It was so grey and miserable yesterday morning that I just wanted to put a picture up that was a bit more cheerful for today. This is the footbridge over the A12 at dusk.
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
ICE SKATING
I really like Canary Wharf, the towers, the architecture, the shops it's a great setup in the right location. Demolishing our older architectural heritage in the city to make way for tower blocks I'm not so keen on. I took this picture while I was waiting to pick up my daughter. As you can see from the sign the outdoor ice skating rink is still open until the 16th of February so make the most of it.
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
AND MORE RAIN...
I was in my car in Sherwood Avenue last Friday night and boy was it raining. I pulled over to take this picture of the street lights glowing through the rain pouring down the windscreen. I thought there was a painterly quality to it. Always on the lookout for a picture.
Monday, 27 January 2014
CALL ME OLD FASHIONED BUT ...
I have been a Barclays customer ever since I left school, that's a long time ago, and generally speaking I have been very happy with them, it's been a good arrangement for both sides. I popped into our beloved Wanstead branch in the High Street the other day to pay in some money, the young lady who served me told me that we were going to lose the behind the counter staff in the near future, possibly one will stay. I must have looked alarmed, she explained that soon to pay money in I would pop it in an envelope and deposit the envelope into a machine. To draw money out, if it was under £300, I would have to use another machine. Some of the staff that are currently behind the counter will be in front of the counter to help you with the machines. Not all of them however, some will be leaving.
Now call me old fashioned but do I want to be dealing with a machine instead of a human being, will the machine say 'good morning Mr Wilkinson', enquire how I am and can they help me with anything? Will I feel silly asking the machine if it's 'had a nice weekend' as I do the teller on Monday morning? Alarmingly this seems to be a growing trend, the young lady informed me that several other banks were adopting the same approach. I notice that in a certain DIY chain the self service tills outnumber the 'human' tills and the supermarket that I use when I can't get to our excellent local shops now has self service tills.
There were four or five other people in the branch as this news was imparted, voicing there opinions none of them wanted machines instead of people. I assume this saves the bank money on staff, will these people find other jobs, I hope so. Will my bank charges remain the same? I'm sure they will.
It just seems to me very sad that we are losing the personal touch and old fashioned good, polite service.
Wanstead is a village, I hope this doesn't result in a gradual chipping away of our village style life, especially when at the other end of the scale our local community is working so hard to preserve it. We have excellent local shops, a butcher, a green grocer among them, perhaps it's time for a local bank run by local people.
Sunday, 26 January 2014
THE WATCHER..
At first I thought it was a person peering from this window. However, doing a double take I realised that it was just a mannequin. A little unusual but I like it.
Saturday, 25 January 2014
GREEN CROSS CODE..
I parked on Hermon Hill the other day to have a look around for pictures. I had only just stepped out of the car when this fox appeared just a few yards away, it had great road sense and didn't cross until it was clear. Just had time to grab this shot before it disappeared across the road.
Thursday, 23 January 2014
A LITTLE COLOUR..
Another picture from the Aldersbrook Estate, this time Harpenden Road. I thought this picture apt as the weather yesterday was so gloomy I thought we all might need cheering up. The uniformity of the windows and rooflines is just really appealing. The splashes of colour on the houses from the sunlight and the blue sky make it come to life.
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
WINDOWS
I came across this window in a conservatory on the Edwardian Aldersbrook Estate. The sun was shining on the glass and I was drawn by the design of the wooden framework, I like the symmetry of it. Of course the blue sky behind didn't hurt either.
Aldersbrook is named after a small tributary of the River Roding, I don't know if it still exists today. If it does and you know where it is I'd be interested to know.
Aldersbrook is named after a small tributary of the River Roding, I don't know if it still exists today. If it does and you know where it is I'd be interested to know.
Monday, 20 January 2014
COUNTRY FENCE..
I came across this fence in Belgrave Road, it's near the tennis courts. I really like that 'country' feel that the wood, ivy and trees give as they lean over the fence. There's a very similar fence on Church Path, both of them give Wanstead a real country feel.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
WHAT ON EARTH..
I really like this photograph, you have to look twice and think about it. The trees appear to be upside down and is that yellow disc the sun or a UFO in the picture? Truth is it's a puddle on Wanstead Flats so the trees are a reflection and the yellow disc, it's just a tennis ball floating in the puddle.
Friday, 17 January 2014
DOUBLE PARKED..
Continuing my walk through the Aldersbrook Estate the other day I came upon these bikes chained together. They were outside the entrance to Wanstead Park. It was a lovely day, I hope the owners were enjoying a nice cup of tea at the refreshment kiosk.
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
FULL MOON I THINK...
A full moon last night I think, or possibly it's tonight. Anyway whichever night when I left the gallery the moon looked fantastic, some cloud cover but when that disappeared there was a clear sky. Looking along Eastway with the moon framed between the two trees who could resist taking a picture?
