Amazing rare colour footage from London in 1927. Music by Jonquil and Yann Tiersen.
Incredible colour footage of 1920s London shot by an early British pioneer of film named Claude Frisse-Greene, who made a series of travelogues using the colour process his father William – a noted cinematographer – was experimenting with. It’s like a beautifully dusty old postcard you’d find in a junk store, but moving.
Attrocious driving conditions on the M25, lots of surface water, very bad spray from vehichles.
Not been to Heathrow Terminal 5 before.
On landside, a bit futuristic, rather what one imagines a spaceport to be like as in the first book of the Isaac Asimov Foundation series. Though once through to airside and the departure gate, much of a muchness, long time to board.
Flight uneventful, food reasonable.
Landing at 1800, was in a the airport a few minutes later, the first luggage was on the belt 1809 (if the sign to be believed).
It was then out catch a bus or metro into Athens.
St Paul’s surviving Blitz of WWII
One of the iconic images of London during the German Blitz of World War Two is St Paul’s Cathedral surviving in the midst of bombed out ruins.
Winston Churchill had ordered that St Paul’s be saved no matter what the cost, even if it meant all the surrounding buildings were burnt to the ground.
He issued this order because he believed that if St Paul’s was destroyed, the morale of Londoners would collapse.
What was not reported at the time for obvious reasons, morale was close to collapse, and had the German bombing raids continued, it would have collapsed.
Bomb Site maps all the bombs that fell on London during the Blitz.
You can pick a day, or the entire period of the Blitz, and it will map where the bombs fell.
With Bomb Sight you can discover what it was like in London, during WWII Luftwaffe Blitz bombing raids, exploring maps, images and memories. The Bomb Sight web map makes use of bomb census maps, previously available only by viewing them in the Reading Room of The National Archives.
You can interrogate and learn more information. You can type in a specific location. You can go to an area of London for example Hackney, or an area within Hackney for example Dalston or Hackney Central, see where the bombs fell, see pictures, read accounts of the time. But what does not seem possible, is once in one of these areas move around the map, though you can do this from the main map, by moving around, then zooming in.
The London Blitz took place from 7 October 1940 until 6 June 1941.
Bomb Site only went live 30 November 2012. They had not expected the level of interest and the server is unable to cope with the demand. Be patient.
More information on this project, a joint project between the University of Portsmouth and the National Archives, can be found on their blog, Mapping the Blitz Bomb Census.
quiche and salad
strawberry, kiwi fruit, banana and blackcurrant scrunch
strawberry, kiwi fruit, banana and blackcurrant scrunch
The plan was Wimbledon, then Putney for a concert, but it was awful day, change of plan, Charing Cross Road, hit the bookshops (the Quest for NeverSeconds continues), eat at Food for Thought, then Putney for Il Siglo d’Oro.
I had wanted stir fried vegetables with rice, but either they had run out or did not have. I settled for quiche with salad. Only you could not have quiche with one salad. It was ether no salad or four salads. A bit of flexibility is needed. I was allowed as special dispensation quiche with one salad.
Both the quiche and salad were very good. The quiche excellent, best quiche I have ever had.
For dessert strawberry, kiwi fruit, banana and blackcurrant scrunch. I could have had fresh fruit salad, a scone, flapjack.
Plus a small pot of tea. The tea as always awful.
Having had no lunch, I ate early. As I was leaving it was getting busy, a queue backing up the stairs.
I am pleased to say it was better than when the week before I had lunch at Food for Thought which was something of a disappointment and not up to their usual high standard.
To Covent Garden Station. I thought I might have time for Piccadilly, but no time. It was time to set off for Il Siglo d’Oro in Putney
Gangnam Style (강남스타일) in London.
London 2012 Olympics
London 2012 bagel rings verboten
Clown Town painted by Mau
Bansky Olympic art
Bansky Olympic art
It is already taking twice the time to get anywhere in London. I hate the Olympics. What a wasteful vanity project it is. — Giles Fraser
Been sat at Canonbury station for 40 minutes after being advised by the Olympics transport people that the overground is working. — Tamsin Omond
I have zero interest in sport, but if folks want a sporting event, that is fine by me. What I object to is the obscenity of corporate sponsorship, which is destroying sport, destroying the arts.
With the London 2012 Olympics, we are seeing the obscenity of corporate sponsorship writ large.
What message does it broadcast to the world when we see sponsorship by companies like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola?
Independent caterers to the Games are being dictated to what they may and may not serve. They have to look like fast food outlets, they must promote Coco-Cola. The sponsors dictate what they can and cannot have on their menu. Efforts to serve healthy food are being undermined.
The independent caterers are not allowed to state they were caterers to London 2012. No great loss as why would they wish to be associated with a tainted brand?
Police who have had to step in to provide security after the appalling failure by G4S have been told to hide the crisps they may be eating in a plain paper bag!
The corporate sponsors were able to dodge their taxes. Several have backed down, Adidas intends to dodge tax. Adidas is using sweatshop labour for its Olympic tat.
Please sign the petition on the corporate tax dodgers.
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/olympic-tax-dodging-petition
The major sponsor of the London 2012 Olympics is the public, not the corporate sponsors, though one could be forgiven for thinking it was the other way on, the way the public is getting screwed and the corporate sponsors dictating the agenda.
Last week we saw Zil Lanes come into force in London, priority traffic lanes for exclusive use of Olympic traffic, including their corporate sponsors. The athletes live on-site in the Olympics Village, therefore who are the Zil Lanes for other than the sponsors?
Well done those London taxis who last week held a bumper to bumper protest.
Brand protection has become a criminal matter. The sponsors have been allowed to dicate what people can wear, what they can eat. It also determines what people can or cannot show.
Woe betide anyone who uses the Olympic rings, the name Olympic or London 2012.
Shops are being told take down Olympics rings else face prosecution.
Two hundred and fifty Trading Standards Officers have been sent to London to protect the corporate brands of the Olympic sponsors. Meanwhile the areas they have been drawn from will give crooked traders free reign to rip off the public.
To display in the front window of your own home a poster critical of the London 2012 Olympic Game is a criminal offence.
We all love the street art by Banksky. Not it seems if it exposes the corrosive, corrupting influence of corporate sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics. His latest artworks showing a missile being thrown instead of a javelin and pole vaulting over the Olympic Park security fence may be destroyed under yet another diktat from the sponsors that all street art must be destroyed.
One street artist has been banned from Olympic venues and public transport and banned from owning paint!
The London 2012 Olympics was to be promotion of culture, but only mass produced plastic culture endorsed by Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.
The area around London 2012 Olympics has become a militarised zone. Any visitors to London can be forgiven for thinking martial law has been declared or the military has mounted a coup.
The Olympic Park is surrounded by an 11-mile electrified fence. 55 teams of attack dogs are paroling, drones are overhead, surface-to-air missiles on blocks of residential flats, warships in the Thames, warplanes patrolling the skies.
A no fly zone came into effect over London a few weeks ago.
Legacy?
The Games will not lead to more sport being played. Does anyone seriously imagine fat slobs stuffing themselves with junk whilst watching the London 2012 Olympics on TV are suddenly going to lead an active life let alone take up sport?
The stadium white elephants.
Qatar has bought the Olympic Village at a loss to the taxpayer.
Businesses and local residents have been evicted to make way for the Olympics.
The Olympic torch relay has proved popular, though not in Aldershot where it took place in secret. The Games are not proving popular. 49% of Londoners and 53% of those outside London have said they are not interested in London 2012.
The Olympic Games have deterred visitors from coming to London.
The Olympic Games is a vanity mega-project for the corporate sponsors.
But it does not have to be.
The Games can be smaller, they can be decentralised, spread over several countries over a period of several weeks, they could use existing sporting facilities. For example track and athletics in one country, swimming another, sailing another. There is already a precedence for this, the Winter Olympics did not take place in London.
Do we even need stadiums?
The Tour de France takes place on the streets.
Kick out the corporate sponsors. We do not want dirty money from Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Dow Chemicals.
Thames from Hungerford Bridge
working boats on The Thames
A room for London: Thames and Hungerford Bridge
Atop the buildings on the South Bank of The Thames is a boat.
