WANSTEAD DAILY PHOTO: September 2015

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

SIGN OF...

Newsflash...the Thursday night is by invitation of the brewery only. Friday however there will be discounted drinks and Saturday and Sunday if a parents order a meal then the children eat free...

.....the times. I happened to be passing The Nightingale pub yesterday as the bubblewrap came off the new sign and very smart it looked too. Thursday is the big day, workmen and painters are beavering away putting the final touches to the new look. There's been a pub here since around 1700, I doubt though if any of the previous incarnations looked as smart as the this one.

As much as I like the new hanging sign I have to say my favourite is the motif of the nightingale on the door it's very smart. Below you can glimpse the newly refurbished interior still under wraps at the moment though...

Monday, 28 September 2015

A ROSE BY....

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

.....any other name would smell as sweet....from Romeo and Juliet I think. Anyway I just thought it lovely when I spotted them the other day in a display that arrived in our Gallery, simple and beautiful....

Sunday, 27 September 2015

GRRR.....

Every time I pass these water meter covers in Nightingale Lane I despair. They are outside a block of flats so I understand there has to be quite a few meters but why oh why didn't whoever put them in do a neater job. They are just so higgledy piggledy, I know in the overall scheme of world affairs its not a big deal ..... but it just gets to me....

Saturday, 26 September 2015

THATS IT THEN....

....summer is definitely over. That's what ran through my mind when I came across these flowers in Grosvenor Road a few days ago. Although they are well past their best in the late afternoon light they still looked lovely if a little sad...

Friday, 25 September 2015

LONG, TALL...

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I know ,I know, it's hackneyed and done to death but I just couldn't resist it sorry. We've all done it haven't we....please say yes...

Thursday, 24 September 2015

A MAKEOVER...

...actually a really big makeover. If you are a Wanstead resident you may have noticed that the beloved Nightingale Pub is closed at the moment. It's covered in scaffolding and looks shrouded in mystery, the finished product though will be fabulous. You can get a look at the plans to see what it will look like, they are taped to the window on the Nightingale Green side but trust me it will be great. October the 1st is the completion date....cheers all round..

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

2016 !!!

2016, its just around the corner. Every year we donate the photographs that go on the The Wanstead Society's calendar and next year is no exception. If you are not familiar with The Wanstead Society click here to check out their website, they do so much for Wanstead it's well worth supporting them. The cover of next years calendar shows the Farmers Market in full swing on the High Street and then every month it's a different Wanstead picture from the Wanstead Daily Photo blog. We have it in stock at the Gallery at 84 Nightingale Lane, at just £8 it's a bargain and all proceeds go to The Wanstead Society. Get ready for next year and treat yourself to a copy and of course they make an ideal Christmas present,

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

SWAN LAKE..

Although the fab Wanstead Art Trail finished last weekend I couldn't resist showing you a picture of this wonderful swan, its a little weatherbeaten but who wouldn't be after all the rain we've had! It was made by the pupils of Snaresbrook Primary School, well done all round just as graceful as the real thing...

Monday, 21 September 2015

HIDDEN...

It's very easy to miss this view, you can just get a glimpse of it from the road but it's easy to miss. This lovely old shed is at the side of the former antique shop in the High Street, I was lucky that the sun broke through making these wonderful shadows just as I arrived...

Sunday, 20 September 2015

CORNER VIEW...

I've always liked this building in Wanstead Place its unusual for Wanstead as it's half tiled. As I passed the other day the light was just right to make the tiles really stand out, a lot of patience here from someone to put all those up..

Saturday, 19 September 2015

IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE...

I came across this scene as I made my way to the open air Kinema during the Wanstead Fringe, it was very surreal. It was dark and I was alone when I came across this very bright light shining through the trees and casting these long shadows, it was all very 'close encounters'. However I wasn't abducted by aliens and I ended up with this picture which I really like...

Thursday, 17 September 2015

LOOKING WEST...

This is the other sunset pictures that I promised you yesterday. It's taken from the pedestrian bridge over the A12, one of my favourite photo locations, looking west. Note to self 'I must keeping checking the sunset'....

Wednesday, 16 September 2015

END OF THE DAY...

