Out and About in London 2014 – 15

A cold and damp yet, oddly, humid summer 2015 –  with warm splashes of  reviving sunshine – enough to invigorate the spirits while drinking a glass of wine in the garden.  I’ve been out and about – like a curious cat, investigating and exploring, sniffing out the beauty and the beast in the city.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to record these peripatetic wanderings  over the past year but my library of photos have reminded me of the city’s offerings. So here are  few of them, somewhat randomly captured, making me aware both of happy days but also that  another year has almost passed by.  ‘Crumbs!’, as Boris would say. Better get a move on … before the next holiday season strikes!

WINDOWS ON LONDON

Window on London 2014 - 2015

Window on London 2014 – 2015

 

LONDON FIELDS

This is quite a new area for me, now full of actors, artists’ ateliers, designers and film people as well as Broadway Market on a Saturday and Columbia Flower market down the road.  The lido has been updated, artisan bread shops and Pop-Up cafés under the arches have furnished me with delicious Swedish sourdough bread to take home.  And Liverpool Street station is within easy reach from London Fields by train.

We came upon an artist, Simon Pemberton, who has a studio by the Fields.  Among other things, he illustrates articles for the FT on Saturday, where we first found him and latterly bought two prints from him.  One is entitled ‘Preparation For The Next Life’, the other, ‘Festival of Insignificance’.  The indigo colours of both are glowing and were one of the reasons which attracted us to searching him out.  Since that time he has won the Editorial Illustration Award 2015 at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Flowers in London Fields E8

Flowers in London Fields E8

House overlooking London Fields E8

House overlooking London Fields E8

Roses in London Fields

Roses in London Fields

Pub on London Fields E8

Pub on London Fields E8

London biker fashionista

London biker fashionista

Orphaned baby shoe

Orphaned baby shoe in London Fields

Iconic camper vans from the 1960's - resting place in antique shop under the arches - London Fields E8

Iconic camper vans from the 1960s – re(u)sting  in antique shop under the arches – London Fields E8

Coming into Liverpool Street station from London Fields

Whizzing into Liverpool Street station from London Fields

Arriving at Liverpool Street station ...

Arriving at Liverpool Street station …

FOXES IN MOORGATE

Foxes prowl around our garden, lounge on the summer house roof in the afternoon sunshine and utter wolverine shrieks at night but the silver foxes of Moorgate are in a class of their own.

Tail of the silver fox 1

Mr Silver Fox

Mrs Silver Fox

Mrs Silver Fox

Meeting up in Moorgate

Meeting up in Moorgate

and a poppy covered taxi at Ludgate Circus …

London taxi - poppy day

London taxi – poppy day

Twinings Tea House - coming into Aldwych from Fleet Street

Twinings Tea House – coming into Aldwych from Fleet Street

Green Elephant on Fleet Street

Green Elephant on Fleet Street

 

INTERESTING BUILDINGS – OUT AND ABOUT …

Near the Eurostar entrance on Euston Road ...

Near the Eurostar entrance on Euston Road …

On my way back from the Courtauld Institute - in John Adam Street ...

On my way back from the Courtauld Institute – in John Adam Street …

Near Embankment underground station ...

Near Embankment underground station …

Around the corner from Zetters Town House - Clerkenwell

Around the corner from Zetter Town House – Clerkenwell

The Churchill Arms at the top of Kensington Church Street ...

The Churchill Arms at the top of Kensington Church Street …

Neals Yard - Covent Garden

Neals Yard – Covent Garden

This was set up by Nicholas Saunders in the late 60s.  He wrote a book called ‘Alternative London’, which was published by Wildwood House where I was working –  in Floral Street.  We were right at the heart of it all.

French coq crows in Trafalgar Square ...

French ‘coq bleu’ crows in Trafalgar Square …

The Shard

The Shard

Trafalgar Square - clouds, statues,  aeroplane ...

Trafalgar Square – clouds, statues, aeroplane …

NEAR TEMPLE TUBE STATION

Ghost riders on horseback above a crowd ...

Ghost riders on horseback above a crowd …

I don’t know whether this is just damp or my imagination but I see three knights in armour with helmets on horseback –  riding through a crowd.  This is by the embankment but on the Temple side.

