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St. Anne's
Sep. 24th, 2011 08:44 pmBoth today and last Saturday I worked from home because of a deadline.
But last Saturday I couldn't connect to my work PC, and I had to go the office to see what the problem was.
As I was in town and it was London Open House week-end, I went to visit St. Anne's in Soho, just a stone's throw from the office.
The church has an interesting history and some literary connections too. I'm not going to attempt to repeat it: you can read it here, if you wish!
Here a few photos of the churchtower (the only part the survived the war) and of the "Soho Art-Loo".
But last Saturday I couldn't connect to my work PC, and I had to go the office to see what the problem was.
As I was in town and it was London Open House week-end, I went to visit St. Anne's in Soho, just a stone's throw from the office.
The church has an interesting history and some literary connections too. I'm not going to attempt to repeat it: you can read it here, if you wish!
Here a few photos of the churchtower (the only part the survived the war) and of the "Soho Art-Loo".
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Holy Crap!
Aug. 9th, 2011 04:50 pmThe office is about to shut early (at 5 pm) because of an alert on Tottenham Court Rd.
Fingers crossed!
Fingers crossed!
Mindless violence
Aug. 8th, 2011 11:30 pmI am quite frankly disgusted by the violence in London. Tonight the rioting has spread to many more neighbourhoods, north and south of the river.
They are not protesters. They are vandals, arsonists, looters. They don't give a fig about race relations or an unfair society: they just want to destroy and to get the latest gadgets, for free.
Goodness knows when this is going to end.
They are not protesters. They are vandals, arsonists, looters. They don't give a fig about race relations or an unfair society: they just want to destroy and to get the latest gadgets, for free.
Goodness knows when this is going to end.
Who was he?
Jul. 8th, 2011 05:17 pmAs I walking back from the YMCA, I passed a large group of people standing at the back on the Criterion Theatre and listening to a tour guide saying "... he enrolled in the US army and then deserted, because he was terrified..."
I kept walking and now I wonder: who was this man?
A quick look on Google suggests the name of Lewis Millett, previously unknown to me, but the profile doesn't go with the 'terrified'; besides I feel it should be someone more well-known (as the group of people seemed pretty heterogenous and not made up of war veterans!)
And what would the link with that place be?
I guess I'll never know.
I kept walking and now I wonder: who was this man?
A quick look on Google suggests the name of Lewis Millett, previously unknown to me, but the profile doesn't go with the 'terrified'; besides I feel it should be someone more well-known (as the group of people seemed pretty heterogenous and not made up of war veterans!)
And what would the link with that place be?
I guess I'll never know.
On the way to work
May. 12th, 2011 07:30 pmSpotted in Covent Garden this morning
A Google search revealed the story behind the plate: A fun-loving lad who lost his left leg in a road crash has bought a new Porsche with the number plate HA5 1 LEG
I guess he must have upgraded!
A Google search revealed the story behind the plate: A fun-loving lad who lost his left leg in a road crash has bought a new Porsche with the number plate HA5 1 LEG
I guess he must have upgraded!
Be careful what you wish for!
Mar. 24th, 2011 11:34 pm2 weeks in the new office and I'm still getting used to the view out of 'my' window.
I guess it's a case of 'be careful of what you wish for' or, in this case, of what you ask for.
Before the office move our line manager enquired if we had any preferences, and I, who normally doesn't ask for anything, said that I would like a window seat.
And I cannot say that I didn't get it.
My colleagues who don't really care about the views enjoy a Mary Poppins' view of the rooftops. I suppose I should appreciate the irony.
But of course I am happy that the new office is still in centre of town, close to all the attractions (and temptations).
Tonight I stopped in St. James's Park for a couple of minutes to admire the sea of daffodils, in full bloom. Such a display!
I guess it's a case of 'be careful of what you wish for' or, in this case, of what you ask for.
Before the office move our line manager enquired if we had any preferences, and I, who normally doesn't ask for anything, said that I would like a window seat.
And I cannot say that I didn't get it.
My colleagues who don't really care about the views enjoy a Mary Poppins' view of the rooftops. I suppose I should appreciate the irony.
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But of course I am happy that the new office is still in centre of town, close to all the attractions (and temptations).
Tonight I stopped in St. James's Park for a couple of minutes to admire the sea of daffodils, in full bloom. Such a display!
Dirty London
Feb. 10th, 2011 11:03 pmThis evening I met Adrian at one of our old haunts, the Screen on Baker Street (years ago, he used to work nearby and we frequently met there after work).
