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 Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by JSB, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Edwardsville (IL), USA by Mdflores, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Franschhoek, South Africa by JSB, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hangzhou, China by Chanin, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Islip (NY), USA by Bettye, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, La Antigua, Guatemala by Rudy, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Manila, Philippines by Anthony, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milton, New Zealand by Milton Daily Photo, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Scott, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Muizenberg, South Africa by Pentaxjunkie, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Elsa, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Andrew Foderaro, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Prague, Czech Republic by kakna, Quezon City, Philippines by ann pablo, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, 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 Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Schenectady (NY), USA by Buck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, South Pasadena (CA), USA by Laurie, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Test City (MA), USA by , Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

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.

Recycled Information

It's not often that London takes the lead with innovation (and I suspect this may not be so in this case) but I've never seen these sort of info-mobiles anywhere else before. Perfect for cities like London, they can get right to the heart of an event without difficulty. Add to that helpful, cheerful assistants like here, and you have a recipe for increased visitor happiness. (This shot was taken at the Thames Festival)

Am I being a bore?

Just next door to the Bookart Bookshop (yesterday) is the most fantastic hat shop. Or do I mean, a shop selling the most fantastic hats? Whichever, Weave Toshi is a Japanese hat maker with 18 shops in Japan - and this one in London. I enjoyed the "Daydream" on their website, too.

In there, I met a plenitude of hats in all shapes and sizes, the manager, Hikaru Sagura, and his wife. Her portrait is here, and the portrait on this site is NOT he.

Yet another reason to venture into Pitfield Street.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Ants Have Sex In Your Beer

If you like your bookshops to have huge piles of bestsellers and a coffee shop, DO NOT visit my recommendation today. Otherwise, if you like bookshops you will be in for a most pleasant surprise.

The Bookart Bookshop is a veritable treasure trove - just the place to go if you are looking for that unusual present for a friend - or yourself. They specialise in low volume, sometimes handmade, books by artists.

The title of this post is a book you'll find in the shop by David Shrigley, an artist who's done a lot of stuff, including the odd video.

The Bookart Bookshop online is worth a visit, too.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

Art Spotted Under Bridges

There are quite a few bridges in Southwark where the council must have been negotiating with the Trolls, because they have been brightened up with artworks. The recent spate of installations have all been done with lights, making the entrances to the Bankside area much more inviting.

You can see a wider view of the scene here.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map.

The Smallest Garden

It's not often a building merits two entries here, and Bracken House had it's Astronomical Clock featured a while back. But, their excellent window boxes caught my eye, and I noticed that they had won twenty awards with them. The boxes are changed four times a year, courtesy of the building owners, a Japanese Bank called Mizuho. Thanks guys, you really help make London a brighter place.

Climate Change

You can enjoy this garden for what it is, another of London's secret green spaces, or you can read and discover how much more of a story a few square metres can reveal.

Cleary Gardens is on a WWII bomb site, and the exposed levels follow London's history from Roman times to the present. With a wide variety of trees, plans and shrubs it's a haven for nature, you can listen to the sounds here , and examine more of London's nature here (try clicking the "browse" feature).

Much as I believe current climate change is being influenced by man's activity, we shouldn't forget that climate change is a natural, cyclical thing. Vines used to grow here in the middle ages, the rebuilding of the garden was sponsored by Loire Valley Wines. Mmmmmmm a nice a Vouvray will do nicely, thank you, or maybe St Nicolas de Borgueil.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map.

Wren's Lantern

Yes, it is a clock, no it isn't a lantern, but I couldn't get in the church and I wanted to show you the richness of this small spot of London.

Still in the same place by Lower Thames Street, you can find one of Wren's Churches - and this one is special. Rebuilt after the Great Fire, Wren transformed the building and made it so bright and airy it became known as "Wren's Lantern". Read about its history here. I'll have to go back and take the inside photo one day - hopefully on a sunny one. A wider view of the deceptively plain exterior is here.

Swanning About

As promised, here's some of what you see from those seats under the trees. And a more idiosyncratic London theme you won't find. Because this is a statue of a Bargemaster and Swan Marker of the Vintner's Company, the person responsible for Swan Upping. Which, for people who can't be bothered clicking is the annual census of the swan population (which belong to the Queen) on a stretch of the River Thames. The ceremony of Swan Upping dates from the twelfth century and takes place during the third week of July every year. It has always been the duty of the Sovereign's Swan Marker to count the number of young cygnets each year and ensure that the swan population is maintained.

We're not done with this tiny corner of London yet - still some more secrets.

Green Oasis

After yesterday's sombre message, I take pleasure in bringing you the diversity of London. Hardly ten feet from the thunder of Lower Thames Street is a small oasis that typifies the contrast you find in London. Cheek by jowl with a murderous road, you'll find benches to sit under some of my favourite trees, sit a while, have your lunch, think, whatever.

I'll show you some more of this area over the next couple of days.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map.

Ghost Bike

Ghost Bikes are small and sombre memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel. This ghost bike is in Stamford Hill, and commemorates the life of Lucinda Ferrier, killed on the 23rd June this year.

On my ride to work this morning, I passed by a crash that killed a cyclist only minutes after it happened, here, not 50 yards from where another cyclist was killed a few years ago. Makes you think.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map

These Boots Are Made For Walking

While I may have pointed out here and elsewhere that cycling and photography are the best combination, walking remains the best way to explore London's streets in detail. So I'm quite happy to give publicity to Walk London who also had a stand at the Thames Festival (hang on - shouldn't that be "a walk"?).

Their website has shedloads of ideas for walks, and you even have plenty of warning to join in their "Autumn Ambles" on the 27th/28th September.

You want to hear the original? OK, here. And you can laugh at the lip synch, too.

City of Tears

Let's not forget that, among the celebration and festivity, there are always people deep in sorrow.

London can be an uncertain chapter in many a life story, as for Andrew Gosden. A year ago Sunday, aged 14, he came to London and disappeared from sight. I met friends of his family who were distributing leaflets in the hope that someone might have seen him.

What else could they do?

Read his story here. There's not one reading who won't think "Thank all that's holy it's not me". Then see how many are missing in London.