SEAGULL
When I was a child growing up, I was always told that if you saw a seagull inland it meant that there was snow coming. Judging by the amount of seagulls on Wanstead Flats at the weekend we must be in for a blizzard. Personally, I think it's just easier pickings for food, mind you it's a long flight just for lunch.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
FLYING HIGH..
It's been some time since I visited Wanstead Flats and the Aldersbrook estate so at the weekend I popped over to see what I could find. First stop Wanstead Flats, I found this guy with what appeared to be on odd shaped kite. I've never seen a kite this shape before. Anyway it transpires he gets the kite up in the air to catch the wind then hops on his skateboard and hey presto he's pulled along. No worries about miles per gallon!
Monday, 13 January 2014
WWPS....
Arnie from the Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society popped into the gallery the other day. He dropped off some new WWPS leaflets they have had printed. It's got information about the Society and their meeting times etc. This is a great club, very friendly and enthusiastic, and meetings are held in Wanstead. I judged a print competition for them last year and I think I am making a return visit later this year. You can contact them via their website here or pop into the gallery and pick up a leaflet.
Sunday, 12 January 2014
ON REFLECTION..
On a bit of a water theme at the moment what with all the flooding. I spotted this puddle in Nightingale Lane on the way home last night, it just appealed to me with the street light reflected in it. You probably know by now I'm keen on reflections, that combined with the texture of the pavement surface seemed to make it work as a composition for me.
Thursday, 9 January 2014
HIGH TIDE...
I walked down to check on the river Roding last night. John from the Wanstead Golf Club had been advised by the Enviroment Agency that there was going to be a very high water level in the river last night. I headed back to the same spot where I photographed the river from in December last year, that is the bridge where the A12 crosses the river near the Redbridge roundabout. I have to say that at night everything was a lot more dramatic, the water level was very high and really rushing under the bridge but thankfully no sign of it spilling over. As a matter of local interest John told me that the bridge I was on was the site of the original 'Red Bridge'.
HURRYING HOME..
Cold, wet and winter nights. A good reason to scurry home, just like the person in the picture I took when crossing Christ Church Green last night.
I did the same myself minutes after I took it.
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
FLOODS..
We try to get to Wales every year for a few days and when we do we always visit Aberystwyth. It's a town I really like, I feel comfortable there. It's not too big so you can walk everywhere, it has some interesting architecture, good solid shops including a great Cuban cigar dealer, an excellent baker and of course the National Library of Wales. The students from Aberystwyth University give the streets a certain buzz.
I really like the 'prom' and have spent many evenings watching flocks of starlings dodging and weaving over the sea as they encircle the pier as the sun goes down behind them.
It has of course suffered terribly in the last few days particularly the Victorian esplanade and Marine terrace. My friend and relative Peter sent me the two pictures above. It looks as if the beach has been physically extended over the promenade such is the power of the sea. Let's hope for a speedy recovery and wish well to people all over the country suffering from flooding.
Monday, 6 January 2014
CHANGE OF VENUE...
As you can imagine I have got to know Wanstead quite well from my wanderings with my camera. Recently I have been to Buckhurst Hill. It's an interesting area, more hills than Wanstead so different perspectives. I have taken quite a lot of pictures and been very lucky with the weather. It's interesting to work in a different area even if it's quite close to home, it just sort of 'refreshes' your eyes.
I'd like to wish estate agent John Wagstaff of Petty Son & Prestwich well, he opened a new office in Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill today.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
DAWN..
Dawn this morning… I don't think any more words are necessary.
Saturday, 4 January 2014
WASH DAY..
On my wander along the High Street the other day I passed the launderette. As you can see the sun was out and I really liked the strength of colour that it brought out on the logo of the iron and the lettering above it. It's a nice contrast to the hand written notice beside it. I was temped to convert the picture to black and white to give it a more nostalgic feel. However, launderettes are still alive, well and busy so I stayed with the colour version.
Friday, 3 January 2014
A TOUCH OF THE BLUES...
I have made several visits to South Woodford lately, the last one being late afternoon as it was getting dark. I went onto the bridge over the A406 to have a look at the contemporary structures of birds that are on poles. Interesting as they are what I really liked was the way that the modern cobbles were illuminated with blue light, it just made such an interesting abstract design.
Thursday, 2 January 2014
A WINDOW OF LIGHT...
I got off the tube at Snaresbrook Station the other day so that I could walk the length of the High Street. As I passed The Hollies the sun was behind the block and light was flooding the rooms of the flats. From the street the block was almost in silhouette and you could see how the light was shining through. .
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
THOUGHT FOR 2014..
I took this photograph a few days before Christmas. I had intended to get just a good shot of Christ Church looking across Evergreen Field and that did work successfully. However, as I stood reassessing as I usually do after the first photograph, I was drawn by the three strands of barbed wire running across the top of the fence. It stirred memories of less hospitable places and camps that I have been to during my career. Maybe it was the time of year with everyone getting ready for Christmas, I'm not sure. How lucky we are to live where we do, lets bear that in mind for 2014.
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