Memorial day - 53

The City of London with a resident population of less than 10,000 is one of the smallest cities in the United Kingdom. The smallest being St David's in Wales with a population of less than 2000. The City is the financial heart of the UK and one of, if not the financial centre of the World. During the working week its narrow roads and allays come to life with the 350,000 bankers, financiers and investment workers, while during the weekend it is like a ghost
town.

The City is also known as the Square Mile, due to its physical dimensions.

To mark its boarder stand on its main thoroughfares the emblem of the City of London, supported by two dragons.




The bollard in the photograph at the top of the page, is one of two identical status that stand on the north and south side of the Victoria Embankment and mark the south western boundary of the City, adjacent to the River Thames. The dragons were formerly mounted above the entrance to the City of London Coal Exchange, which was demolished in 1963.

Just north and running parallel with the Victoria Embankment stands the Strand. The statue on the right stands outside the Royal Courts of Justice, opened by queen Victoria in 1882. When the ruling monarch visits the City, on formal Royal occasions, the Lord Mayor of London stands by the monument to great the monarch.

Memorial day - 38

Walk north from Queen Victoria Street, the City of London, (not to be confused with Victoria Street, Westminster), along Friday Street, and as you approach the junction with Cannon Street you see an area landscaped as a garden, with tropical plants and trees. Look closer, no, your eyes do not deceive you, in the midst of the bushes sits a life sized leopard on a log waiting to pounce on a passer-by who approaches to close.

The bronze sculpture "The Leopard" is exhibited by the Wates Group of Companies and is the 1985 work by Jonathan Kenworthy.

Offensive weapon

I took the above photograph last week. I subsequently spoke to the photographer in the picture - she works for a company specialising in architecture photography, she was spending all day taking time lapse shots of the City of London. The 0ther two figures are Community Wardens, this was the third time that day she had been asked to prove her identity and give an account of what she was doing.


Last Saturday I walked around unchallenged taking shots with my G9 camera. Unfortunately the images were not as good as I desired, so Tuesday afternoon I retraced my steps in the hope of achieving better results.

But things were different, three times I was challenged by security staff. I knew the reason, even before they spoke.

"You've stopped me because I'm using a ******?"
"Yes".

What had made me such a security risk?

The photos taken were, above passengers waiting to board a London Underground train, and below part of the River Thames flood control barrier at sunset.

The difference between Saturday and Tuesday - as with the young photographer - I was using a tripod!

A hand-held G9 camera, no problem. A G9 attached to a tripod, judging from security personnel reaction it becomes as threatening as a weapon of mass destruction.

Reading various message boards and forums it can be seen photographers are increasingly being harassed by the police and security staff, particularly if they are using tripods.

Its still not against the law in the UK to photograph in public - well in theory, in practice its a different story.

Sky watch Wednesday on Friday

Wednesday 16th January 2008, 07:23 am, sunrise over the City of London
and

Wednesday 16th January 2008, 04:16 pm sunset over the City of Westminster

Separated by a mile and nearly nine hours in time. The sun rose in the east over the City and set in the west over another of the cities that make up London, the City of Westminster.

London, the City of London, the City of Westminster all very confusing. Just like New York - its so nice they named it twice.

Really great skies the last couple of days, as can be seen from yesterday afternoon's posting.

Irrational dislike

I really dislike walking across Waterloo Bridge.

I really dislike walking across Westminster Bridge. But that's perfectly rational, its such an unpleasant experience. Trying to make your way along the pavement congested with tourists standing in the middle, having their photograph taken with the backdrop of Big Ben or the London Eye. Then there are all the touts selling: honey roasted peanuts or smuggled cigarettes. Then there's the group of Chinese who make postcard holders out of aluminium wire bent in the shape of the purchasers name - please write your name on paper, oh sorry wire too short for Isambard Zaccarious Moonwalker.

But there's no rational reason for my antipathy towards Waterloo Bridge. In reality Waterloo Bridge offers one of the best views of St Paul's Cathedral and the City of London. And in the winter months you can see some brilliant sunsets - even the Kinks had a hit song about them.

The view west in the night is breathtaking. Click here to see.