Fair Fairings?

London has a vast number of exclusive antiques shops that huddle together in areas like Portobello Road or here, in Chelsea. Fairings are those curious, mostly fairly coarse china ornaments that were bought or won at fairs in the 19th Century. While they are collectible, they are not normally fantastically expensive. I thought I'd use this picture in connection with the Bank Holiday and Fairs. However, given the prominence of these figures and the location of the shop, I suspect that my initial identification of these as fairings might well be wrong.

Private Eye Magazine

This plain door is the entrance to Private Eye magazine, the publication that carries the torch lit by Punch and combines trailblazing investigative journalism with gossip and great cartoons. There's an online version these days, have a read.

The Punch Tavern

Also following on from the News International picture is this - the Punch Tavern in Fleet Street. Punch Magazine, or "The London Charivari" was a satirical magazine that enjoyed success from 1841 to 2002, containing a mixture of literature and gossip. Most famous for its cartoons, these days you can browse and buy their back catalogue here.

Shadows Part II - The Globe Theatre

This was my alternative for the "Shadows" theme day:

"If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream"

Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre should be on everyone's "must see" list. There is something quite special about watching the plays as they might have been four hundred years ago. and you rapidly realise - if you hadn't before - that they didn't have aeroplanes 400 years ago. "The Globe Theatre" is also the answer to the trivia question - "Name a timbered, thatched building in the centre of London".

May Theme Day - Shadows

So the City Daily Photo theme day is shadows, and you think I've finally lost it.

Except this is Fortress Wapping - the London HQ of News International. Back in the Eighties, it was they who, following in Eddy Shah's footsteps, transformed newspaper production and led the exodus from Fleet Street. I well remember the scenes of union Vs police confrontation that played out each day. This company arguably changed the face of modern London more than any other, so are worthy of mention here whatever my opinion of them. And shadows? Well, they do own The Sun newspaper (clue bottom left), and everyone knows where there's sun there are shadows.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

London's Vantage Points - the Oxo Tower

The top of the Oxo tower is an exclusive bar and restaurant, but also a free public viewing gallery. I've passed by the sign hundreds of times, I've eaten in the restaurant, but it was only today that the words sunk in and so I went up to have a look. Nobody else seems to have noticed, either, but it must be the highest, free, central London viewing area.

Wild Poland in London

If you like Nature Photography, take a stroll along Southbank. For the next month there is an exhibition called Wild Poland - quite a lot of great photos. I was going to crack a bear behind joke, but I managed to stop myself - almost. What was really nice to see was the way all manner of people were engaging with the pictures.

Number One Poultry

This building used to be Mappin & Webb, a Victorian Gothic edifice and some people mourn its passing. I wasn't sure to begin with, but I rather like it now. Read about it in rather over the top terms here. (What also made me laugh reading that was that Google ads on the page wanted to sell me a chicken coop)

The London Marathon

36,000 people ran 26 miles - I made it to watch the Marathon, albeit only briefly. It is a truly great event with an atmosphere like no other I can think of. Everyone willing the runners on, the runners doing it for charity; it's just a nice place to be. So, to all those that took part, Chapeaux! (or to the non-cyclists out there, 'nuff respect!)

Hats off to the runners

I'm not sure whether I'll get down to the London Marathon this year (running today) but I take my hat off to those who run. Mrs Ham & I walked 17 miles yesterday - no way do I want to run 26. These hats are in Lock & Co, London Hatters since 1676 - and that's a marathon, too.

As they say in Tour de France land - chapeaux!

Anonymous Londoners - One of Thousands

I don't often show photos of the homeless here, and I don't often recycle photos from TWWSI. But this one is different - those eyes. Adelaide Street behind St Martin's in the Fields is a focal point for homeless. Look at those eyes - there but for the grace of fortune go you and I.

A Conversation With Oscar Wilde

It's probably my least favourite sculpture in London. I was here for The Way We See It and I've been struggling to photograph this for some time (Chaz does quite a good job in TWWSI). It doesn't help that Oscar's ciggy keeps on getting nicked, and it just ends up looking like a putrefying head and hand poking out of a coffin. Read about the statue here.

Ian Tomlinson

Ian Tomlinson is very much in the news at the moment: he died during the G20 protest, apparently an innocent bystander caught up by events. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, it is a tragedy that he died. This shrine has grown up close to where he was assaulted. See the video here, read the story here.

Spring Flowers

Red, white(ish) and blue spring flowers? It must be one of the best spreads in London - just outside Buckingham Palace. They're rather good - it's actually worth a trip (maybe just a short detour) to see them. There's also something curiously British and satisfyingly understated about the way that yellow/white flowers have been used. In the USA, that would have been pure white.

For some real spring flowers, pop over to London Daily Nature Photo today.

Adventure Playground - Interactive Graffiti

This has to be a world first in London - Interactive Graffiti!

Someone had taken the trouble to convert streetsigns by Shoreditch Church into an adventure playground: swing, ladder, trapeze, rings and people were having quite some fun using them. A few more shots here.

Ordinary Londoners - No 21 in a series

This is Kate Garrett, an ordinary Londoner who has put themselves forward for election to my local council.

In my area, a councillor has recently died, precipitating an election this coming Thursday. Kate is the Lib Dem candidate and - for my money - the best candidate. I don't have any party political leanings, but their agenda is closer to what I think should happen than any of the others. The system doesn't work without decent, responsible people like Kate willing to put themselves forward, and it doesn't work if you don't vote. Whatever you do, whatever your politics, you really must join in if you have the opportunity to vote.

The Ordinary Londoner Series is here.

National Maritime Museum

The colonnades at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich are one of my favourite sights in London, can't quite explain why. Photo taken on the Bronica.

Sir Thomas More

Thomas More lived and is buried near here on the Chelsea Embankment. What sets this statue apart is the gilded face and hands. What set the man apart was the way he lived his life to ideals - he coined the word "Utopia" - he was the Man For All Seasons. Is it only me that sees irony in that he was chosen as the patron saint of politicians? Except, I suppose, he did get up to some pretty nasty stuff so it fits.

London Does Dingy

I never cease to be amazed how London can change character as you move around a corner. This alleyway is just behind Denmark Street - Tin Pan Alley and by virtue of the tattoo parlour and the music studios, has a completely different feel from the bustling streets surrounding it. Try it, you'll see what I mean. The view from Google Streetview is .here

See where on the London Daily Photo Map
For the first 200 Map places, click here.

Lao di fang - 老地方

They don't take reservations from Europeans, they don't appear to have a website, but My Old Place (lao di fang) serves some of the most authentic Chinese food you'll find in London. At the end of my introductory Chinese course, all us students went with our tutor to this fantastic place. There is an English version of the menu, but the Chinese one looks more comprehensive. Just try stuff is my advice. Reviews here and here. And if you had asked me to read that Chinese three months ago, I wouldn't have believed I'd ever be able to do it. I start the next level in a couple of weeks.