A little bit of sparkle in the grey

The Christmas tree by city hall twinkling in the grey surroundings.  

Passing through

I always find it exciting to see Tower Bridge open up to let tall ship pass through.  Is that silly?  Too bad.  It is still something I will stop and watch.

Later in the year Tower Bridge is going to be closed for three months for maintenance, that should create traffic chaos, however there is talk of a ferry to assist with transporting people back and forth.  A wee bit of how the river was traversed in the past.

City View

Framing the city.

A Tourist View

You can always count on seeing tourists taking a photo of Tower Bridge from London Bridge, I imagine one of the most photographed scenes in the world.  However somedays it is so beautiful you just join the throngs and add to the thousands of similar images already out there.

Green Moon

Forget little green men, where did there green moon come from?  As I was racing by I saw the beautiful moon appearing to sit on top of Tower Bridge.  I stopped and quickly took a snap.  Imagine my surprise when I downloaded the pic and saw the second green moon.  I promise this is not a trick created by me.

Dead Parrot

Do you remember the Monty Python parrot sketch?  Here is an extract where the pet store owner finally loses patience with the parrot owner who is trying to return the dead bird, claiming it is still alive:

'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!

The dead parrot lying in Potter's Field near Tower Bridge, is part of an advertising campaign for the UKTV screening of final performance of the Monty Python Live farewell show this coming Sunday.

Girl and Dolphin

One of London's iconic statues the girl and dolphin.  Thousands of tourist photograph it every year generally from the other side so Tower Bridge is in the background.
Sculptor David Wynne also did the boy and the dolphin, that is considered to be the better of the two. This one is in Chelsea.   He used his 10 year old son for the model when he created the piece in 1961.  A rather sad plaque was added in 1999 when his son died.

Olympic Countdown

London has been on Olympic countdown for weeks but with just fifteen days to go we are seeing major changes around the city. Big pink banners in the tubes to point you to an Olympic venue, new traffic lanes and thousands of visitors are pouring into the city.

Olympic Rings

150 days until the Olympics. This milestone was celebrated yesterday by a barge towing giant Olympic Rings under Tower Bridge.


It's always excting to see the bridge open to let tall ships through but even more so to see the Olympic Rings pass through.

North Sea Trawler In London

For the next couple of days the North Sea trawler Amity II will be docked at St Katherines Pier (just in front of Tower Bridge). A unique opportuinty to go on board a real working trawler without getting seasick or having to do the difficult job of fishing.

Jimmy Buchan, star of the TV series Trawlerman, has sailed his North Sea Trawler, Amity II, down to London after setting off from Peterhead, Scotland, on Sunday night.

The trip is to mark publication of ‘Trawlerman’ - his memoirs of being at the helm of Britain’s most dangerous job for over 30 years, raise awareness of the problems that the British fishing industry is facing and to raise funds for the Fishermen’s Mission (the only national charity specifically providing emergency and welfare support to fishermen and their families in the UK)

Amity II will be moored at St Katharine’s Pier, by Tower Bridge, and will be open to the public from Thursday 2nd June – Saturday 4th June inclusive.

Get down there, go on board, meet Jimmy. Join them for a BBQ of langoustines on Friday.

Twilight

A glass of wine standing on the balcony taking in the view. London is a great place to be.

Skywatch Friday - Superwoman

David Wynne's statue of the girl with the dolphin is generally photographed including all of tower bridge and the dolphin (of course).
My take on her is as a super woman flying through London skies, having just dived over tower bridge.
Look we don't get too many blue skies at this time of the year and it drives us wild with excitement.

Visit other skywatchers around the world.

Henry VIII

The King leaves Tower Hill to be rowed up the Thames to Hampton Court. (his favourite palace). The last time he made this trip was 500 years ago!

DailyPhoto Theme Day - Shadows

A new month and a Friday.
So how to combine Skywatch Friday with this months theme of shadows. Tower Bridge late afternoon a blue sky that may be ordinary to many but to a Londoner it is very special.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

And visit here for skywatchers.