a space for arts and gardening. Hop over to My Other Stuff for a wider view of the garden. It may not look like some of the Prize Winning Gardens, but this has been created out of a derelict site with nothing more than the will and hard work. It creates a space for art, and for gardening for people that have none. This is Leytonstone. .


I'm away for the week, but daily posts continue.

Green Oasis

As an oblique (and a little tardy reference to the Chelsea Flower Show, I'm going to have a couple of garden related posts, Today's comes from the garden at the Museum for Garden History, just next to Lambeth Palace. An oasis of calm less than halk a mile from Big Ben, I recommend it wholeheartely.

I'm away for the week, but daily posts continue.

A Load of Bull

New bits of stuff in the street is always a welcome find, and here is one of the more recent unveilings. Tim Shaw's Minotaur is to commemorate Harrison Birtwhistle's opera, and can be seen outside the Royal Opera House.

Grafitti Goes Mainstream

Friday night is the start of the Tate Modern's Long Weekend with lots going on, marking the start of the Street Art exhibition. They are using the entire façade as display space, see the perspective of this image here. I also bumped into the video producer RomanyWG making a time lapse video of the artists. I rather like some of his stuff, like this one on a Banksy piece.

Trolls live under bridges

So I dug out my 30 year old Olympus Trip, worth all of £3 on eBay, and it still works. I'm quite pleased with its results. We are under the span of the new Blackfriars Bridge today and if you look at the tiles, they have reproduced the plans and drawings of the building of the original bridge. Chances are, even if you know the place, that you have just walked straight through. Stop and have a look, it is fascinating..

Who's stolen the bridge?

These pillars are what remains of a bridge for the London, Chatham and Dover Railway. From what I can make out, it was only built in the 1850's, was used for about 15 years before it was closed as it couldn't carry the weight of the "modern" trains. A common sight to a lot of Londoner's this perspective is what you can see from the north bank - the one less frequented.

Morris Dancers meet the Ug Girls

I left this a few days as I was hoping that one of the girls would contact me, so I could give you the full lowdown.

As I was passing through the centre of London a week ago, I came across the chance meeting of two groups. One, a troupe of Morris Dancers, the other a group of friends in caveman costume apparently collecting to support Multiple Sclerosis charities. The girls had never tried Morris Dancing before but after five minutes tuition, well, see for yourself (tip: if the video or sound isn't smooth, pause for a couple of seconds to let the download buffer.)

What a marvelous night for a moonwalk!

Around 15,000 spent the whole of Saturday night walking around London in their bras. Old, young, women, men - they were all there. They were doing the 11th Moonwalk - 26 miles around London town, starting at 11:00 at night (some do 13). That's a very long way. An astonishing effort, and well done to all who took part.

They are all doing it to support breast cancer charities, a cause very close to my heart. If anyone is moved to support the cause, they can do so either on the Moonwalk fund of a work colleague who was doing the walk: here, or on my fundraising page: here.

I was on my bike and tried to get as many photos as possible, so that people on the walk, albeit a minute fraction, might have a record. The full album (137 photos) is here. Three short (and not particularly good) videos of the start (green and orange starts, I think) are here here and here,

Draw up a stool

Keeping the theme of pubs, today I'm taking you to one where most of the fun is to be had outside. Well, maybe not most, but the pub signs here have been drawn by Fleet Street cartoonists over the years, and there are quite a few of them on the walls. In addition the Cartoonists Club of Great Britain meets here - as you might expect, their website is more fun than most.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Not New Orleans

This architectural gem from teh turn of the 19th Century is in stark contrast to the modern monstrosities that flank both sides of Tottenham Court. If you haven't noticed it before, do take the time to have a look next time you're passing. Go on - you know you want to hear it - click here. What, more? OK.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Health and Safety

Sometimes, don't you just despair over the way Health & Safety seems to invade everything we do? As if it would be impossible for the human race to survive for millennia without someone or something continually hectoring us. London is plastered with these signs from one end to the other - Diamond Geezer found some good ones a couple of days ago. This sign instructs you to don a space suit before entering the premises; it took someone a newspaper, some sellotape and some time to turn it into art. I found this in Worship Street, I was there for this week's The Way We See It.

You're Fired

Not something you might expect to find on London streets, it is parked outside the Guards Museum just round the corner from Buckingham Palace. It looks interesting but I have a confession - because they wanted to charge me entrance, I went elsewhere.

London Town Blues

Covent Garden is always chock full of buskers, mostly trundling out very similar offerings that have little to hold your interest. Every now and again something catches your eye or ear, like Richard here did mine. He plays the blues, with a classic, plain style and rootsy feel - I'd love to hear him playing in a band. But don't take my word for it - I shot a short video that you can listen to here (tech tip: if the sound isn't good, pause for a few seconds to let the player buffer)