Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Driving through London - part 2 - Camberwell
Having spent the best part of an hour crawling through Peckham, we finally reached Camberwell, another inner south London suburb low on charm, but lively nonetheless. I don't have as many photos to show you because traffic conditions improved considerably (seems that every car going through the area was stuck in or around Peckham) and we picked up some speed, so it wasn't as easy to take photos. Here's a selection of the best ones.
I don't know what this building is, can't even tell if it's an office block or residential accommodation, but I thought it looked nice.
Finally, some empty roads!
Coming up to Camberwell Green, the hub of Camberwell where all the restaurants and bars are.
Check out "Noodels City". You may have to enlarge the photo to see the sign.
Continuing towards Kennington, it's getting a bit busier on the roads, but still moving at a steady speed.
Another example of terraced housing - this time Victorian/Edwardian (I think).
Made by Cows - a popular ad campaign by Anchor Butter.
The empty road happiness wasn't meant to last. Soon we come across more roadworks and more cones, and we're back to single lane traffic.
Still, slow speeds are good for photography. I really shouldn't complain.
I don't know what this building is, can't even tell if it's an office block or residential accommodation, but I thought it looked nice.
Finally, some empty roads!
Coming up to Camberwell Green, the hub of Camberwell where all the restaurants and bars are.
Check out "Noodels City". You may have to enlarge the photo to see the sign.
Continuing towards Kennington, it's getting a bit busier on the roads, but still moving at a steady speed.
Another example of terraced housing - this time Victorian/Edwardian (I think).
Made by Cows - a popular ad campaign by Anchor Butter.
The empty road happiness wasn't meant to last. Soon we come across more roadworks and more cones, and we're back to single lane traffic.
Still, slow speeds are good for photography. I really shouldn't complain.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Driving through London - part 1 - Peckham
OK. Here's the deal. There are 212 photos in my "London" folder from last weekend's roadtrip from hell. There is absolutely no way I can show you even a quarter of them without creating a mega photo-sharing post or a slide show, and I have an aversion to both. So I thought I'd bundle the photos according to area and show you a few out of each group instead.
To start, I give you Peckham (pronounced as Peck-uhm, not Peck-ham). Not one of the most salubrious areas of London, but I did warn you it's the London the tourists don't see. Ahem. Keep in mind that I took these pictures from the car while we were moving (admittedly at crawling speed) along the A202, so the photos aren't terribly well-framed. I guess what I'm saying is, cut me some slack, OK.
I've no idea what this is (other than a building that's been boarded up after a fire) but I like the art. I spotted it in New Cross, a run-down but very hip neighbourhoood, just before Peckham proper.
In case you're still wondering why it took us 40 minutes to drive 4.5 miles, here's the answer: roadworks!
This is a typical terrace, a row of identical or mirror-image houses sharing side walls - either Victorian or mock Victorian, I can't tell.
Did I mention the traffic? Notice the cars are perfectly stationery although the light is green.
A pub and two shops with funky names...
A typical neighbourhood mini market - sells everything and anything.
A messy picture, but I like it because you can see Manze's traditional pie and mash shop and catch a glimpse of the top of the futuristically designed Peckham Library.
A typical high street: Rye Lane and the Aylesham Shopping Centre.
I like this photo because of the scooter. You don't often see scooters on London roads. Also because the sun's shining and the sky's looking interesting.
The Harris Academy at Peckham promoting themselves.
And finally, the back of a London bus!
These are the best of my Peckham photos, plus a bonus one here. So, tell me, how closely do they match what you expected to see?
To start, I give you Peckham (pronounced as Peck-uhm, not Peck-ham). Not one of the most salubrious areas of London, but I did warn you it's the London the tourists don't see. Ahem. Keep in mind that I took these pictures from the car while we were moving (admittedly at crawling speed) along the A202, so the photos aren't terribly well-framed. I guess what I'm saying is, cut me some slack, OK.
I've no idea what this is (other than a building that's been boarded up after a fire) but I like the art. I spotted it in New Cross, a run-down but very hip neighbourhoood, just before Peckham proper.
In case you're still wondering why it took us 40 minutes to drive 4.5 miles, here's the answer: roadworks!
This is a typical terrace, a row of identical or mirror-image houses sharing side walls - either Victorian or mock Victorian, I can't tell.
Did I mention the traffic? Notice the cars are perfectly stationery although the light is green.
A pub and two shops with funky names...
