Beer here there & everywhere

Out about in London’s brilliant parade with BLBW for well with some inevitability some beer we went to the London Drinker beer festival at Camden centre.
It was jolly perhaps not as good as the Hackney one in December but the beer was good. Ales to look out for Acorn IPA, Urban Dusk from Redemption (a lovely best bitter from Tottenham’s finest) and a lovely IPA from Fullers Bengal lancer which won’t be around for long so hurray while stocks last.

It was then off whizzing through the night to Battersea which picking itself up from the disappointment of me and BBLW no longer living there has got even more la-di-da. Had a jolly time at a new pub amongst the gilded youth of the south shore (shoulder pads and loud voices are back in or never went away I’m not sure).

It is a different world, the beer was good and the place was buzzing. It was odd to see that “brewing Up “ by BB is now aspirational amongst the other tasteful poster and oh they have He-man wallpaper in the bogs!

Anyway wandering home via the Kings road with its orange trainers and cafes that sell champagne for breakfast I made a little film...” we’re not Deptford anymore Toto”....

Quote of the Day:

On the tube: a friendly group of museum workers on their way home, sharing horror stories of their difficult customers.Apparently on being told there were no more places left at a sleep over event for their little “Saffron” the reply came back from one Uber mum

“ you do realise she’ll won’t get into Cambridge now!”

all that glisters isn't golden syrup

all that glisters isn't golden syrup
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

Went for a nice stroll round the edge of the isle of dogs had hoped to walk via the 2 foot tunnels but was bit too long and the end bit at Silvertime you couldn't get that close to the river so did the last bit on the DLR.

It was really interesting never been eastwards on Isle of Dogs. It was the usual mix of dull and lifeless private housing and odd river side oddities (the bits people actually like!) .

I got the usual looks for poking around on various beaches and even told off by one of the flat dwellers. She was a bit put out when I pointed out it's didn't belong to her flat and depending on the tide I was probably on the Queen's bit and she'd said it was ok. I almost wrote F off in stones but was in too a good mood.
Anyway here's some more pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/bltpicons/sets/72157623526123542/

The sound of the Progeometric Age and other London tales

The sound of the Progeometric Age
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

" Progeometric is not a commonly used term...."

so says
Katja Strunz at Camden Arts Centre art and whom am I to doubt her. Ms Strunz's work was part of arty trawl through town these last few days.

It was a cheery piece whereby a forest (well a copse) of old brass instruments are fitted with speakers and eerie postrock ambient sounds played through them, it was really intriguing. Never been to CAC before and even  a dreadful tube journey didn't spoil this work.

After that it was off to Old street with S &R to see William Egglestone show , which was good. I do fear his work has been absorbed by every one myself included trying to take shots like his although this expo is worth a look .

The day before  we had a lovely time wandering round the Courtauld institute with K & L (let's not leave so long next time) which was a real joy as usual. They have the best works and the lack of crowds make looking at them a real pleasure (it's only £4 quid for concessions) and the cafe is good too.

To round off my arty nosiness I had a poke around the London fashion week tent in Courtauld courtyard. I took a punt on door  to sneak in and almost wandered into the dressing rooms! So I scurried out and just watched the fashiony types trying to hide their excitement at being stopped by various journos/camera crews and asked what they were wearing "what this well it's vintage I got it in Oakland ..."

Disease of the heart or heart disease

Valentine ring buns
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

Yes, it's that day again the annual roll out of Gregg's Valentine day sickly baked treat! This years is a doozy!

One interesting point which may point to wild times round Mr Gregg's pampas grass fringed bungalow, why would you need 6 valentines buns!?

Rambling weekend: walking here and there with William Bragg

Which side are you on?
First things for first went to speakers corner hear Billy official refuse to pay his tax until RBS agree to curtail all bonuses over £25K. I do think that's the killer we are not even asking for no bonus those over 25K anyway as ever Bill was very fair even to majority of bankers. I tried to film it for you but this being free speech corner some tedious Spanish students came along and shouted very near to me. God love free speech but sometimes!
Anyway it did the trick and the press were there to interview Billy (and me!) so maybe the pressure will increase we can but hope.









In other news:


The things people say and do: out and about special.
At the Imperial War Museum yesterday (part of my walk to interesting places campaign)
Heard in the lift "I don't care what Josh did we are not going to "crimes against humanity"
"Well its hummus and carrot sticks or a muesli bar or nothing" This was next to an 88 mm German anti aircraft gun a sort of final victory for banal democracy over hideous Totalitarism.