Bookshop at South Kensington

Bookshop at South Kensington

ART, FASHION + DESIGN in BOND STREET W1

The train westwards from Liverpool Street on the Central line lets me hop off in the West End at the top of Bond Street. At the end of the 1960s I did evening classes here at Lucie Clayton – a school for would-be models.

Bond Street fashion 1

Bond Street fashion

A Veruschka moment ...

A Veruschka moment …

as she comes to life opposite Tiffany’s window.

Christmas 1

Christmas 1

Christmas 2

Christmas 2

Christmas 3

Christmas 3

Art and fashion still making a great mix here but steep rents are squeezing out all but the top names, which is a pity.

Bond Street Warhol

Bond Street Warhol

Bond Street shields

Bond Street shields

Bond Street rams

Bond Street rams

Bewildered in Bond Street

Bewildered in Bond Street

Bond Street - Is it all a myth?

Bond Street – Is it all just a myth?

The actor, Bill Nighy, outside Hatchards bookshop on Piccadilly ...

The actor, Bill Nighy, outside Hatchards bookshop on Piccadilly …

Passing by the Royal Academy …

Entrance to the Royal Academy, London W1

Entrance to the Royal Academy, London W1

RA Summer exhibition 2015

RA Summer exhibition 2015

Coming upon fleeing Santas in Jermyn Street …

A Father Christmas stampede ...

A Santa Claus stampede …

THE QUEENHITHE MOSAIC

This is near the Millennium Bridge in an alleyway leading off London Wall to the Thames

This is near the Millennium Bridge in an alleyway leading off Upper Thames street to the river

I came upon this by chance, having arrived early for lunch with a friend at an excellent Spanish restaurant – Zorito’s Kitchen – overlooking the river near the Millennium Bridge.  They also have a delicatessen with high quality wines.

I spied a small alleyway leading from Upper Thames Street to the river’s edge and came upon this extraordinarily wonderful mosaic, which stretches along its whole length.  It was designed by Tessa Hunkin and executed by South Bank Mosaics, with a lot of volunteers to help install it.  There is a film on YouTube on how it was made and more about it at Queenhithe Dock Heritage Timeline Mosaic Project. Here are parts of it but it’s worthwhile going to see the whole mosaic. The amount of thought that has gone into it, the design and its execution is so impressive.  Why don’t we rate things like this far above the lives of so-called celebrities?  The film has had 642 viewings …

Queenhithe Mosaic 1

Queenhithe Mosaic 1

Queenhithe Mosaic 2

Queenhithe Mosaic 2

Queenhithe Mosaic 3

Queenhithe Mosaic 3

Queenhithe Mosaic 4

Queenhithe Mosaic 4

Queenhithe Mosaic 5

Queenhithe Mosaic 5

I hope I have motivated you to go and see this for yourself!  Wonderful surprise for me to just come upon it by chance!

CAFE LIFE

The choice is immense.  I have my favourites, such as Waterstones in Piccadilly, who have basement and mezzanine cafés as well as a restaurant/café on the 5th floor.  I am particularly drawn to a  fruit scone with an Americano, surrounded by a strongly bookish, comforting ambience.

The upstairs café buzz at Zédel appeals for a short visit – my favourite seat is by the till where you can spread out a bit with your bags.  And The Nordic Bakery in Golden Square does delicious lunchtime sandwiches  –  if you are lucky enough to find a table.  Maison Bertaux in Soho is a good stopping off point with luscious cakes and downstairs at The Courtauld Institute is welcoming and has good food and original recipes for cakes too. It’s possible to sit outside under a sunshade, but be prepared to share your lavender sponge cake with persistent robber pigeons!

More recently I found Canela, a Portuguese café/restaurant very close to Seven Dials. There’s an atmospheric chandelier to sit under and some enormous faded gilt mirrors to enhance a sense of history and reflection, while enjoying a celebrated Portuguese ‘nata’ with a hot ginger and honey drink in a long glass.

Canela - a Portuguese 'nata'

Canela -‘ Pasteis de nata’

 

END OF THE DAY

Evening at the Albert Hall, Kensington

Evening at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington

Sloane Square sparkle

Sloane Square sparkle

At Hallowe'en ...

At Hallowe’en …

Angel at the V&A

Angel at the V&A

Bedtime under a crescent moon

Bedtime under a crescent moon

END

 

 

 

 

 

 

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.