A typical neighbourhood mini market - sells everything and anything.
A messy picture, but I like it because you can see Manze's traditional pie and mash shop and catch a glimpse of the top of the futuristically designed Peckham Library.
A typical high street: Rye Lane and the Aylesham Shopping Centre.
I like this photo because of the scooter. You don't often see scooters on London roads. Also because the sun's shining and the sky's looking interesting.
The Harris Academy at Peckham promoting themselves.
And finally, the back of a London bus!
These are the best of my Peckham photos, plus a bonus one here. So, tell me, how closely do they match what you expected to see?
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Jack-in-the-Green
Yesterday we celebrated May Day by attending a Jack-in-the-Green procession. I imagine you have no idea what that is, so let me give you some background information.
Jack-in-the-Green processions have their roots in the milkmaid May Day celebrations of the mid 17th century. At that time, milkmaids would go out with the utensils of their trade (cups, pots, spoons) decorated with garlands and piled into a pyramid, which they carried on their heads. Later on, other groups such as chimney sweeps also started taking advantage of May Day as an opportunity to collect money.
At some point during the 18th century, the separate garlands of flowers and leaves were transformed into a structure, like a large beehive, covered with foliage which was carried by a man and which became known as a Jack-in-the-Green.
By the 19th century, May Day had come to mean chimney sweeps with a Jack and music provided by drums, fiddles and whistles. However, by the end of the century, these celebrations had come to be considered too disorderly and were often suppressed by the police. Jacks became a rarity after the First World War.
A revival started in the 1970's and there are now two well-known Jack-in-the-Green celebrations in South East England, one in Rochester and another in Hastings. London has its own Jack-in-the-Green procession, organised by the Deptford Fowlers Troop. This is the one we attended.
The route we followed took us along the South Bank and over the Millennium Bridge to a pub opposite St Paul's Cathedral, where we stopped for a well-earned drink or three.
Along the way, we met a group of Morris Men (folk dancers) heading in the opposite direction. They kindly stopped to be photographed.
The man inside the Jack also came out when we reached the pub and posed for photos. I also took a short video showing him twirling to the music. The big structure in the background is St Paul's Cathedral.
Tradition says that as long as the drum can be heard, the rain will hold off. I took this photo shortly after the procession finished, so perhaps there is some truth in that belief. Funnily enough, it started raining an hour or so later - and hasn't stopped since.
The historical information for this post came from a booklet titled "Fowlers Troops and the Deptford Jack-in-the-Green: A history of an old London May Day tradition" by Sarah Crofts.
Jack-in-the-Green processions have their roots in the milkmaid May Day celebrations of the mid 17th century. At that time, milkmaids would go out with the utensils of their trade (cups, pots, spoons) decorated with garlands and piled into a pyramid, which they carried on their heads. Later on, other groups such as chimney sweeps also started taking advantage of May Day as an opportunity to collect money.
At some point during the 18th century, the separate garlands of flowers and leaves were transformed into a structure, like a large beehive, covered with foliage which was carried by a man and which became known as a Jack-in-the-Green.
By the 19th century, May Day had come to mean chimney sweeps with a Jack and music provided by drums, fiddles and whistles. However, by the end of the century, these celebrations had come to be considered too disorderly and were often suppressed by the police. Jacks became a rarity after the First World War.
A revival started in the 1970's and there are now two well-known Jack-in-the-Green celebrations in South East England, one in Rochester and another in Hastings. London has its own Jack-in-the-Green procession, organised by the Deptford Fowlers Troop. This is the one we attended.
The route we followed took us along the South Bank and over the Millennium Bridge to a pub opposite St Paul's Cathedral, where we stopped for a well-earned drink or three.
Along the way, we met a group of Morris Men (folk dancers) heading in the opposite direction. They kindly stopped to be photographed.
The man inside the Jack also came out when we reached the pub and posed for photos. I also took a short video showing him twirling to the music. The big structure in the background is St Paul's Cathedral.
Tradition says that as long as the drum can be heard, the rain will hold off. I took this photo shortly after the procession finished, so perhaps there is some truth in that belief. Funnily enough, it started raining an hour or so later - and hasn't stopped since.
The historical information for this post came from a booklet titled "Fowlers Troops and the Deptford Jack-in-the-Green: A history of an old London May Day tradition" by Sarah Crofts.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Ash cloud, you say?
