All's Fair in Love and Football

I live quite near to the Arsenal stadium and silently curse whenever there's a home game on as all the supporters clog up the tube and buses. This pub, round the corner from Finsbury Park Station, is obviously very patriotic about their team but I can't help but think that this sign sums up everything I dislike about football culture in this country. It's not the game I take issue with, it's the mentality of some of the supporters, giving it a bad name, that puts me off.

A Fine Duo

Albert and Pearl sound like a 20s jazz dance duo-but they were in fact 'purveyors of fine foods'. What would just be called a local corner shop or greengrocers nowadays had a much grander name back in the day. You can tell that these two took great pride in their work.

Russell's Chambers

Near Holborn station I spotted this blue plaque, right on the side of a block of flats/'chambers' named after their previous occupant. For more info on this buildings namesake click here...

British Museum

An impromptu meet up yesterday with a lovely friend of mine resulted in a trip to see the mummies at The British Museum. The last time I set foot in here was on a school trip when I was about ten and I really don't remember it looking like this. What a fantastic ceiling! Perhaps this is a more recent fixture,or maybe I was just very unobservant as a child. Probably the latter! 

Big Buddha

Not sure whether the notion of a massive Buddha keeping its beady eye on me puts me at ease or not, but either way- nice punning. And nice use of colour!

Steel Snakeskin

I saw this view whilst wandering past the Hayward Galleria today- it appears to be a shopping arcade, with lots of shops selling expensive nick knacks and Cafe Rouges. Oh well. Anyway, myself and a friend, who is actually an architect, stood for a fair few minutes and marvelled at this view. Like a big metal snake curving off into the distance, it combines our typical tough British steel with a touch of elegance to form an intricate yet industrial looking structure overhead.

Gormley?

Reminiscent of the fantastic Anthony Gormley, who I love, this wooden women watches over an entrance to London Bridge. 

12 Thousand Souls Under The Sea

I must admit- despite being a 'Londoner' I have never been to the Tower of London before and so I've never seen this memorial right by it. It's not long after Armistice Day and maybe that's why this inscription grabbed my attention. It's funny because when you think of 'troops' you often think of those on land or in the air. It's nice that there is a remembrance here for those who fought and died on the waves, no one who fought, or indeed still fights, should ever been forgotten in my opinion.

At the tours end

My theatre internship is sadly over now. I'll miss it greatly, both because of the people and all the places we've got to visit along the way. I'm not sure what's on the horizon next for me, but something equally artistic and enjoyable I hope. This endearing chap (Hermes perhaps??) was mounted on the top of the last place we played at. Onwards and upwards I say...and either way, I always do love a bit of bronze!

A late Halloween treat

I meant to put this up last week-in time for Halloween! Simple, yet effective and far less tacky than most of the decorations you see around this time of year.

All along the shopfront

Above a pretty cool vintage clothes store in Brighton is a second hand guitar shop. This image of Hendrix sitting amongst the butterflies, guitar in hand, seems a pretty fitting tribute to the guitars and 70s clothes inside.

Mad Hatters

As I mentioned before-quite a while back now-Brighton seems to have a strange sort of affinity with Alice in Wonderland. Dotted around the Laines and the high street are shops, pubs and bars all with some kind of connection. Wandering through the shops I spotted a new display had appeared since I last was there. This sprawling tribute to Alice in Wonderland is pretty impressive and I love how they are very similar to the original illustrations from the book.

Another Alice reference- this time above Mad Hatters hat shop, a favourite haunt of mine when I still lived nearby.

Cycle Laine

'The Laines' in Brighton offers up loads of high up treats. A winding mass of tiny, independent shops are all decked out  in all their glory, many of which stretch up to the rooftops. This upright bike particularly caught my eye last weekend; a lovely flash of colour on a slightly dismal and cloudy day. 

Something for Movember

I'm a bit of a moustache fan, which is why the idea of 'movember' appeals greatly to me. Lots of blokes growing facial hair for charity? Fantastic! Two days ago I was walking through Dalston and saw this awesome looking bar. If its logo is a 'tache it's sure to be good!

Looking at me?

Above a very grand looking building in Cambridge were this row of plaster (I think) heads. I found it amusing as they all seemed to be looking at each other- as if in mid conversation!