An odd place for a boat. Part of an arts project A Room for London.
This evening, Imogen Heap live streamed over the net from the boat, and was shown on a large screen at Clore Ballroom, Southbank Centre.
Three projects rolled into one: Heapsongs, the Listening Chair and Sounds From a Room.
Last week via the listening chair, Imogen Heap was collecting thoughts on The Thames, crowd sourcing for her new song You know where to find me, a perspective from The Thames.
Various themes came through which will be incorporated into the song:
Piano melody came in the early hours of the morning.
Storm hit during the night. The boat was rocking. Would it be blown off into The Thames?
Beautiful haunting piano melody.
Forgot the song, so new.
People stand around, just looking, can do this by a river.
A very public area with private thoughts.
Word cloud, distils thoughts.
Very little traffic on the river cf Thames River Pageant.
From the boat a view over the Thames and of Waterloo Bridge.
Does The Thames want to be young, blue and green?
Two hours sleep.
Pulled the lyrics together late morning.
You cannot force inspiration.
Just explain, not write, then relax.
Inspiration not on tap.
Used to live in a flat in Waterloo
Cannot write under pressure. Time lapse camera click click click …
Water a vital organ.
River has its off day, like us.
Artist’s favourite friend is procrastination.
Had hoped to finish the song, instead see the process.
Do you have a piano in Edinburgh? Filming will take place in Edinburgh.
Relationships, with the river, with each other.
Part will be filmed in Clore Ballroom after the live steaming.
Top Story in The Boatshed Essex Daily (Saturday 23 June 2012).
The Stonemason’s Yard — Canaletto
Writers such as Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Emile Zola, Honoré de Balzac, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, brought to life the period in which they lived.
The paintings of Canaletto bring to life London and Venice.
The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant early this month was inspired by a painting by Canaletto, currently part of an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greewich.
The Stone Mason’s Yard shows us what such a yard looked like, the hive of activity, the stone, the workman.
Grand Canal Venice — Canaletto
The Grand Canal and the Church of the Salute — Canaletto
Incredible film footage by Brian Wilson.
London, the Eurostar train, then Milan, then Venice.
I flew to Venice in March then train to Bassano del Grappa, then back to Venice, an hour, then left.
May, I flew over Venice, before that Istanbul, then over the Alps.
The architecture and mountain scenery of northern Italy is very much that I found in Bassano del Grappa.
Excellent the way Brian Wilson captures the spirit of Venice. Looking down the Grand Canal, the scene could be straight out of a painting by Canaletto.
It never occurred to me to travel Eurostar to Venice until I was in Venice and saw the Eurostar trains.
Top Story in Veni Vidi Vici (Sunday 17 June 2012).
Kylie
The Diamond Jubilee Concert took place outside Buckingham Palace, part of four days of Diamond Jubilee celebrations to mark 60 years on the throne of Queen Elisabeth II.
The concert opened with Robbie Williams.
One song, then some jerk talking drivel wasting time.
A lot of the acts were unbelievable crap, Jessie J, JLS
Jessie J was summed up for me by a clone in a seedy bar in Protaras in Cyprus! I say clone as what is their to pay tribute to? The same bar had clone Lady Gaga, clone Amy Winehouse. The originals are bad enough, why would anyone wish to copy them. why on earth would anyone other than English whose idea of music is X Factor wish to sit in a crap bar listening to crap music?
On the other hand, Shadowboxer did a brilliant cover of Price Tag.
Another seedy bar had, now don’t laugh, X-factor winner! Yep, X-Factor does wonders for a career in music!
Anyway, enough of caustic asides, back to The Diamond Jubilee Concert …
JLS followed by a female talking drivel.
Gary Barlow (cannot stand) and Cheryl.
Interesting design of diamond stage and wrap around seating with Royal Box in the middle.
Amazing looking down the Mall and seeing it lined with people. Those who has tickets for the stage, also had a soggy picnic in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
More drivel, followed by Cliff Richard medley.
Did we really have to these idiots talking rubbish between the acts. Were they supposed to be funny?
Lang Lang on piano. Bloody awful noise for intro. As was most of the rest of his performance. Gershwin was ok but I have heard far better. Give me Imogen Heap or Fazil Say any day.
