Browsing Antiques

Want to browse antiques and bric-a-brac? Head to Covent Garden on Mondays.

Dancing Fountain

Summertime the courtyard of Somerset House is covered with dancing jets of water. Coloured lights add to the fun in the evening.
In July a dance performance choreographed with the fountains is promised.

Singing Plants

A couple of weeks ago as part of the Tate 10 year celebrations they hosted no soul for sale, an exhibition of over 70 local and international artists.
The quirky and fun installation of house plants by Oregon Painting Society was one of my favourites. You hold two plants and pressure or stroking results in sounds. Talking to the plants is not just for Prince Charles.

Skywatch Friday - London skyline

A view from the top of St Paul's Cathedral looking out to East London.

Visit other skywatchers today.

Mary and William

So here we are at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich. On the left is the Queen Mary Court where you'll find the chapel. The Painted Hall can be found in King Williams Court on the right.
You knew that right?
Ha - but did you know that Laura Croft Tomb Raider was filmed here in 2001. Or that Wolf Man was filmed here. How about The Mummy Returns or Spooks. Well now you do. Drop that bit of trivia into your next conversation about the place.

Colour Co-Ordinated

Nice coats girls.

The Office

On-site office. Not sure where the bathroom is though. (something I always worry about).
Wonder how modern the computer room is.

Men at Work #22

It's hard work selling ice-cream

Savoy Graveyard

Tucked away behind the Savoy Hotel on a little street off the Strand is a small chapel and graveyard. A little oasis not widely known about. Dating back to the reign of Henry VII.

Modern Smoker

Doorways, little alleys and side streets, entrances to rail stations, pub entrances, these places are now the domain of the cigarette smoker.

Skywatch Friday - Mt Pleasant

The Royal mail sorting centre in Mt Pleasant isn't the prettiest of places, however a couple of weeks ago the sky momentarily changed that and painted the whole area with beautiful pinks and blues.

See what other skywatchers are presenting today

Covent Garden Cats

St Paul's in Covent Garden otherwise known as the actors church was built and designed in 1633 by Inigo Jones after whom the two resident tabby cats are named.

Marble Arch

Part of the detail in the gates of Marble Arch.
Designed by Nash in 1828 with the intention of being a grand entrance to Buckingham Palace. Although rumoured the reason they were never used for this purpose was because the arch was too narrow for the royal coach, this is not actually true.
They sit near to where the Tyburn tree was. A popular spot for a public hangings.

Fearless Chicks

Baby Geese on the banks of Regent's Canal. No fear yet but with mum and dad nearby watching our every move they have every reason to feel safe.

Steaming out of Kings Cross

Yesterday morning the Bittern departed from Kings Cross station. A rare sight from a train that retired in 1967.

A brief post as I am racing to catch a plane. Over the next couple of weeks I may not have time to visit you but will do my best to leave you a picture.

Banana Warm-Up

Warming up with lots of laughs for the 5k banana run. Part of the campaign by the world cancer research organisation to get people to increase their regular physical activity.
Learn more here.

Beating the Bounds

Another of those quirky English customs took place yesterday. Beating the bounds is an ancient custom observed by Parishes in medieval times and still practised by many.
In the days when maps were a rarity the local priest, wardens and a group of boys armed with birch or willow boughs would literally beat the ground marking the boundaries of their Parish. The boys would often be at the receiving end of these boughs. The object being to ensure that the boundaries would continue to be protected.

The city of London boundary extends to the middle of the Thames. This involves the party piling into a boat and beating the water.

NB: No boys were beaten in the marking process in 2010.

Red Shoes

Londoners are also très chic.

More Elephants

The elephants are everywhere. Each decorated by and artist or celebrity as part of a campaign to highlight that they are endangered.
A colourful elephant and a group of french students leaping in the air, too much fun to ignore.

John

Meet John. He and others who are homeless or vulnerable sell the Big Issue as a way to change their situation. The motto of the Big Issue is 'a hand up not a hand out'.
So if you pass by John or any other seller of this magazine, buy a copy.

Elephant and Skateboarder

All around London at present are decorative elephants. All part of the elephant parade, a campaign to draw attention to the endangered Asian elephant.

This one can be found at Southbank in an area popular with skateboarders.

