Saturday, December 22, 2012

International Space Station

Here it is photographed above a cloudy sky in West London at 17:12 UTC  21/12/2012
It's path was captured as it transited West to East. The Moon is seen to the top right and
the track crosses the constellation of Purseus before appearing to pass the planet Jupiter.
The stella objects are trails rather than points of light due to the two minute exposure.

The ISS orbits the earth 15.5 times a day at an average speed of 27,700 kph.
at an average altitude of 350 km. The track is over a different place each orbit.

Sir Patrick Moore remembered.

The members of The Baker Street Irregulars Astronomy group
saluted Patrick Moore with their red torches, lasers and mobile
phone lights at their meeting place, The Hub, Regents Park, London.
photo credit BSIA

Patrick Moore died on 9th December 2012
An all rounder in every sense of the word, amateur astronomer, writer, cricketer,
golfer, chess player, xylophone player, composer and pianist. Above all it was
as a great populariser of astronomy. Countless people became interested in the
subject at all levels, some becoming eminent professionals in later life.
He presented 705 episodes of the monthly BBC television programme, The Sky at Night.

Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore CBE, FRS, FRAS 1923 - 2012
RIP
Tino Seghal at Tate Modern.


The Tino Shagal "arts installation" in the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern
is very hard to describe, you had to experience it. It is different each time
it is observed. The group of  "performers" have rehearsed away from the
Tate before performing it in a forty minutes slot in the turbine Hall.

Sometimes everything was very still, with the performers standing
still or laying down on the floor, before becoming very animated.

There was also a lot of walking done before performers interacted with
members of the public face to face, reciting poetry or telling stories.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Soho Square
English singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl 1959 – 2000
was killed on 18 December 2000.

Kirsty was holiday with her family in Cozumel, Mexico.
She had been Scuba diving in the sea, on surfacing from a
dive, she was hit by a speeding powerboat that had entered
the restricted area. She died instantly in front of her two sons.




At the southern entrance to London's Soho Square there is a memorial to her.
It takes the form of a wooden bench with an inscription.
The wording quotes lyrics from her song, Soho Square.
"One day I'll be waiting there / No empty bench in Soho Square"



Saturday, December 08, 2012

The "Tanks" - Tate Modern

The new Tate Modern exhibition spaces are in the old oil storage tanks
that were used when the building was the Bankside power station.


Sunday, November 18, 2012

London Open House - September 2012

Brunel's "Three Bridges" Hanwell

At the canal level you see the railway line below and road bridge above.

 Looking along the canal towards the "flight" of locks, the rail line is just visible.

From the road bridge pavement you see the railway track running under the canal.

More London Open House
St Thomas' Church, London SE1

 St Thomas' Church has a museum.

 At the top of a 32 step spiral staircase is a Herb Garret ....

 ...and The Old Operating Theatre of the Old St Thomas'  Hospital.

BigFest 2012

Catalan Circus Circumloqui - Circus on three wheels.

 Entertaining the people of Uxbridge with Music and Puppetry.


Not just a one Man Band!

Friday, September 14, 2012

London 2012 Victory Parade
A chance for London to see their Olympic and Paralympic hero's with their medals.

Mo Farah

Jessica Ennis

Two supreme athletes
Jessica Ennis                                      and                                         David Weir 

    Anthony Joshua                            Nicola Adams 

Victoria Pendleton

Lee Pearson                     Tom Daley                       and their team-mates.        

Jonny Brownlee won a Bronze in the Triathlon
and here capturing a happy memory of the day.

What all athletes try to achieve, a medal!
A Bronze here, worn with pride.

The Games Makers were not forgotten, with a special message for us all.

See you all again in Rio 2016

The Airbus that brought the Olympic flame led the flypast with a Big "Thank You"

To end the perfect parade, you just have to have "The Red Arrows"

Paralympic Marathon

A wheelchair Marathon competitor on the part of the coarse that
loops around the city, they must complete three circuits of the loop. 

The leading pack in the Men's event, their third time round the City loop.

David Weir well placed in second position at 24 miles and heading for home
where he finished in first position to win his forth Gold medal of the games.


Shelly Woods begins her final City loop at 20 miles, cheered on by a patriotic crowd.

Sally keeps very close to the leader at 24 miles as she heads for home.
She came second and won a Silver medal, after her three track defeats.

Tatyana McFadden, the last competitor at the 24 mile point in the Women's Marathon, was
cheered on by crowds lining the course not wanting to miss any on these supreme athletes.
Tatyana overtook the competitor in front of her to finish ninth out of the ten finishers.

Sunday, September 02, 2012

Paralympics 2012

The Paralympic symbol has replaced the Olympic rings at landmark positions
 around the city.   Here it is at the National Gallery, Trafalgar square.

In the square the big screen and picnic tables were very popular.

And special visitors were well catered for.

Tower bridge has also changed it's symbol ......

...... giving the River Thames yet another new look.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Primrose Hill

One of the best views of the London is from Primrose Hill.
Revisited after a long while, how the skyline has changed!

London Mela 2012

The London Mela at Gunnersbury Park, W3 is celebration of
South Asian culture, food and music. There is also funfair.


The big screen is used to show the parade and what is on the main stage.
Here it is the Bollywood Brass Band, UK’s Indian-style wedding band.

The final concert had the Philharmonia Orchestra performing Gustav Holst's 'Indra'
before providing the big orchestral backing for the Bollywood singer Jaz Dhami.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Four Seasons #3

Summer
The third in a series of the same subject through the seasons.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Xavier Veilhan at Hatfield House

"Le Monument" part of the 2012 sculpture exhibition "Promenade" at Hatfield House.
Xavier Veilhan is an artist who lives and works in Paris.

"Les Rayons" 

"The Shark"

 "Alice"

 "Foster"

"Marine au Rayons"