London - Tate Mod .......

View from the Tate Mod on a very grey day - but lovely view just the same!

(Click on pic to see larger version)

Highgate Cemetary

I took these photos today at Highgate Cemetary (the old part) - it was grey and drizzling all day, but this seemed to add to the atmosphere ...... never mind about seeing Karl Marx (in the newer part) - take a guided tour around the original Victorian Cemetary - it's fascinating.

Playing with colour and texture (and abstract!)

Potteries in North London

I have recently been browsing the history of a section of North London, and came across some fascinating information about some of the many Potteries that had been established to provide bricks from London clay. Wood had been banned as a building material, in 1666, since the Great Fire.

The above poster is from one of the many Potteries, and - if you can manage to read the other poster - (click on it to get a better view) it just gives a little insight into working rules at the time.

Incidentally, to any "Tottenham" supporter, this particular Pottery was built in White Hart Lane - very close to the Spurs ground.

Allotment Photos

Lovely pics taken by No.1 son,
at a local allotment.

Piranha Pedicure!

This has absolutely nothing to do with anything in my blog! - but we actually saw somewhere giving this treatment at Camden Lock! it looked amazing .......... but slightly yucky!!

Strand on The Green, Chiswick.

Strand on the Green is a very picturesque walkway
on the Thames,
running east from Kew Bridge.
Lots of pubs with beautiful views of the river.

only - do take care if the tide comes in!

Trees

I thought these trees, near the Tate Britain, just looked unusual and knobbly - and couldn't resist taking a pic. Be interesting to see what they look like later in the year.

Christmas Shopping in Oxford Street, London.

London Park in Autumn

click on photo to see fab larger view.

Someone has a sense of humour!

I took these yesterday in the West End (London) !

Ornamentation

I was taking some photos yesterday at the Royal Courts of Justice in London - looking at the ornamentation - and have edited three of the pics - just a little ...... it's interesting how just adding 'black' and removing some colour, completely changes the image.

What a gorgeous day here in London ........

Every time I sit down in the garden, I seem to find another little job to do ....... this is no good! The weather is wonderful, and I'm now going to have a cup of tea and a sandwich and just laze! (maybe!!)

PS: I must have put a hex on the weather as later we had a torrential downpour inc. hailstones!
However, the good side is my water butt's almost full again! YAY!

The Tower (& Globe Theatre) along the Thames

The Tower

Entrance to Traitors Gate

The re-built Globe Theatre by courtesy of Sam Wanamaker

More of my photos from along The Thames

Highgate Woods, North London, UK.

Back of Highgate Underground Station

Whitechapel/Brick Lane/Aldgate - London's East End

Old and New in Whitechapel

This corner shop is the site of one of the old Yiddish Theaters

The Whitechapel Bell Foundry - amongst many others,
The Liberty Bell and Big Ben were made here.

Steps - entrance to tenament building in the East End.

Back view of tenaments

Many streets in London have strange names, and Hessel Street in the East End is one. Until recently I had no idea who this street was named after and have found out that Hessel Street was apparently named after Phoebe Hessel (b.1713). She had a very interesting history - and at one point in her life dressed up as man to join the army to fight the French. There are many stories about her. It was thought she was Jewish, but she was baptised in Stepney and buried in a Brighton church. She lived for 108 years.