Elsewhere:
Young woman to harassed boyfriend on Oxford Street:
"you never pay any attention to me,"
Him "oh come off it I do"
Her “like what was that last dress I tried on like then"
Him " well sort of Roman crossed with 1920's flapper"
Her "Don't get clever"
To get to the Hyde Park I walked through Mayfair, it's an odd place virtually empty at the weekend apart from stumpy walnut looking old blokes in long coats with their tall blond "daughters" clumping next to them. One of the women even gave me a laughy smile that seemed to say "yeah we know it's ridiculous but what can you do".

Along the way and up through Bond street the place was heaving with haggard looking rich people in bad fur coats. Now we know fur looks better on animals but one woman had one of those patchworky affairs that looked like someone had put an grenade into a guinea pig hutch and them stuck the remains onto a market traders puffa jacket with a dried up pritt stick . God it looked terrible but she wasn't alone there was parade of them all with their Yoko Ono safety goggles sunglasses, looking in the empty windows of closed jeweller’s shops. I tried to take a snap of them outside Bulgari to contrast their appearance against the huge picture of Juliane Moore's translucent beauty but could not get a good shot. Poor old Suzanne was being forced to look alluring covered in gaudy rubies pestering a cockatoo (she was almost pulling it off, the look that is...)

Elsewhere the world went on as usual Primark was inexplicably packed, as was Subway, an elderly black guy in huge furry hat was walking about outside Selfridges wearing a floral pattern skirt, the tourist tat shops were still displaying grim looking off white thongs with “mind the gap” on them prominently in their windows, bored looking blokes were putting those caramel nuts into little paper bags, people bump into me and didn't apologise. Later I got offered a flier for an evangelical slimming club by an insistent Spanish speaking woman this was we went past a church called the "house of Bread". It was all very odd even down to tiniest tot of a little black girl who when I picked up her glove for her insisted on calling me Mr Mr Man for the rest of the journey.
So the usual really.

Australia Day (local chapter)

R. Fiddes
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

Went to Nunhead cemetery on Sunday, shamed by not having been before it's wonderfully atmospheric, peaceful and wild. There's a wonderful view down to St Paul's from the top of the hill and myriad of rambling toppling graves and old trees.

There's a number of military graves/memorials in Nunhead  I chose R. Fiddes as he was sadly the youngest of the Anzacs in this group and with it being a gloomy day this young lad having traveled across the world to die (of his wounds?) barely out of school seemed extra poignant. You can imagine him not being that dissimilar to the people from down under etc we see/work with everyday. Not that dieing at age 34 like his neighbour is any good either. They are surround by the mass of everyday London folk so they are in good company.

Oddly near the entrance the entrance is another link to Oz with the Scottish martyrs monument who in 1790's got sent down under simply for campaigning for the vote! If you not been to Nunhead have a wander over. Oh and then there's the view from Telegraph Hill I should really get out more.

I'm a Photographer not terrorist

Hat
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

Here's some snaps from the mass snap in trafalgar square it was really quite jolly and friendly. Although with so many snappers none of us were used to having our picture taken!!
here's some more pics
here's the campaign site!

Another Helping of Robinson:

This is either a genius idea or oddly pointless this chap is intending to re-shoot shot for shot Patrick Keiller pioneering pyscho-geographic mock-documentary "London".  Every sane person will have seen Keiller's original and the idea this time is to shoot new scenes in the same places around London to seem how the old place has changed in last 19 (count 'em 19 years). To help with the project the director has put stills up on flickr of places and scenes he doesn't know. Like I say sounds a bit odd but well good luck to all concerned.

Vaulting ambition

Vaulting ambition
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

Went to Southwark Cathedral today. Been past hundreds of times on the way to work so it only seemed right. It's nice and peacefully inside and the vaultingand columns is incredible. I think it's been heavy restored but it's of a piece. Here's 4 things I found out.

Local boy Tommy Steele is on the audio guide.
They have the tomb of "Englands first poet" ( John Gower died 1408)
And the chapel dedicated to the healthcare workers was paid for by a seller of quack medicine. (Lionel Lockyer) who's pills included "sunbeams"!!
Wencelas Hollar drew this map from the tower

It's a good little Cathedral perhaps not as grand as St Paul's or ridiculously historical like Westminster Abbey but it had a suitbly spiritual calm atmosphere and the people were very friendly.

My first 3D film: Avatar

My first 3D film: Avatar
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

Blue Movie:
As a spectacle it was brilliant, I didn't fully settle into the 3D, think the realisation of the world would have been great in 2D especially with the sound at Odeon Leicester square. The story is a bit ropey and the jarring bits did spoil the immersive nature of the thing. So really worth seeing but would like to see a grown up less CGI film in 3D to see how it works in the none video gaming end of things.