We went to see "The King's Speech" - and we both loved it!
After the film, we had a naughty KFC nearby and it was OK, well just. You know, one of those places where the tables could do with a good wiping and the floors are sticky, and you leave feeling slightly dirty (and not in a good way!)
At work they have now confirmed that we'll be moving premises in mid March.
I'm going to miss the office for the views, like this one
(photo taken on Tuesday morning, a rare sunny day, through dirty windows).
Talking of dirty, I had a look at Craigslist (as some of you often mention it), and found the "Men seeking men" section quite hilarious, in a kind of a sad way.
I cannot quite believe that in London there are so many deluded souls with adverts such as "Str8 guy looking to suck off str8 men".
(Surely, that must be a case for Trading Standards!)
We went to see "The King's Speech" - and we both loved it!
After the film, we had a naughty KFC nearby and it was OK, well just. You know, one of those places where the tables could do with a good wiping and the floors are sticky, and you leave feeling slightly dirty (and not in a good way!)
At work they have now confirmed that we'll be moving premises in mid March.
I'm going to miss the office for the views, like this one
(photo taken on Tuesday morning, a rare sunny day, through dirty windows).
Talking of dirty, I had a look at Craigslist (as some of you often mention it), and found the "Men seeking men" section quite hilarious, in a kind of a sad way.
I cannot quite believe that in London there are so many deluded souls with adverts such as "Str8 guy looking to suck off str8 men".
(Surely, that must be a case for Trading Standards!)
My bald head
Feb. 7th, 2011 03:50 pmOn a Sunday morning in 2009 Adrian, Lynne, Miranda and I got up early and went on Big Bus Tour bus, which looped around the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and the London Eye several times
This was to help a neighbour who works for that sightseeing company to fill up a bus for the new promotional material.
This morning Lynne texted me to say that she got a leaflet on the way to work and could see "Miranda's and Franco's little faces peering over the side of the top deck"; so I had a look on the website and spotted my bald head with just a touch of beard (which looks rather red).
(There. Now you cannot say that I never post pictures of myself!)
This was to help a neighbour who works for that sightseeing company to fill up a bus for the new promotional material.
This morning Lynne texted me to say that she got a leaflet on the way to work and could see "Miranda's and Franco's little faces peering over the side of the top deck"; so I had a look on the website and spotted my bald head with just a touch of beard (which looks rather red).
(There. Now you cannot say that I never post pictures of myself!)
Have a good week-end!
Jan. 21st, 2011 06:47 pmIt's been a busy week and I'm glad it's Friday evening.
We're off to Alex and Mike's shortly, with Lynne and Miranda, and looking forward to dinner and the company!
As I haven't posted pictures of sunsets for a while, here's the ones I took a couple of hours ago from my desk.
Have a great week-end!
We're off to Alex and Mike's shortly, with Lynne and Miranda, and looking forward to dinner and the company!
As I haven't posted pictures of sunsets for a while, here's the ones I took a couple of hours ago from my desk.
Have a great week-end!
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Rudeness all around
Jan. 20th, 2011 04:19 pmIf there is one thing that I cannot abide, is people shouting.
So you can imagine my reaction when a policeman last night rudely shouted "Oi!!" when I was cycling past the side of Buckingham Palace and made me step off the bike and on the pavement.
My crime? Squeezing through the parked cars (on double yellow, and double red) and the stationary traffic (the lights were red). Apparently I should have seen another policeman on the other side of the carriageway stopping the traffic (I don't know the reason but there was some kind of old, long limo (don't ask me what it was) and I assume that, given the location, some important people had to be somewhere urgently.
I told him the truth and apologised that I hadn't seen his colleague but I was really taken aback by his uncouth behaviour. Ah, what happened to good manners and to a nice "Excuse me, Sir?".
Of course I didn't tell him what I really thought, that he was just a bully in a uniform and that I wasn't doing anything illegal, because, you know, I didn't want to get a ticket or worse.
I know I let myself down because I didn't speak up.
*
When I got home Adrian was also furious.
He had been around the estate earlier in the afternoon to deliver a flyer for the next residents' association event.
When he was about to put one in Gary and Luca's letter box, one of the two Lithuanian builders who are currently re-doing the front garden, shouted "Wait!", got the flyer off Adrian, then had a look, scrunched it up into a ball and threw it in the rubbish!
Adrian has now e-mailed Gary to let him know, but if he doesn't hear anything back, I'm planning to go round one morning with a fake flyer that just says "You don't live here - mind you f***ing business!" and see what happens!
So you can imagine my reaction when a policeman last night rudely shouted "Oi!!" when I was cycling past the side of Buckingham Palace and made me step off the bike and on the pavement.
My crime? Squeezing through the parked cars (on double yellow, and double red) and the stationary traffic (the lights were red). Apparently I should have seen another policeman on the other side of the carriageway stopping the traffic (I don't know the reason but there was some kind of old, long limo (don't ask me what it was) and I assume that, given the location, some important people had to be somewhere urgently.
I told him the truth and apologised that I hadn't seen his colleague but I was really taken aback by his uncouth behaviour. Ah, what happened to good manners and to a nice "Excuse me, Sir?".
Of course I didn't tell him what I really thought, that he was just a bully in a uniform and that I wasn't doing anything illegal, because, you know, I didn't want to get a ticket or worse.
I know I let myself down because I didn't speak up.
*
When I got home Adrian was also furious.
He had been around the estate earlier in the afternoon to deliver a flyer for the next residents' association event.
When he was about to put one in Gary and Luca's letter box, one of the two Lithuanian builders who are currently re-doing the front garden, shouted "Wait!", got the flyer off Adrian, then had a look, scrunched it up into a ball and threw it in the rubbish!
Adrian has now e-mailed Gary to let him know, but if he doesn't hear anything back, I'm planning to go round one morning with a fake flyer that just says "You don't live here - mind you f***ing business!" and see what happens!
Spectacular NYE fireworks in London
Jan. 1st, 2011 09:41 amfor the first time accompanied by music.
We enjoyed them from the comfort of our sitting room.
A wonderful 2011 to you all!
We enjoyed them from the comfort of our sitting room.
A wonderful 2011 to you all!
Trees and violence
Dec. 10th, 2010 04:53 pmLast night as I was cycling to London Cannon Street, I suddenly realised that the biggest danger to me as a cyclist really comes from pedestrians.
I cycled through Covent Garden and narrowly missed a couple of people who decided to step in the cycling lane without looking.
I was going to say that there was a devil-may-care attitude in the air, but it was more than just that. There was definitely an edge, one of those times when you feel the collective mood of the city.
And no wonder, with all that happened yesterday in London.
It hasn't been a good week for trees either.
Not only they attempted to set fire to the large Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, donated, as every year, by the city of Oslo [granted: the tree was already dead] but I was saddened to read this:
Glastonbury Thorn chopped down as town rages over attack on famous tree
Tree said to have grown from Joseph of Arimathea's staff is sawn down in 'act of violence against a living thing'
So pointless.
I cycled through Covent Garden and narrowly missed a couple of people who decided to step in the cycling lane without looking.
I was going to say that there was a devil-may-care attitude in the air, but it was more than just that. There was definitely an edge, one of those times when you feel the collective mood of the city.
And no wonder, with all that happened yesterday in London.
It hasn't been a good week for trees either.
Not only they attempted to set fire to the large Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, donated, as every year, by the city of Oslo [granted: the tree was already dead] but I was saddened to read this:
Glastonbury Thorn chopped down as town rages over attack on famous tree
Tree said to have grown from Joseph of Arimathea's staff is sawn down in 'act of violence against a living thing'
So pointless.
A matter of inches
Nov. 30th, 2010 11:53 pmNot many things are predictable in life, but you can always count on London's public transport's meltdown when it snows.
It is a clear example that it is not a matter of inches but of what you do - or in this case not do - with them!
While north London is largely unaffected by the snow, it's a different story down south, despite Southeastern Trains' reassurances that they were ready for the bad weather. 2 hour delays are simply not acceptable. Lack of credible and reliable information is even less.
I'll do my best tomorrow morning to get into work but I am not hopeful! Even the buses gave up this evening.
It is a clear example that it is not a matter of inches but of what you do - or in this case not do - with them!
While north London is largely unaffected by the snow, it's a different story down south, despite Southeastern Trains' reassurances that they were ready for the bad weather. 2 hour delays are simply not acceptable. Lack of credible and reliable information is even less.
I'll do my best tomorrow morning to get into work but I am not hopeful! Even the buses gave up this evening.
80 Gigapixel London
Nov. 17th, 2010 01:28 pmThe world's largest 360-degree photo (made up of 7886 individual pictures) was taken in the summer from the top of Centre Point, the office building where I work.
