The Dog and Pot

"My usual way home was over Blackfriars' Bridge, and down     

that turning in the Blackfriars Road which has Rowlands Hill's

Chapel on one side, and the likeness of a golden dog licking     

a golden pot over a shop door on the other."                           

                                                 Charles Dickens  1812 - 1870 

                 

 What Dickens saw on his way home as a child was the sign on an ironmongers shop

It is now commemorated by a new "Dog and Pot!" at a spot in Union Street at it's

junction with Blackfriars Bridge Road, Southwalk.

  

      This is in the pavement with details of the shop.

   

Charlie lived in Kennington.

On the corner of Methley Street and Bowden Street, Kennington is a tiny space that is a tribute

to Charlie Chaplin. The Blue Plaque, seen above, is on the house where the family once lived.

Charlie's Patch is opposite The Camera Club which was founded in 1885.

The property that is now home to The Camera Club was once a pickle factory. One of

its workers was Charlie Chaplin’s father! Hence the Chaplin lived just across the road.

thecameraclub.co.uk

London Nocturne 2013

The speed Kings and Queens of the road were racing around Smithfield Market again.

Competitors in the Leigh Day Kermesse.

Chelsea Flower Show 2013

This was my first visit to the RHS show in the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital.

 Here are some of my inpressions of their 100th anniversary show.

There were lots of people and of course lots of flowers and gardens.

There were the big show gardens. This one is the Arthritis Research UK Garden

created by Chris Beardshaw who was diagnosed with a form of Arthritis, when a teenager.

The SeeAbility Garden. Designed to give an impression of the effects of various types of sight loss. Created by Darren Hawkes.

This garden was a load of old rubbish. It was constructed of mostly recycled materials.

The Cancer Research Garden, After The Fire by James Basson. This is a small section of it,

 designed to show how a South of France landscape can regenerate after a forest fire.

Some "gardens" were just flights of fancy.

The local residents were also interested to see what was going on in their grounds.

All the fun of the fair, and more!

Some of the attractions at the Merrist Wood College Summer show.

Greenwich Spring Time

The first good early spring weather was enjoyed by people in Greenwich Park ....

...and at the top of the hill, just viewing the city in the sunshine.

Who is in the square!

The title is a statement, not a question.

Filming for the Dr. Who 50th anniversary episode was taking place in London's Trafalgar 

Square after a rain shower. Actor Matt Smith keeps warm before the action starts.

The Doctor seen here with Clara his new companion played by Jenna-Louise Coleman.

Comet Pan-STARRS

C/2011 L4  comet Pan-STARRS as seen from my West London garden on an early April evening.

I saw it first as a naked eye object on 13 March, from Regents Park, London. 

It is now beginning to fade in brightness as it rushes a way from Earth and off into deep space.

The Temperate House, Kew.

The Victorian Glasshouse at Kew Gardens has received £33m in grants and donations.

This means it can go ahead with its refurbishment of the building designed by Decimus Burton.

The building was showing its age recently, but was still looking magnificent.

Bankside to Vauxhall

My Winter walk in Southwark with

old and new Backside buildings in view.

The first bridge on the stroll up river was the

Millennium bridge which leads to St. Paul's cathedral.

This footbridge is always very popular, seen here from the St. Paul's side of the river.

Later I reached a very well known landmarks at dusk,

The palace of Westminster and bridge.

At nightfall I reached Vauxhall bridge. Across the river on the left you can the MI6 building.

 On the right is the tower with the remains of the crane, hit the helicopter that crashed in Vauxhall.

Winter

This is number Four in a quartet of seasonal pictures of the same subject.