Model

Couldn't resist getting in on a bit of modelling outside. She looked frozen, no stockings and sleeveless dress. I had a warm coat on.

Sunday Bridges - The Original London Bridge

The London Bridge before the fire was wooden with lots of shops and houses on it. A retired policeman spent years building this replica. Truly a labour of love.
You'll be wanting to know where to find wont you?
Inside the church of St Magnus the Martyr at London Bridge. It will move at some point to London Museum. If you go and see it make sure that you look carefully at all the people on the bridge, for amongst the people of the period you will see a 20th century policeman.
None other than the creator of this superb work.

Courtesy of host Louis La Vache visit other Sunday Bridges

Shakespeare for Jo

This bust of Shakespeare, is in the very pretty garden of St Mary Aldernabbury Gardens, behind Guildhall. A request from Jo.
Enjoy.

The View is Great

A glass and steel shopping centre with all the same high st chain stores has opened next to St Paul's.

Why? One may ask. Gordon Ramsey is scheduled to open a restaurant on the top floor early next year. I took the lift up to check out progress.

Well I might not like anything else about the place, but the view, well it is simply spectacular.

This will become the new iconic view of London I suspect.

City Girl

This sculpture has popped up recently n the city. No details of the artist. Any locals know about it?

Time

What a week for time.
Last night daylight saving ended and the clocks went back to GMT. The usual round of debates about whether or not we should stay on daylight saving permanently. "No, it costs too much" says one politician, "it is better for the economy to stay in bed". The sheep in Scotland don't like it. Who polled them I want to know. Boris (our current mayor) argues in favour of retaining daylight saving, to give Londoners a better quality of life.

Cherie Blair got in on the time piece as well this week. She sold the watch that Silvio Berlusconi gave Tony on e-bay for £98.

The Mapplin and Webb clock above once graced the front of the Victorian building at 1 Poultry. It now graces the lift lobby of the glass and steel building built in its place.

Another view of time:



The fundamental problem with time is that it produces a lot of crap. We're not just another group of activists out there bulldozing our way through everything to get what we want. No. We are true believers in our cause. And we believe in everything that is durable.

The Time proof Association believes in beauty and the sense behind all things that stand the test of time. We are against fads and "here today gone tomorrow", banal, superficial fashions that take away our most precious possession; time.

1. We fight against time because Time destroys everything.

2. We refuse to be slaves to the monotonous tick-tock of time.

3. We will not use ephemeral elements whilst time continues to inexorably bring all things to an end.

4. We were not born to resist the passage of time; we were born to overcome it.

Therefore we invite you to join us and unite our forces together to combat this scourge called time.

Time proof yourself!

Men at Work # 28

Possibly the oldest meat market in the world. For nearly a thousand years this was London's livestock market. Now Smithfiled's still processes meat but it arrives as carcasses rather than a live animal.

Sunday Bridges - A tropical garden

London has so many wonderful treasures tucked away and not widely known. Yesterday I discovered this fabulous tropical garden, with more then 2,000 species of plants, exotic fish, turtles and birds right in the middle of the city.
Where? The Barbican.
The Barbican is the largest performing arts centre in Europe, slap bang in the middle of an estate. Music, theatre, art galleries, movie theatres, restaurants and this conservatory.
Also home to the London symphony orchestra and the BBC symphony orchestra.

Courtesy of host Louis La Vache visit other Sunday Bridges

Fish Harvest Festival

It's harvest festival time cross the country and today one of them was the annual festival of the fish harvest, celebrated at St-Mary-at-Hill church in the city.

The porters are wearing heavy metal hats. They are are flat on top and have a large rim to catch water. Why?? Well ... in days gone by when Billingsgate market was in the city the porters wearing these metal hats would place enormous baskets of fish in ice on their heads and race them up the hill to Leadenhall market. They had absolute right of way up the cobblestone path between the markets.

So heavy was the load that this 5ft 6in chap at the top was once 6ft 3in. He told me so himself.

Sanctuary

A memorial gate to William Avenon a goldsmith who died in 1631 now sits in the little known churchyard garden of St Katherine Cree church.

Home Straight

Heading back. Holiday drawing to a close. You may get a postcard if Internet available. Otherwise a day or two until feet are back on English soil.

Men at Work # 27

Directing from above.

Hidden Gardens

A hidden garden. A real gem. While I'm away on holiday I'm leaving you tips for places to visit and things to do if you are holidaying in London.

To find out where this is check out Steve's city walks. Not only will you find these places but he knows so much of the history as well. £5 well spent.

The Cycles

Due to start today! Rent a bike and ride around London. I'll give it a couple of weeks and report back. Great idea don't you think?

College of arms

I must have walked past this place dozens of times and not noticed it or realised you could visit. Near St Paul's with the entrance on Queen Victoria St it has been here for centuries.
This is where you go to get your coat of arms if you are important and part of the United Kingdom (except Scotland who has its own organisation) or the Commonwealth.

Not only do they grant new arms but if your family has a coat of arms they can help you trace your family roots. They also have a role in coronations. The purple cushion in the centre of this picture is what the Queen sat on for her coronation, as had previous kings and queens before her.

Today is St Swithins Day

Legend has it that the weather today will set the weather for the next forty days.
St Swithun's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St Swithun's day if thou be fair
For forty days 'twill rain no more

Today it is raining! 40 days of this and we'll all leave and go on holiday!

London Wall

The Romans built a wall in the 2nd century around what was then called Londinium. The wall continued to be developed until the 4th century. On completion it was 3 miles long. It wasn't until the 18th century that substantial demolition began in order to make way for modern expansion of the city. The blitz during WWII saw much of central London destroyed.

There are still parts of the wall as in this picture that can be found around the area close to the museum of London and around Tower Hill.

Sword-Rest

On your next visit to London make sure you visit a couple of the many churches in the square mile that makes up London city. I counted more than 50 of them but there may be more. They're kept in great condition largely thanks to the support of the guilds.

St Mary Aldermary is one of the oldest (a church has been on this site for over 900 years) badly damaged after the great fire of 1666 was rebuilt thanks to a wealthy benefactor and an excellent example of Wren's architecture.

The sword-rest is used to hold the Lord Mayor's sword he carries in ceremonial processions. It is placed with the sword handle on the bottom with the tip of the blade pointing toward the ceiling.

This one is unique as it is one of only two wooden rests. Usually they are wrought iron. If you look closely at it you will see the date 1682 half way down below the cross of St George.

Steps of St Pauls

A rare opportunity to see the steps of St Paul's with out dozens of tourists.

Play Me I'm Yours

First appearing in 2008 this brilliant summer artwork by Luke Jerram is here again this summer. 21 pianos around the streets of London City there for anyone to play. This one at Bartholomew Hospital turned into a fabulous impromptu concert. A talented pianist was joined by a saxophonist and guitar player.

A Man of Words

Tucked away in a lovely square not far from Fleet St is the 18th century home of Dr Johnson. During the years her lived here (1748 - 1759) he compiled the first English dictionary.

One of his famous quotes
"when a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." is a s true today as is was then.