Wandering Round London

The weather very dreary for May, so an umbrella a useful item to tote about.

 Instead of a brolly, I carry my camera to observe: people walking to work

on Morocco Street near London Bridge......

 ....three business types round the back of St. Martin-in-the-Fields passing

 a woman who looks as if she is camped there for the day.....

....four people in rain jackets emerging out of the Underground at Paddington Station....

(The roof of the station still gives me a sort of sinking feeling

 that reminds me of going back to school from here several million years ago.)

.....Five workmen (one partially obscured) doing important things to the refurbishment

 of the splendid public baths in Kentish Town......  

Such absurdly ornate architecture!

Yesterday evening we followed a woman and her two little dogs as walked to supper. 

And, yes, I did gawp, tourist-like, at Tower Bridge before we ate.

And it was very splendid.

And it was still splendid after I had eaten yummy steak and kidney pie.

Lots and lots more pictures (of course).......

Trip

I'm off to London this evening. These photos are from a previous trip.

Obviously, lots and lots to do. Family to see and museums and restaurants and hotels 

and all the sights and buses and bookshops.............

The sepia tone is meant to indicate nostalgia.......but really London

 is  much better nowadays than when I was growing up when it was

 grimy and a bit grim before it got to be fun in the 'swinging 60's'

London Details

We ate a lot of salad in London, since we had been too nervous to eat it in India.

The vegetables there were wonderful, but we only ate them cooked.

In London, a brisk wind batted the clouds through a blue sky.

(Tottenhan Court Road opposite M&S.)

A white on white window near Great Ormond Street.

I was walking to the Persephone Bookshop on Lamb's Conduit Street

where I bought four books, even though I'm rather fierce about carrying heavy luggage.

I particularly recommend Tea with Mr.Rochester by Frances Towers.

If you don't know Persephone Books, go there now.

What a door! Window frame, railings, fanlight, side alley.

The very apotheosis of door-ness.

This doorway with primroses and black plastic bin-bag looks as if someone lives there.

Transitions/London

After India , London was cool and subdued. 

Here the Gerhardt Richter show at The national Portrait Gallery.

Much tea was needed to counteract jet-lag.

And steak and kidney pie in a pub.

They had done too-clever-by-half things with the window

 through which you can see Nelson wavering on top of his column

and an old fashioned phone box.

Because it is spring people are determined to drink outside pubs

even though it's pretty chilly.

Pale daffodils (99 pence) from Marks and Spencer's.

London Details/Kentishtown and Bermondsey Street

London moggie.

Tasteful window.

Shop where they printed our bus passes.

Books about London.

A throwback shop which hasn't altered since the 1950's.

Victorian tile work outside a pub.

The Hope Chapel lit up for the Sabbath....

...across the road from the Drinkers Paradise and the betting shop.

The Garrison gastro-pub where I ate bangers and mash.

And the walk back to London Bridge Station under the arches of the railway.

More London/Saturday

Some London Shadows here and there.For other Shadowshots please go to Heyharriet!

Mario's Cafe in Kentishtown, an institution for Camden musicians and artists.

Which color house to choose on Kelly Street?

Kelly green.

Seriously bad photo of traffic lights at Trafalgar Square from the #88 bus.

Blueberry and carrot cupcake from a market stall in Clapham. Yum.

Buckets of spring flowers in Clapham.

If I had a garden I would have to buy all the primulas immediately.

Boots on King's Road in Chelsea.

King's Road again. How odd and thrilling to be able to sit outside in London in February.

Late afternoon light on the Thames above Battersea Bridge. From the 319 Bus. 

Out and About in London

Opposite the bus stop. Kentish Town.

The local. Note the name.

A Wren church seen from the bus in Aldwych.

The South Bank. Outside the Festival Hall. 5pm.

Dusk over the Thames.

Rather chilly for icecream --but cheerful nonetheless.

Jet Lag/A Comfy House/ London

Coal scuttle, books, bellows from Morocco............

Wine decanters. The ones with wide bases are ships' decanters.

Kitchen. Very small dabs of Vermeer.

Bread bin and useful utensil bucket.

The mug of memory.