AW NUTS..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I've been a bit slow with my 'conker' photography this year. I found these beauties under a horse chestnut tree near Snaresbrook, the nuts themselves look in great condition but sadly the leaves on the tree less so. Let's hope the tree gets well for next year. 

Meanwhile I found this guy opposite in the garden, not sure where he came from as I do not have a 'conker' tree. The half shell over the nut reminded me of the occasional Wanstead hedgehog.

SATURDAY WEDDING..

I have put up two pictures today as I owe you one from yesterday, I had a very busy day on location just outside Oxford at Great Milton, can you guess where ?

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I spotted this car parked outside Christ Church earlier today, I suspect the owner may have been attending a wedding in the church. It was the reflection of the leaves and sky in the lid of the boot that caught my eye, plus the ladies hat on the rear seat that made me think that it belonged to a wedding guest.

                        World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

This bus was parked at the bus stop on the High Street when I saw it from a distance. I thought the shape unusual for what we normally see in Wanstead and upon closer inspection the white ribbon gave the game away. It was an old style 'routemaster' waiting for wedding guests from Christ Church  just around the corner, could it have been the same wedding that I referred to in the picture above ?

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SOLE SURVIVOR..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I was having a look around the garden this evening, lots of signs that autumn and winter are on the way. However on the hydrangea bush there was this sole reminder of summer among all the faded blooms. I actually don't mind flowers from this bush when they are past their best, their form makes  great subject matter for the camera.

KING NEPTUNE..

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I photographed the front of the old Wanstead Hospital on Hermon Hill a few months ago. It's such a wonderful building, after being tipped off by a friend I had a wonder around the back earlier today. As you may know before it was a hospital it was originally the Merchant Seamans Orphan Asylum so how fitting that Neptunes Fork resides on the roof.

NIGHT LAUNCH..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I seem to be having a bit of a nocturnal week. A friend told me about this place, it looks a bit like Cape Canaveral preparing for a night launch but it's not. It's here in Wanstead, but where ? Leave me a message if you know.

THE UNDERWORLD..

                            World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Not the usual sort of picture that I post of Wanstead, still this subway is important to dozens of people every day. It runs under the Central Line connecting Falcon Way and Eagle Lane, I only discovered it during a Fringe photo walk. It might not be glamorous but it does the job.

THE ART OF BEING WANSTEAD...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

The Ilford Art Society had a selection of paintings  hanging on the fence of Evergreen Field yesterday, that combined with Wanstead's own Art Trail made for a really interesting walk through Wanstead despite the somewhat gloomy weather. The array of colour and styles really brightened the High Street, a little continental feel once again. If you haven't seen the work on show by Art Group Wanstead you still have today to catch up.

CHRIST CHURCH AT NIGHT..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

On my way back from Aldersbrook last night I noticed the lights were on in Christ Church. I walked along the path that runs down the side of the church and looked back, the church looked great with the spire floodlit, the lights on inside and the sky behind.

THE VIEW FROM ALDERSBROOK..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I owe you two pictures today as I missed yesterday, apologies. I haven't been over to Aldersbrook for ages so I made a trip yesterday evening and I am so glad I did. The photograph above is of Alexandra Lake, it's the one near the City of London cemetery, I arrived just as the sun was setting, the timing was just right.

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

The second picture above is of Canary Wharf just after the sun went down. Although technically it's not Wanstead it was shot from Wanstead Flats so I think it counts, anyway it really shone out at dusk and I couldn't resist it.

AN APPLE FOR THE TEACHER...

                        World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

During the Fringe I took a group on a photo walk along Church Path passing Wanstead Church School. I discovered these apples growing in the grounds, luckily for me it was raining and made them even more photogenic.

PUDDLE FORMATION...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I took this photograph on the last photo walk that I did during the Wanstead Fringe.  This puddle had formed around the roots of a tree on Christchurch Green. It reminded me of an aerial photograph that I have seen of a river in Africa running through the forest. I like the texture of the tree contrasting with the smoothness of the water.

UNITED REFORMED CHURCH...

                      World © Geoff Wilkinson -All rights reserved

I was passing the United Reformed Church at the top of Nightingale Lane the other morning. I have photographed it before, it's such an attractive building, on this occasion the main doors were open. I thought the symmetry of both the outer arch and the inner doors lovely. Well worth a picture.

A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

You know how it is with buses, you wait ages and then two or three come along at once. Well with me it's sunflowers, I spotted one peeking over the wall of Wanstead Church School in the High Street the other day and today I came across this one. Despite the rain this flower at over two meters high looked great. 

BREAKING NEWS........

My brand new photography blog is now live. Pictures,Stories,Tips and videos. Check it out today www.geoffwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.

LAST DAY OF THE FRINGE..

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I'm tinged with a little sadness this afternoon, The Fringe is almost over for this year and I have finished my last photo walk around Wanstead. There has been a terrific response to the walks and I know the participants have produced some lovely photographs, so much so that I have decided to hold a small photographic competition for them to find the winning photograph. Keep watching to see the winning picture.

I always tend to think that the far end of Nightingale Lane, where it meets Nelson Road and Rodney Road is a little short on trees, however on the way home this evening I found this view of The Duke of Edinburgh framed by trees. More proof of just how green Wanstead is.