Contemplation and Negotiation

As the UK's politicians contemplate and negotiate their way forward to govern they would do well to consider Ghandhi's seven sins:

• Wealth without work
• Pleasure without conscience
• Knowledge without character
• Commerce without morality
• Science without humility
• Worship without sacrifice
• Politics without principle

Men at Work # 21

There's major road works taking place near where I live. At first it was the impressive machinery that caught my attention. Some of it looks as though it should be in a quarry not on London streets. Once I decided to take a few pictures and engaged in conversation with the crew I gained a new respect for what these guys actually do. They're working nights so as to reduce the disruption to us all, generally 12hr shifts. Tight deadlines.
This machine is controlled by 2 men. It chops up the road surface which gets loaded into trucks and taken away to be recycled.

Election Results

The biggest outcome of the election results is the media frenzy today. Although the polls predicted an outcome without a clear majority, today the media would have us believe it to be an absolute surprise.
My pick is the cow will be negotiating for a role as minister of agriculture.

No Bull

Ok so this is a picture of a cow. Whoopee. Yes but this is zone one in London. Ah ha a little unusual wouldn't you say. I started taking pictures of said cow and chatting to it. Yes also a little odd but it's a cow in London, zone one.
I'm taking pictures when a security guard came out and told me this is not allowed. A group of young men nearby came to my aid and said: Its a cow in the centre of London of course you are going to take pictures and by the way where's the law that says she can't take a picture of a cow. The guard left.
So here is a picture of a cow.

Now a DRUM ROLL for the winner of the pizzaexpress winner:

Congratulations Brianna a voucher is on its way to you.

The correct answer is 119 pizzaexpress restaurants in London.

Race for Life

Breast Cancer affects millions of women around the world. In the UK more than 50,000 each year. Funding for research will help us, our daughters, grandaughters and girls not yet born.

What can you do to help?

Have some fun!

RUN. Join the nearest race for life event in your area.

• its a 5k course
• you can run, walk, jog or even dance
• it's for women only (men you can support the women in your life)
• check out the website for more details or call 0871 641 1111

Also don't forget to go for a breast screen test.

Hands on Pizza's

Last week a group of us were invited to PizzaExpress to be taught by the maestro himself, leading chef Antonio Romani, how to make pizza.

On the whole we didn't do too bad, although perhaps some of us might not look to a career as a pizza chef.
Our creations were based on the new spring menu. Very tasty they were too!

Fancy trying some yummy pizza yourself?

To go in the draw for a £10 voucher at any PizzaExpress restaurant simply answer the following question:
How many PizzaExpress restaurants are there in London:

1. 98
2. 82
3. 119
4. 105

Leave your answer in the comments or send an email to: aglimpseoflondon@gmail.com

The winner will be announced on Thursday. Good luck.

The Captain and The Marathon Runner

Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year or harvest festival was celebrated in Trafalgar Square yesterday. Food, singing and dancing all part of the fun.

I met these two gentlemen, the captain and the marathon runner. The captain told me 92 year old Fauja Singh has run over 20 marathons.

Having searched on google I find he is actually 99 and began running at age 89! He has become the new face of Adidas.

Whatever his age, he is certainly an inspiration.

Last Days

Only a few days left now until polling day next Thursday.

Passing through King's Cross station in a whirl of security and paparazzi last night there was clearly a "no entering into discussion with the public" caveat on Gordon Brown. This is obviously for fear of repeating the "that woman" comments that have almost scuppered any chance of re-election for the labour party - well according to the media anyway which is full of it. So the 'ordinary woman' who just happened to be waiting at the station last night (to meet someone arriving on the same train I assume) was no doubt surprised in having to make do with a simple "Hello nice to meet you" as Gordon whizzed by with Sarah.

If the polls are right then come next Friday Gordon will have much more time to spend chatting with the ordinary people - well at least the ordinary people moving his furniture out of 10 Downing street on that day.

May Theme Day - Statues

First of the month brings us the dailyphoto community's theme day, with this month being statues.
London has so many to choose from. I have chosen to show you one that is here temporarily.

This incredibly life like statue is one of the three statues created by sculpture Christian Jankowski of people performing statues. This one is Salvador Dali's Anthropomorphic Cabinet Woman.
So... is this art imitating life, imitating art or is it life imitating art, imitating life or..what do you think?

For statues as seen by the CityDailyPhoto community:
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants