Days 66 & 67 - Carvings and Roses - 22 & 23 December 2010

I was looking around at St Pancras station. There is a huge sculpture of a couple there, that I was going to try and take a photo of, but it's so badly done that I couldn't get a good shot of it.  But then I noticed it's base, and some quite wonderful sections that have been done on it. They are far better than the 60 foot (or however big it is) monstrosity above it.

Other than the deepest red, these have to be my favourite colour roses:

Days 64 & 65 - More snow - 20 & 21 December 2010

The last few winters in England have become progressively worse.  When I was little, I remember going out and playing in a fair amount of snow - but then for quite some time we rarely got any snow at all.  This has led to a lack of pre-planning as far as road gritting/plowing and you'll all have heard about the airport chaos!

Here's an example of one of our local roads on the 20th December:

And without more snow, at least that which had already fallen on the roofs, started to melt:

Days 62 & 63 - Lots of snow - 18 & 19 December 2010

On the 18th, the snow came down once more.  It wasn't too bad when we left home, but by the time we got to London, this was the hastily taken photo, before I ran back inside:

On the 19th, the snow stopped falling, leaving quite a beautiful scene.

Days 60 & 61 - Keys and the Snow returns - 16 & 17 December 2010

I use this next item a lot - and I need one at home to plug into my laptop to correct the issue I have with my spacebar! I was playing with the focus a bit on this, liking that I got the Q and A in focus, but the rest fading out.

Then the snow made it's return.  Winter hadn't even officially started, and this was our second lot.  GRR!  Anyway, here's a plant which although looking nice, doesn't look like it should have snow on it:

Days 58 & 59 - Stairs and Glass Fish - 14 & 15 December 2010

I try to use the stairs at work wherever possible, instead of the lifts, both for fitness sake and also because the lifts are sometimes a little dodgy! But there are a fair amount of those stairs, as this might prove:

Then there's my slight *cough* fascination with candles. I like them. I like the flames and the wax... and the light.  So I played around with a glass ornament in front of one, to see what would happen:

Days 56 & 57 - Stanwick Lakes and St Pancras Station - 12 & 13 December 2010

Yesterday, my sisters and nephews and I headed to a country park. It was a lovely afternoon out, and late afternoon the light was incredible, and the lake still partially frozen.


It took a fair few tries to get this photo today - but I eventually managed to do it.

Days 54 & 55 - Josh and Steph - 10 & 11 December 2010

On Friday I headed to my parents for the weekend. Also there was my sister Michelle and her gorgeous son Josh:

On Saturday, my niece Steph wanted to be in a 'photo of the day' and it was decided that she would do a tribute to the X-Factor final.  Hehehehehehehe!  Can anyone say "Hairbrush Diva":

Days 52 & 53 - Beer and Alley at night - 8 & 9 December 2010

The Porterhouse in Covent Garden is one of my favourite pubs.  It's an Irish chain, and has a selection of beers from around the world.  With lots of Belgian ones, which is fine with me.

Not getting out for lunch today left me having to take a photo on the way home, so I took a detour back to that alley, and got this photo:

Days 50 & 51 - Around Russell Square - 6 & 7 December 2010

I really enjoy the photo taking.  But the posting of the photos, not so much for some reason. It's easier to do a batch in one go, so I'm posting less often, but still taking one every day.

Monday and it was the pigeons in Russell Square.  I wish I'd got a photo about a minute later, but I was too busy ducking and diving away from them as they all flew over me to try.  Besides, it would have been just my luck to get my camera pooped on if I tried.

Tuesday and those Boris bikes:

Days 48 & 49 - At Home - 4 & 5 December 2010

It was a quiet weekend, and it was incredibly cold outside, so both photos taken were of things inside.  When it's that cold outside, it really is lovely to sit inside with a glass of warm mulled wine.

The leaves growing out the top are optional.

Sunday - and one of my wall hangings:

Days 46 & 47- Snow - 2 & 3 December 2010

The snow arrived in London, and thanks to the pollution that abounds here, we didn't get much.  But it was enough to create some different aspects for photo taking.

It was also enough to make the pavements very slippery.  No falls yet, but lots of slips.  Firstly the bench at my train station, taken yesterday:

Then Russell Square - taken this evening:

Day 45 - Gordon Square Church - 1 December 2010

This is a church near to my workplace, by Gordon Square. It was bitterly cold, so I didn't hang around for this one - in fact it was hard to take the photo - the batteries in my camera decided it was too cold for them to work - but with some persuasion (i.e. vigorous shaking) I managed to get 1 shot.

Days 43 & 44 - Shoes and Snow - 29 & 30 November 2010

My space bar is only working intermittently.  It's very irritating.  But my photos have nothing to do with that.

Yesterday I was back to work - and back to lunch breaks meandering around. Look where I ended up:

Then today, I awoke to the first snow in London this season.  Thankfully we got off lightly compared to some areas of the country, although I'm not looking forward to walking along the pavements tomorrow. On my way home they were very wet. Tomorrow it's not supposed to get above freezing. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Here's the train tracks today, and no, the black and white setting hasn't been used.

Days 41 & 42 - Apple and Frost - 27 & 28 November 2010

So with a heavy cold I didn't feel like leaving the house on Saturday.  The most I did was get food really - so here's some of it... an apple!

On Sunday I did venture out - to Sainsburys to get more food - around 2 in the afternoon.  However, it wasn't warm as evidenced by this photo:

Days 39 & 40 - Centre for Mathematical Sciences and my home remedy - 25 & 25 November 2010

Yesterday I had to attend a meeting at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences in Cambridge.  It's an amazing building, and I managed to get a shot of it.  It doesn't show that the roof of the main building is covered with grass, or the size of the whole complex, but it gives some idea:

Then today I succumbed fully to the virus and stayed in bed.  Here's my take on a home remedy:

Days 37 & 38 - Euston and a very 'happy' crowd - 23 & 24 November 2010

On Tuesday of this week I had to go to Birmingham for some training.  It was unfortunate that my seat on the train was opposite a person who had quite a lot of germs emanating from them, and thus I managed to pick some of them up. It's been a bit of a rough week as a result.


Tuesday's photo is of the underground platform at Euston - with a train leaving.

Wednesday's photo presented itself rather unexpectedly.  I was heading home from work when I came across this very happy gathering of people spilling out of O'Neills pub across the road.  They wore green and white shaped scarves, and were chanting some sports anthems very enthusiastically, so I assumed their team had won, or something.  There was only 1 poor policeman trying to corral the lot, and not having much success.  I took this just as the police riot van showed up, and thus had to make a prompt exit afterwards, as they were all ushered in my direction.

If anyone can tell me what they were so happy about, I'd appreciate it. I just pity the clean up afterwards.

Days 35 & 36 - Traffic at night - 21 & 22 November 2010

So my brother sent me a miniature tripod to use - it's marvellous.  Not much bigger than a pen when folded up.  I've been able to make use of it the last 2 nights.  Yesterday, I used it on my way home from Northampton - going down the main street in New Barnet.  Then today, it was a street close to my work.

Days 33 & 34 - Pets - 19 & 20 November 2010

So I went back to visit my parents for the weekend.  My sister Sharon lives just around the corner, so I was able to persuade, with some help from Sharon and Dan (my nephew), their 2 pets to pose.  On Friday it was Bob, their dog. On Saturday Bob was asleep elsewhere, so Squittee their cat was happy to come in and hang out with us.

Day 32 - British Museum Lion - 18 November 2010

I suspect that, as I work close to the British Museum, it will become a bit of a haunt of mine over the winter months - it's one of the only museums in London that allows flash photography!  But for now, here's part of the outside, back entrance!

Day 31 - Russell Square - 17 November 2010

It was hard to believe that I'd been doing this for a month.  I'm so glad I started this - and that I've managed to keep it going.  I wasn't feeling too great last night, so didn't post this one then.  But here it is now:

Day 30 - Victoria Park - 16 November 2010

Due to technical difficulties where I work (the wireless was intermittant at best) I worked from home today.  It coincided well with a fog that lasted throughout the day.  At lunchtime I went for a walk into our local park - and took this shot.  The fog was worse in the morning and in the evening, so I probably could have gotten a better picture at those times, but to be honest, it really didn't look very inviting to go outside at those times!

Day 29 - Institute of Education - 15 November

So here's another view of the building I work in - the 'back' as it were.  I liked the light and the reflection of the sun/other windows.

Day 27 & 28 - Champagne and Tea - 13 & 14 November 2010

I spent the weekend at Heidi and Dan Veal's place, along with a certain Isla Winchester who passed her driving test this week.  This prompted some celebrations, which included champagne, followed by tea.  So last night I took the photo of the champagne glasses, and today of the freshly washed up tea cups!

Day 26 - Cafe in the rain - 12 November 2010

When I saw the rain this evening, I knew where I was headed on the way to the station. There's this fabulous little alley, which I thought would look pretty good with wet pavement.  It did.

Day 25 - Poppy - 11 November 2010

In Flanders fields the poppies blow 

Between the crosses, row on row, 

That mark our place; and in the sky 

The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 

Loved and were loved, and now we lie, 

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw 

The torch; be yours to hold it high. 

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow 

In Flanders fields.

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD

Day 24 - Marble Arch - 10 November 2010

Finally, a camera that can do long exposures.  I found a handy railing, and got the shot!  I call it Marble Arch, as seen through a red bus and other traffic!

I personally think it's pretty cool.  After taking this I went to see the film Red, which was fantastic fun!

Day 23 - Fallen Leaves - 9 November 2010

The new umbrella held up well this morning, and the weather improved by the time I neared work.  It was no longer a downpour, and more just spitting.  Yes, I'm British, can you tell?

Last week the leaves were still mostly on the trees.  This week, and with this weather... not so much any more!

Did you know that I have to leave the house earlier now - because First Capital Connect trains have to operate on a leaf timetable - they can't deal with leaves on the tracks, so have to have a timetable that's 3 minutes earlier.  This wouldn't irritate me, except that the last 2 days the trains have been 15 minutes late.

Day 22 - Sir John Betjeman - 8 November 2010

Today's weather was absolutely miserable.  I have a trusty umbrella, which has been pretty unbreakable, although it has turned inside out a number of times, it always flips back ok, totally intact.  That's how bad today's weather was - it broke my umbrella.

Trekking across London to my morning meeting this morning, with a broken umbrella, and no gloves (bad day to forget those), I really wasn't in the mood to take any pictures.  I did buy a new umbrella afterwards though, although that's not relevant here.

I ended up going to St Pancras station after work to find my photo opportunity, and this one presented itself nicely.  Whenever I've been up there before, this is usually surrounded by tourists (the bane of any Londoner's life), but not today.  So here he is:

I really enjoy the poems of his that I've read - we studied one of them for GCSE English Literature, and I can still near on recite the thing word perfect now, 12 years later.  Fabulous writing, even if he did later regret asking for bombs to come and fall on Slough!

Day 21 - Brazilian meat fest - 7 November 2010

So yesterday evening a group of us went out to a Rodizios restaurant - it's eat all you want Brazilian meat. It was very tasty, and lovely, and I ate far too much, and have had to baby my stomach as a result ever since.  This was one of the last cuts of meat they brought to the table.  Unfortunately not the best shot.  By this time I was feeling a little gorged, and my camera decided, right after taking this, that the batteries were dead.  It turned out that my camera was wrong, but by the time I got it to turn back on, the chap had left

Day 20 - Candle - 6 November 2010

So the plan was to go to the local fireworks display tonight, but for a variety of reasons, that didn't happen.  As I had planned to take the photo of the day then, it left me having to do something at home.  I decided to play with fire myself (always a good alternative).

Day 19 - Tavistock Gardens - 5 November 2010

Had another event today - which was held in a facility very close to where I work.  I have to walk past these gardens to get there.

I'm so glad it's the weekend - this week has been ridiculously busy!

Day 18 - Browns Restaurant - 4 November 2010

Had a work event held at Browns Restaurant in Covent Garden yesterday - it's a lovely place.  The function rooms are old courtrooms.  Here's the chandeliers that were hanging from the ceiling.