The resolution is fantastic! If you zoom in, you can even see the people in the streets (and some of them twice!)
80 GigaPx London
When we move office in a couple of months' time, this will be a souvenir of the view I've been enjoying for the last 6 years. And that I am going to miss a lot.
The resolution is fantastic! If you zoom in, you can even see the people in the streets (and some of them twice!)
80 GigaPx London
When we move office in a couple of months' time, this will be a souvenir of the view I've been enjoying for the last 6 years. And that I am going to miss a lot.
London Open House - Sunday
Sep. 25th, 2010 12:28 amThe second day of London Open House was just as good as the Saturday.
The first stop was a private club in Mayfair, the Lansdowne Club in the 18th century Robert Adam's Lansdowne House (or I should say what is left of it as in the 1930s the front rooms were demolished to make room for a new road and were shipped to America where are now in two museums).
We then went to see John Nash's All Souls' Church near the BBC,
The first stop was a private club in Mayfair, the Lansdowne Club in the 18th century Robert Adam's Lansdowne House (or I should say what is left of it as in the 1930s the front rooms were demolished to make room for a new road and were shipped to America where are now in two museums).
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We then went to see John Nash's All Souls' Church near the BBC,
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followed by a visit to the Marshall Street baths, a late Victorian swimming pool in Soho that has just reopened. (The swimming pool was great but tour rather boring as we were shown around all the facilities of the health club/gym!)
After a snack, we went to one of the highlights of the week-end, the Georgian House of St. Barnabas on Greek St. (on the corner of Soho Square).
The house is a charity that dates but also doubles as a members' club.
It is great with some fantastic stucco work mixed with modern art. 
The tour was very informative and everybody there was really welcoming.
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The last stop was the monumental Methodist Central Hall opposite Westminster Abbey. 
We were late to go on a dome tour but we visited the interior and looked out from the terrace used by the BBC to film all the events at the Abbey. 
Did you know that the hall was the location of the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in 1946?
London Open House 2010 - Saturday
Sep. 19th, 2010 07:51 pmWe have been playing tourists in London the whole week-end as it was possible to visit many buildings not normally open to the public.
On Saturday our first stop was the new Broadgate Tower in the City of London, just off Bishopsgate.
After queueing for about 40 minutes in the shade, in what felt like a wind tunnel we were finally allowed in; the view from the empty 17th floor was magnificent, thanks also to the floor to ceiling windows
We also visited the lobby of the building next door (201 Bishopsgate) and I was rather mesmerised by the angular surfaces and all the reflections
The City of London is always exciting to visit: among the office blocks there is a warren of alleyways and many historic buildings sit next to modern ones creating some fascinating contrasts
You can see more photos here:
On Saturday our first stop was the new Broadgate Tower in the City of London, just off Bishopsgate.
After queueing for about 40 minutes in the shade, in what felt like a wind tunnel we were finally allowed in; the view from the empty 17th floor was magnificent, thanks also to the floor to ceiling windows
We also visited the lobby of the building next door (201 Bishopsgate) and I was rather mesmerised by the angular surfaces and all the reflections
The City of London is always exciting to visit: among the office blocks there is a warren of alleyways and many historic buildings sit next to modern ones creating some fascinating contrasts
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We visited 3 churches, all very different: St. Helen Bishopsgate, St. Mary Abchurch and St. Stephen Walbrook.
This is the painted dome of St. Mary Abchurch ("The worship of Heaven", by William Snow, 1708). 
Next stop was the 'Roman' Baths just off the Strand (and patronised by David Copperfield).
Both statements are fictional, as the plunge pool is not Roman but Tudor.
Last stop of the day, was a guided tour of 55 Broadway, the London Underground Head Office, built in 1927/1929 and at the time the tallest steel-frame building in London. (We were lucky to get the tickets as apparently they sold out in 15 minutes when they went on sale).
The tour was very interesting: we went up to the terrace and roof gardens where you can enjoy some lovely views of London (with panels comparing the present skyline with the 1930s)
toured the Art Deco interiors, and the outside with the controversial (at the time) sculptures by Epstein 
(apparently the penis had to be shortened, as it attracted many complaints).
When you walk around London for leisure, you notice and appreciate many more details
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(I have included this picture of the London Eye and the Swiss Re building - i.e. "The gherkin", because it's interesting for the perspective. The picture was taken north of the Thames, the London Eye is south of the river but the 'Gherkin' is north again, in the City).
You can see more photos here:
