The Tudor Markets

There are plenty of Xmas markets around for you to sample hot wine, sausages and sugary treats as well as buying santa hats or xmas jumpers.  

Double Vision

When I passed by it was still a work in progress attracting curious attention.  It is a replica Tower Bridge made from 83,000 recycled batteries.  Now that is some publicity stunt don't you agree?

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.

Biscuit Squabble

Gimme that biscuit!

Crutched Friars

Like most parts of London, if you find a pub or a street with a name like this then there is history associated with the name.
The area near Tower Hill was named after a group of Friars arrived here around 1244. They wore a wooden cross around their neck and had a red fabric cross on their habit. Thus "crutched" an old word for cross.

Picture Postcard

Some days you see a spot you've been to hundreds of times at a slightly different angle. I came out of the tube station at Tower Hill to catch the last of the afternoon light. I think I've always walked the other side of the underground side as I haven't noticed this view before.
Perfect tourist postcard I thought.
May also be partly due to the Tower having no scaffolding on it. London is currently being spruced up for all of you coming to the Olympic games next year.

Protecting the Oceans

Well I assume that is her role. I found her on Trinity House, however I can't find any other information. Do you know anything about her?

Treasures

The Thames is an amazing archaeological site, much of it accessible to the public. An area of the foreshore by Tower Hill, not usually accessible, was open to the public last weekend during the hours the tide permitted. (Thanks to the Thames Discovery Organisation)
Keen archaeologists donned wellingtons and with buckets of enthusiasm dug the muddy foreshore in search of treasure.

A couple of people were lucky. One woman found a 3rd century Roman coin. This man found a ring, part of a Roman Brooch and a coin.

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.