London Daily Photo

One and Other

2009-07-13T00:02:00.001+01:00

If you haven't heard about the new scheme to occupy the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square, where have you been hiding?

For the 100 days there will be a continual stream of people occupying the plinth for an hour a time. doing whatever they like, and they like some pretty strange stuff. The website with streaming video is fairly addictive, you always hope that something is going to happen. This scene is a changeover from a young man who was interactive - communicating with his audience with a bag lowered on string - and this lady, who held a teddy bear's picnic. Go figger.

Smooth Operator

2009-07-12T00:02:00.002+01:00

This van plies its trade around Southbank, selling smoothies. Curious how attractive it appears, even though it is quintessentially French.

Picture This

2009-07-11T00:03:00.003+01:00

Another piece of fun on the Southbank is their photobooth. Step inside, write what you want on a board and have your photo taken and uploaded to Flickr. I quite liked this photo-op, a general shot of the booth is here. Me? I can't even spell my own website.

Let's Wrap It Up

2009-07-10T00:02:00.001+01:00

The section of Southbank between Waterloo and Hungerford bridges has sprouted polka dots on all the trees; part of Yayoi Kusama's exhibition in the Hayward Gallery called "Walking in my Mind". Over the weeks they've been here I've grown quite fond of the toy-like atmosphere they create, and the dots themselves are now host to a myriad of messages. See some other pictures and messages here. There's a two-for one offer to the exhibition on their site or through my facebook

I Knit London

2009-07-09T00:05:00.001+01:00

I like the idea of a Sanctuary for Knitters, and I'm proud to find a place like this in London. I knit but it has been many, many years since I have had time to do any.

More Food?

2009-07-08T00:02:00.001+01:00

London's constantly changing face means that what was for years a substandard sandwich bar can change - practically overnight - into an interesting place to eat. More is opposite More London, serves food all day and has a menu that provides interesting choices. I ate there one evening and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food and service, with reasonable prices. I would recommend it.

The Duke of Uke

2009-07-07T00:02:00.002+01:00

There must be some sort of burgeoning underground ukulele scene, they have featured here twice before. And now, from the rich diversity that is London, I bring you The Duke of Uke, a dedicated ukulele shop in Hanbury Street in the East End.

The Beach, The End

2009-07-06T00:02:00.003+01:00

After riding through the night, this is Dunwich beach. My total distance for the day was about 240Km, and if you want to see my fizzog, that's here, I got there just after 5:00 am. I'm rather tired now.

I was doing it to raise money for Breast Cancer Care, thanks to all that have helped so far, you can read about it and donate here http://www.bmycharity.com/londondailyphoto

2012 Getting Closer

2009-07-05T00:02:00.002+01:00

Guest photograph today, courtesy of Mrs Ham, as she was visiting a very special location:the 2012 viewing platform. Yes, that one, the one the queen visited, the one on top of 21 floors of sheltered accommodation. You can quite clearly see how the site is taking shape. And that building in front of the main stadium that is moving along faster than anything else? The shopping centre.

Talking of rolling along, don't forget you can sponsor my 200Km bike ride and help Breast Cancer Care here http://www.bmycharity.com/londondailyphoto

Anyone interested will be able to follow my progress on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LondonHam

Roll up, Roll up!

2009-07-04T00:18:00.001+01:00

Bowls has a history in England going back hundreds of years, Francis Drake famously finished his game before sailing to the Spanish Armarda. This is in Finsbury Circus, in the heart of the City of London, very little is more sedate than rolling lumps of wood over a lawn.

Talking of rolling along, don't forget you can sponsor my 200Km bike ride and help Breast Cancer Care here http://www.bmycharity.com/londondailyphoto

Anyone interested will be able to follow my progress on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LondonHam

Can You Dig It?

2009-07-03T00:31:00.001+01:00

This is the patch of sand on the Thames Southbank, featured here before on several occasions. On this oneI cam across a treasure hunter, busy digging up bottletops. Or maybe, treasure. Who knows?

Talking of treasure, I'm collecting for Breast Cancer Care and asking for people to sponsor my 200Km overnight ride on http://www.bmycharity.com/londondailyphoto. ;-)

I want to ride my bicycle

2009-07-02T00:02:00.000+01:00

I love seeing families and young children out on bikes, The more people use them, the more bikes will be safer on London streets, and the better it will be for everyone: Those that have to drive will have less congestion, those that need to travel will get there more quickly, those that have to breathe with have more air.

And I'm using this as an exuse to re-launch my fundraising for Breast Cancer Care. Thanks to everyone, together we raised an impressive £1,400 last year. This year with your help I'm hoping to match and exceed that.

On Saturday, I'm riding the Dunwich Dynamo - 200Km through the night. To keep me going when I start thinking at 3 a.m. in cold and dark country lanes "I don't know why I'm doing this", please sponsor me with a donation on this page - as much or as little as you like. To make it more interesting, I'm giving away some copies of a book - full details on the page: http://www.bmycharity.com/londondailyphoto

Background info why I'm now using BmyCharity.com: Justgiving.com, the site I used last year was great, but over a week ago they upgraded their site with disastrous results, so I have moved to BmyCharity.

July Theme Day - Empty

2009-07-01T00:09:00.000+01:00

It's a theme day for the worldwide City Daily Photoblogs again, and "Empty" and London are not natural bedfellows, so here is a picture of the inner courtyard of the Victoria & Albert Museum at night, which feels pretty empty.

To see how others around the world interpreted this theme, Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Ho, Ho, Ho

2009-06-30T00:02:00.002+01:00

Seasons greetings, folks. Spotted last Thursday in Somerset House. Only 177 days left to Christmas.

All the World's a Stage

2009-06-29T00:02:00.002+01:00

Passing by this from the road, it looks like some strange interpretation of a totem pole; it is only when you look closer you see that it is an interpretation of the Seven Ages of Man.

See where on the London Daily Photo Map
For the first 200 Map places, click here.

Sausage in a Bun

2009-06-28T00:02:00.001+01:00

The street vendor can be found the world over - the "sossige inna bun" is probably uniquely British - I can't imagine many other countries would put up with it. But there is something strangely alluring about them - the frying onions are probably what catches you.

Suburban Semi

2009-06-27T00:02:00.000+01:00

The suburban semi is the core of London's housing stock, and the aspiration of many trying to get on the housing ladder. These were built in the 30's, and could be in any of London's hundreds of suburbs. The reason for this choice? It was a special photo request from a fellow blogger.

Roo With a View

2009-06-26T00:02:00.001+01:00

As another part of the Australian promotion, (and succumbing to their blandishments) Southern Australia have a 'roo hunt competition after placing 20 around central London, all you have to do is locate four to enter to win a holiday. Hints on Twitter, and this one is the north side of Waterloo bridge.

If you can't get there, you can always visit by proxy.

Bondi on Thames

2009-06-25T00:18:00.001+01:00

I'd love my job to be sitting around drinking beer all day. For a few people, today, it was. Australia seem to be having a major promotional push in the UK a the moment, and converting a corner of the southbank to Bondi Beach (cough cough) was one of the gimmicks of G'day UK. You can even win a trip to Sydney if you want.

Play me I'm yours

2009-06-24T00:02:00.002+01:00

Over the weekend, pianos have sprung up all over town as a part of the Street Pianos program. Sit and play or walk on by, the choice is yours. Diamond Geezer got there yesterday and has a good write up.

What? You want to here the Squeeze track now? OK.

This is Madness

2009-06-23T00:02:00.001+01:00

The main event was Madness (who are playing the main stage at Glastonbury next week). My vid excerpt of One Step Beyond is here, and the somewhat rough version of Waterloo Sunset here. Skye (from Morcheba - try this if you don't know them) who has one of the most distinctive voices ever was there, too. Pic here, vid here. Mutya too, pic here - ex Sugababe, whatever that is, also an outfit called the Charlie Rivers Band that sound pretty good - pic, myspace. There's still time to bid on the signed stratocaster here.

I was going to use this to relaunch my cancer fundraising efforts (together we raised £1,500 last year, thanks to all and whoo-hoo!) but the people at Justgiving.com have completely screwed up their site upgrade, carried out on their busiest weekend of the year (!!!), and they still haven't got it working properly. Speaking personally, I won't be trusting my card details to them until they have things sorted a bit better.Oh well, lets see what happens in a few days.

Sorry about the single location shots these last few days - hope you enjoyed the photos and videos.

Busking Cancer - Zarif

2009-06-22T00:48:00.001+01:00

On Saturday night, I went to the "Busking Cancer" event on board HMS Belfast. It was a fantastic event, the most intimate imaginable - a warship's deck is not the first venue that would come to mind looking for a rock venue. During the performances, I was less than ten feet away from the artistes.

I came away with a shed load of decent stuff, this is Zarif. If you haven't heard of her, I reckon you will, soon enough - she has an amazing voice. You can see my video of her rendition of "Teardrops" here (pause the video if the audio starts breaking up to let it buffer), her website is here, and myspace here.

Sorry, but there will be more stuff from the evening over the next couple of days. Oh, and Rod Stewart is one of the patrons of the charity. The other? well, that's part of what's coming up.

Rubbing shoulders with celebrities

2009-06-21T00:11:00.001+01:00

Up close and personal with Rod Stewart (and the present Mrs Stewart). I will tell you more about why tomorrow, I'm rather tired tonight.

London Fields

2009-06-20T00:02:00.002+01:00

The Pub on the Park is one of the features of London Fields, an area with a name that makes it sound as if it was invented five years ago, but can trace its history back to early 16th century. Back then it was a place that animals used to graze on their way into London's markets. These days, they'd have to be certain their diet could adjust to tofu.

I'm fascinated by the wall that you can see. looks like there was another building there that suffered bomb damage, and ten chimneys.... must have been grand.

Moove over darling

2009-06-19T00:28:00.002+01:00

It was just an udder day in London and I was steaking out the Southbank, listening to the moosicians, taking in the scenery. All of a sudden I came across this scene, which took me cowmpletely unaware.

Turns out that they are promoting Udderbelly, a performance venue by the London eye, picture here. And if the title struck a chord, here's Tracy Ullman's version.