CRIME, CURRY & BEER AT THE FRINGE...

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

World © Geoff Wilkinson

As you can see from the above headline it was  very busy last night. It was a great evening at 'The Larder, full of crime stories and lots of candle lit atmosphere, it was a double bill. Two great crime writers giving us their thoughts and reading extracts from their novels. Anya Lipska, a Wanstead resident, who has written a crime thriller set in the London Polish community and Newham born Barbara Nadel who has set many of her books in Turkey. If you enjoy a crime book check out both of these authors.

World © Geoff Wilkinson

Then on to The Lane in Nightingale Lane, always a favourite next to our gallery at 'eightyfour'. It was a banquet of great curry and local beer supplied by The Wanstead Tap, another sell out by all accounts. 

World © Geoff Wilkinson

Above you can see Wanstead Fringe supporter David Plane  and Dan Clapton of the 'Wanstead Tap'' transporting supplies. 

So there you are a fantastic week and it's not quite over yet.

WANSTEAD FRINGE AT OXFAM BOOKSHOP.

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved.

A really good night at the Oxfam Bookshop in the High Street last night. Wanstead residents talked about their ideas and thoughts on a variety of subjects.  In the photograph is Mariion Temple explaining about her garden exploits at the Corner House.  The work, time and effort she puts in is much appreciated by both residents and visitors to Wanstead. 

CHESTER ROAD....

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I had a wander around the roads behind Wanstead Station a few days ago. Wanstead has a few gentle slopes although they are not always obvious. This is Chester Road, the sun was just in the right place and the lack of cars helped too.  I think the houses are Edwardian. The way the road slopes reminds me of Cornwall. Don't forget to check Wansteadium for  'The Fringe' events this evening.

PHOTOWALK 1

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I took this picture on Saturday while on our first photo walk during The Fringe. It was taken looking along Wellington Road from the High Street and shows the Clock Tower on the old hospital on Hermon Hill. It's an interesting road, if you photograph it from the opposite end you get the steeple of Christ Church, it's a winner for photography whichever way you look.

Both photo walks so far have been a great success, I'm looking forward to the one next Saturday.

THE WANSTEAD ART TRAIL..

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I have been so caught up in the Fringe that I completely forget to mention the Wanstead Art Trail organised by Art Group Wanstead also started yesterday. Works can be seen in many venues around Wanstead easily identified by the Art Group logo on the window or door. I particularly like these paintings by pupils of Wanstead Church School. These works are produced in an after school art class run by Brenda English a former teacher at the school. I really like the way these works are displayed in the High Street in front of the school, the hedge behind makes a great backdrop. 

 

TEA TIME AT 'THE FRINGE'

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved   

World © Geoff Wilkinson

Good news today on two counts. It's what we have all been waiting for, the first day of The Wanstead Fringe and secondly I have made a long overdue visit to Time for Tea at Station Parade in the High Street, opposite Snaresbrook Station. These two events merge together because Time for Tea are hosting a Fringe event in their garden in the shape of a 'pop-up drinkable courtyard tea garden' by Wanstead garden designers Pocket of Green. The garden is great, imaginative with a wonderful sense of design, its well worth a visit whether you enjoy gardens, art or tea.

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

When you have finished admiring the garden take time to relax inside or out in the garden and enjoy a pot of tea at this traditional English tea room. I can see it becoming a favourite of mine. Don't forget this is just the first event of the week, Wansteadium has all the up to date news.

EVERY CLOUD.....

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved


...has a silver lining, so it is said.  This was certainly true last night when I left the Gallery. 

A DIFFERENT VIEW..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I was wandering around a few days ago looking for photographs and behind the 'George' pub saw these blocks of flats in Gardner Close. I knew they were there but I had never really taken a good look at them before from this angle. They make quite a contrast from the usual Wanstead streets, I'll bet some of the views are terrific from the upper floors. From this spot I really like the uniformity they show in the picture.

POST BRENHINOL...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson -All rights reserved

I have been seeing these Post Office vans darting around Wanstead for some time. They have Post Brenhinol on one side and the more traditional logo on the other. Are these vans used in both England and Wales or is there some other reason ? Not that I mind, I think our 'posties' do really well, it gives Wanstead an even more  unique feel.

LATE AFTERNOON..

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

There was beautiful light as I was walking across  Christchurch Green late yesterday afternoon. As you can see the sun was dropping behind the trees and as I lined the camera up for a picture this cyclist rode into the frame. He just completed the photograph.

THE WANSTEAD SOCIETY CALENDAR...

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

The Wanstead Society calendar is all ready to go, you will now be able to give it a look over and order it at the Wanstead Festival. The Festival is on Christchurch Green on Sunday September 15th, people, tents, fun and stalls including ours from 'eightyfour' showing off our cards and stuff. The calendar has my photographs mostly shot for the Wanstead Daily Photo blog, I have seen an early copy and it looks great. The money raised from sales will be used by The Wanstead Society I am told " to help raise funds to save the Evergreen Field for community use in perpetuity for the people of Wanstead". If you can't make it to the Wanstead Festival you can order a copy by e.mailing eileenflinter@yahoo.co.uk. at just £6 plus postage, it's a real bargain for a worthwhile cause.

                                                     World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved