My part of London as it used to be
One of the old favourites on my bookshelf is a book I gave to my father many years ago and ultimately inherited, the Village London Atlas: Changing Face of Greater London, 1822-1903 (The village atlas), by the Village Press.
A boat propellor stirs up the seabed (video 00:36)
In June 2013, we took a day-boat to Sedir Island, also known as Cleopatra Island. After some time exploring the island, the boat readied for the journey back. As it turned in the water, it's propellor churned up the shallow, sandy seabed…
Merton Abbey Mills
I went for a a wander by the River Wandle at Merton Abbey Mills. A Wandle Wander. Merton Abbey Mills is a former textile factory in the parish of Merton in London, England near the site of the medieval Merton Priory, now the home of a variety of businesses, mostly retailers.
A ferry trip in Istanbul (video 01:54)
This is video of a trip across the Bosphorus from Karaköy in the north-west across the straits to Kadiköy in the south-east. Made mainly with an iPhone 4S, in April 2014.
Istanbul is online
Just as the Turkish government has allowed YouTube again in Turkey, I've uploaded the last of the photos selected from my trip to Istanbul in April. 205 images selected from 519 taken in total.
A peacock and a cat (video 00:46)
A peacock has a standoff with a young kitty. The cat is just fascinated by the peacock's feathers but the bird isn't having any of it.
Evidence from the end of an era
In my previous post, I wrote about finding my first passport, how it sparked astonishment at seeing my younger self and how it reminded me of a life-changing event that resulted in a period of prolific painting.
Forty year-old passport
These are pages from my first passport. It was issued in 1980 when I was 16, but by 1984 I had changed so much that I got a new photo added.
Astronaut phone stand creates contentment
I just got this little astronaut fellow from Amazon. Made by Hamee Japan, he is nice and weighty and is an ideal smartphone stand to have on your desk as he offers plenty of resistance when you're tapping the screen. He is, undoubtedly, awesome.
Istanbul photo diary
These are the eleven photos I took for my daily photo journal while on a trip to Istanbul in April 2014.
One of these photos is (not) like the other
I took a photo (Carpet outside) last week. Looking at it, it really reminded me of a photo I took in Egypt in 2005. Something about the mood, the space and the light. So I thought I'd put them together to see what happened.
Yesterday was a good photography day
I took a walk at lunchtime yesterday, and as always, had my camera with me. I walked from my office to Guildford Railway Station, where I bought a sandwich. Then I walked back a different way.
These are the photos I took on my walk.
Man came, fixed streetlamp, left
They came in a van with a cherry picker on the back and did something to all the street lamps in my street. Replaced the internals for modern LED units, I think. I'll know if they are any different when they come on tonight.
Mutant army men are mutant
Yeah, so I ordered these super-cheap toy army men off Amazon (don't ask) but when they came I was deeply disappointed, and a bit scared. They are shit. And mutant.
New fence is new
On this lovely, sunny day I've got to share the pleasing sight of my new fence, installed in just a day (after a day of demolishing the old one and prepping) by valiant Reuben, fine friend and owner of Greentime Gardens.
The last seven days on blipfoto
It's been quite a varied and interesting week. Spring has sprung and the light has improved considerably. Here are the last seven days as recorded in my daily photo journal.
Jim Al-Khalili interviewing Maggie Aderin-Pocock at the University of Surrey
On Monday 3 March, I went along to the latest ‘Jim meets…’ interview at the University of Surrey, with special guest Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, presenter of the BBC’s ‘Sky at Night’ series.
Commemoration of the 353rd Anniversary of the Birth of the Founder, Sir John Cass, Kt
As I noted last year in this blog entry, and as I have done for several years, I attended the commemoration of the birth of Sir John Cass, Founder of Sir John Cass's Foundation yesterday, 12 February 2014.
The loss of the magical sense of the world
This is a powerful extract from a piece in the Guardian by Lucy Mangan, whose writing I oftentimes enjoy. It resonated with me so I wanted to record it in my blog.