Happy New Year

fox hill upper norwood (after Pissaro)
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

Had a lovely NYE round at S&R's for which many thanks. New Years day in the bright blue sky sunshine we went hunting for an Impressionist painting. In 1870's Camille Pissaro moved to London and famously lived in Norwood area and made some pictures.
Anyway we wanted to see if anything was still there If you click through to the flickr page you can see the original. A surprisingly number of buildings homes were still there. My pic is slightly further down the road, the trees on the right were similar to old Camille's.

Hot New Steamy Video.....

If you're ever in Tottenham (yeah I know It's unlikely!) but the Markfield Beam Engine  is worth a trip, (you need to go on a steam day check the website) and you can have a wander down the  Lea and feed the ducks!

Advent 10: Last minute gift ideas?

Advent 10: Last minute gift ideas?
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

Dear Santa,
I've been really good this Christmas I would like some Off road secure parking solutions and a Silver members unlimited multi user pass......

Tempus Fugit

Curious life moments #3847
Just got a text from my eldest nephew who somehow is  now old enough to come to London on his own (with 9 mates!).
Not sure why I'm more concerned for him (though very, very, very mildly) today rather than the rest of the year. I Didn't offer any advice of where to go etc, you have to make those mistakes for yourself. Doubt he'll mope around record shops (they've all closed and kids don't buy music)  or try to eat (by mistake) a hot towel in a Chinese restaurant like I did on my first time in the smoke.
But coo that we should have lived so long!

Oh so that's what they do there!

I always thought it looked slightly nefarious ! Dodgy goings on in NOHO (no change there then!)Vice. For those who don't wander down sunny goodge st it was one of London's mysterious doorways dodgier than I first thought.

David Sedaris: I like his funnier later show

The Hottest ticket around
To Broadcasting House with the wonderful A&E (we meet  at last) to see a recording for Radio 4 of David Sedaris reading from various of his books including his diary.  Not sure the security measures were entirely necessary, taking your belt off  and having your stuff X-rayed just to see a small Greek bloke reading pithy heart warming stories is over the top.

Not sure I have much more to say about Sedaris other than if you get the chance go and see him you won't regret!
Couple of points about broadcasting house we know it looks great (sorry my pic of the church next door came out better) but considering how much they pay the senior staff could we not spend some of money ripping out the bland 1990's interior and taking the theatre back to it's art deco glory.
Oh and one minor gripe why does the BRITISH Broadcasting Company only sell  beer from Canada or hell (and curiously unlitmately Canada!)  ie. Coors and Carling, get a grip and get some Pride fellas as well.

We are a Godfather....

he gave me grin I couldn't refuse....

I'm the proud uncle to a small sports team of exciting, funny, daft and delightful children (some increasingly not so small) and I am also godfather to a few of them. This being said I was very proud and touched to be asked by R & E to be godfather to little A (he has a marvelously Victorian name). To this end I wandered along to Stokey for the Baptism today. It was gloriously sunny watching the personal trainers drag their reluctant wards round Clissold park amongst the damp leaves. Along Church st worshippers were scurrying under the blue sky blown clean by yesterday's winds.

The service was good too we not only saw the handmaids of god but also the hand towel and the hand gel too! After that it was tea in the park followed by pizza and photos.

Anyway not sure I have much advice for A other than general notes about  the consumption of yellow snow, and to try to avoid owning a tray purse.

But I went past Bunhill on the way to the church this morning so here's what our William (Blake that is) has to say on the subject .

And flowers and trees and beasts and men receive
Comfort in morning, joy in the noonday.

And we are put on earth a little space,

That we may learn to bear the beams of love .

Lastly it's a new week so everyone take care so we can all meet up again this time next Sunday and  why not keep a special eye on any little one's you know like A even the if they don't have as wonderful cheeky grins and smiling eyes!

Trafalgar Square Vigil

Vigil for Victims of Hate Crimes 
Trafalgar Square 30th Oct 2009.
More pictures here
Here's my views from the other day.

And some Johnny C because the version last night was lost into the night air.






 Johnny Cash - Danny Boy

Only the Lonely

Alone again naturally
I was sorting through my photos and remembered I had this shot of some wall writing in Covent Garden. In my less than consistent way this is the sort of graffiti is the sort I approve off someones intense daubings on walls random slogans or even love tokens. Seeing the shot spark another memory of obscure seven inch I found.
The title the Loneliness of London intrigue (I buy most things unknown to me with London in title)

It's a weird late sixties sub JacqueBrel/scott walker not so swinging London pop tune.It starts of bleakly but I think the ending is a bit of cop out but well have listen. It may sound slightly weird as the anti-crackle software can be harsh.I can find nothing out about Peter Reeves so if you know anything please share.

Peter Reeves: the Loneliness of London

Down the Vic

Eagle Brand brand
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

One of London's many pubs that are slipping away it does seem sad. More pics here