Several people have asked me what it's like to live under the Dark Cloud from Iceland, so I took some photos to show you.
Yes, the sky is clear! So clear, in fact, that you can make out a plane flying overhead - as well as the moon. Blue skies made an appearance a couple of weeks ago, before Eyjafjallajökull decided to sprout debris into the atmosphere, and have continued almost uninterrupted since. Apparently, the ash cloud is there, but it's too high up to be visible.
There is plenty of evidence that spring has sprung, and not just in the clear blue skies. The flowers are in full bloom, particularly the tulips and pansies, and trees are turning a tell-tale green colour.
I quite like this photo I took at a park nearby. It's a woman returning home from work, walking through the park while checking the messages on her mobile phone. I wonder if she's noticed the flowers?
Yes, the sky is clear! So clear, in fact, that you can make out a plane flying overhead - as well as the moon. Blue skies made an appearance a couple of weeks ago, before Eyjafjallajökull decided to sprout debris into the atmosphere, and have continued almost uninterrupted since. Apparently, the ash cloud is there, but it's too high up to be visible.
There is plenty of evidence that spring has sprung, and not just in the clear blue skies. The flowers are in full bloom, particularly the tulips and pansies, and trees are turning a tell-tale green colour.
I quite like this photo I took at a park nearby. It's a woman returning home from work, walking through the park while checking the messages on her mobile phone. I wonder if she's noticed the flowers?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Sunday, December 06, 2009
His and hers shopping
I walked past this quaint little shop earlier today and couldn't resist taking a few photos to share with you.
One side of the shop is dedicated to kitchen equipment and assorted cook's gadgets...
...whereas the other is assigned to DYI tools.
The shop was closed at the time, so I was only able to look through the windows. I might go back another day - I'd like to take a closer look at the Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix jars.
If any of you are in London, the shop is called Bert and Betty and is located in Greenwich, not far from the mainline station.
One side of the shop is dedicated to kitchen equipment and assorted cook's gadgets...
...whereas the other is assigned to DYI tools.
The shop was closed at the time, so I was only able to look through the windows. I might go back another day - I'd like to take a closer look at the Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix jars.
If any of you are in London, the shop is called Bert and Betty and is located in Greenwich, not far from the mainline station.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
A garden toilet?
Last Saturday a group of us visited the Portobello Market in Notting Hill (where I took last WW's photo). None of us were familiar with the area, so while looking for a pub to have a drink and a rest, we chose the Churchill Arms purely based on its floral exterior.
The pub was full of pictures, framed newspaper cuttings and other memorabilia relating to ex-British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. There was also an impressive collection of bed pans hanging from the ceiling. Apparently, the Churchill Arms is where Churchill would come to do his war time radio addresses. Not sure what the connection with the bed pans is though.
We had the biggest WOW! moment when we visited the ladies' toilets. To get to the toilets, you follow the signs round the side of the bar, through the Thai restaurant section and then down a short alley that's made to look like a garden path.
When you push the door open, this is what you see:
There are flowers (real) and butterflies (fake) everywhere, even inside the cubicles!
English pubs are often quirky, and no two pubs are ever the same, but this one really is quite unique. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it! The gents' toilets at the opposite side of the bar were reportedly quite plain, so I'm wondering if the Thai ladies who work at the restaurant are responsible for the garden in the female toilets.
Whoever it is, they've done an excellent job. Never has a trip to the loo been discussed so much as this one was amongst our group - and now it's even got its own blog post.
The pub was full of pictures, framed newspaper cuttings and other memorabilia relating to ex-British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. There was also an impressive collection of bed pans hanging from the ceiling. Apparently, the Churchill Arms is where Churchill would come to do his war time radio addresses. Not sure what the connection with the bed pans is though.
We had the biggest WOW! moment when we visited the ladies' toilets. To get to the toilets, you follow the signs round the side of the bar, through the Thai restaurant section and then down a short alley that's made to look like a garden path.
When you push the door open, this is what you see:
There are flowers (real) and butterflies (fake) everywhere, even inside the cubicles!
English pubs are often quirky, and no two pubs are ever the same, but this one really is quite unique. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it! The gents' toilets at the opposite side of the bar were reportedly quite plain, so I'm wondering if the Thai ladies who work at the restaurant are responsible for the garden in the female toilets.
Whoever it is, they've done an excellent job. Never has a trip to the loo been discussed so much as this one was amongst our group - and now it's even got its own blog post.
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