Irritating female from earlier back again talking drivel.
Opera singer Alfie Boe. One of these bloody awful pop-opera crossovers.
Lenny Henry not funny, but used to be.
Jools Holland, at last someone with some talent. Joined by Ruby Turner. So far first good act.
idiot who introduced the concert back again talking drivel.
Grace Jones has talent, but what an awful outfit, looks like a drag queen. I am impressed by hula-hoop whilst singing.
Now two idiots talking drivel.
It’s getting worse. An unknown on acoustic guitar who can neither sing nor play.
I have never in my life seen a concert as dire as this.
Annie Lennox used to be good, but this is very poor performance.
Where on earth are they digging these people up from? Rolf Harris?
American soprano Renée Fleming a welcome relief to what has gone before.
Idiot back talking drivel.
Tom Jones, a Welsh boy with talent. Fantastic performance of Delilah. Loved the Spanish acoustic guitar. Sends shivers down the spine.
Tom Jones is in a different league to what has gone before!
Lenny Henry back talking rubbish.
Very smart outfit the Queen wearing just escorted into Royal Box by Prince Charles.
Robbie Williams back. Tom Jones a hard act to follow.
This is becoming bloody ridiculous. Robbie Williams one song, now Rolf Harris back talking drivel.
Gary Barlow has done nothing special travelling the world finding musical talent. Playing for Change have been doing this for some time connecting together street musicians, and finding better talent.
Idiot back talking drivel.
I am no fan of Shirley Bassey, but even she stands out as talent compared with most of what has gone before.
Kylie in a league of her own! Her concerts are amazing performances!
Idiot back talking rubbish.
Soprano Renée Fleming and tenor Alfie Boe on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. She has a fantastic voice. Shivers down the spine!
Idiot back talking drivel.
Classic Elton John! Passed his best, and yet still far better than most of what has gone before. Princess Diana would have loved it! Shivers down the spine!
Rolf Harris back. Err!
Excellent film footage of Queen Elisabeth 60 years on the throne.
Lenny Henry talking rubbish.
Soul legend Stevie Wonder. Disappointed. Very mediocre performance from Stevie Wonder. Last number better.
Artists not enough time to warm up and give their best.
Prat back talking drivel.
Madness. More bland, mediocre rubbish.
Another idiot talking drivel.
Paul McCartney, a real rock n roller, a great live performer! Brilliant Live and Let Die, fireworks and laser display.
Paul McCartney rescued what otherwise was an unbelievably bad concert.
Queen looking very elegant in gold dress. As with Kate previous day at River Pageant, style!
Excellent and moving speech by Prince Charles.
The concert ended with the Queen lighting the last of the beacons, the National Beacon, followed by a firework display set to music. Beacons were lit across the world, not just across the UK.
Last summer we torched our towns and cities. This year we lit beacons.
Why did BBC roll the credits obscuring the end of firework display?
Sound quality was unbelievably bad. That on radio 2 was a little better, but still not good and out of synch with that on BBC One. That on BBC One awful.
20,000 had tickets for the concerts, tens of thousands more in the Mall.
Whose dumb idea was it to let Gary Barlow organise this concert? A man of zilch talent, from a pathetic boy band, and clearly of zilch musical taste.
The concert should have been a few talented artists each given half an hour each.
This has to rate as one of the worst concerts I have seen. A few good artists who were in a league of their own, dragged down by rubbish.
What we saw was a concert aimed at the X Factor generation.
Good was no corporate sponsorship. Bad was unemployed bussed into London, forced to work as stewards for zero pay, then told to sleep under London Bridge. This is how modern Britain under a ConDem government treats the most vulnerable in society.
Last night people could not get home from the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, and it finished late afternoon. How on earth are people to get home tonight? Once again we are let down by our crap privatised public transport.
Four days of Diamond Jubilee Celebrations end tomorrow, ie Tuesday, a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral at 9-30 in the morning, then a carriage procession at 2-30pm in the afternoon. There should be a flypast but it may not take place due to poor weather conditions.
No 1 Top Story in The Digital Mission Daily (Tuesday 5 June 2012).