I've been a bit neglectful of the night sky recently, or the sunset at least. However the other evening there was a very brief period when it looked terrific, I rushed to my favourite bridge and just managed to squeeze off a few shots I'll post another tomorrow...

Tuesday, 15 September 2015

REFLECTION...

As you may know the beloved Browns Garage on Church Path has closed. The wonderful old building that was originally a jobmasters stables is to make way for new houses, well that's progress I expect. Anyway as I passed the other day on a walk with students during a Fringe/Art Trail photowalk I spotted this beautiful reflection in the window of the old cottage opposite, of course the clouds helped...

Monday, 14 September 2015

YARN BOMBING..

...I know I'd never heard of it either. It involves wrapping crocheted pieces of wool around objects in this case trees.

It's all part of the wonderful Wanstead Art Trail and this particular yarn bombing event was the brainchild of Syd from the pet shop in the High Street. Click on this link to see how she wrapped a bicycle it's brilliant...whatever next though..

Sunday, 13 September 2015

NIGHTINGALE LANE..

A very busy day in Nightingale Lane yesterday as you can see. We have two pubs in the Lane, the Nightingale and the Duke and both had a 'do'. The Nightingale opposite our Gallery as you can see from the picture is undergoing a facelift, Noel the landlord didn't let that stop him putting on a marvellous show. There was a jazz band, bbq as you can see below it was spread out through the trees on Nightingale Green.

At the other end of the lane, as you can see from the picture below, the Duke was also in full swing, the road was closed and it was a street party. As with the Nightingale there was food and entertainment, people were spoilt for choice...

Saturday, 12 September 2015

KINEMA..

There are many excellent events going on during Wanstead Fringe week and of course the Wanstead Art Trail three weeks. One of my favourites however is the open air Kinema and this year it certainly didn't disappoint. Last night Wanstead Cricket Club graciously allowed their ground to be used to show 'The Muppets' film. There was picnics, hot food, wonderful stuff for children and adults alike, around three hundred people turned up to enjoy a fabulous evening in the open air....more fun than being inside for sure...

Friday, 11 September 2015

GHOSTLY FACE..

It's been a very busy week so apologies for not posting too often. I have done two night walks in Wanstead this week as part of the Wanstead Fringe/Art Trail and we have had a great time on both of them, on the second I even managed to grab a couple of pictures myself. This is my favourite, I photographed the reflection of the crossing in a shop window and I think the double glazing has made the image is less than perfect, slightly unsharp. I like it though, it has a slightly unreal and moody feel to it. Can you spot the 'floating' face in the centre of the picture about a quarter of the way up....

Monday, 7 September 2015

EATON MANOR RUGBY..

Did you know there is a ruby club in Wanstead? It's called Eton Manor and their ground is just off Nutter Lane, its a great club and if you are a sports fan it's well worth going along to watch a game. They have just won promotion to National League Division 3 and last Saturday was their first home game of the season. I popped along to watch and take these photographs unfortunately the final score wasn't all we hoped for but never mind it was an enjoyable afternoon. I hope you enjoy the pictures of which there are quite a few..

Sunday, 6 September 2015

FIRST DAY WANSTEAD...

...Fringe and Art Trail or Art Trail and Fringe whichever way round you prefer. Despite a little dampness in the morning it was a great day, I only wish I'd had time to get round everything.

Below our Gallery at 84 Nightingale Lane, as you can see the pictures that had previously been turned to the wall for secrecy have now been revealed. On the left wall is a selection of black and white portraits of sports personalities from my magazine work. On the right wall are six black and white pictures by Helen that she took recently in New York and they are fab. We also on that wall have 3 multimedia pieces by Agnes B and two fantastic lino cuts by Alison Ball who was exhibitied at this years Royal Academy summer show, in itself no mean feat..

Our craft workshops were a big success, they ended up running nearly all day, they were a lot of fun and Lyn and Danielle demonstrated some very clever techniques. Don't forget we have lots more this month, you can find them all at Craft Boutique 84..

There was also the Wanstead Fringe Jumble Trail and there were bargains to be had, the rain stopped just in time thankfully. The picture below shows a stall in front of a house in Cowley Road, my friend Mark and his wife even provided homemade cup cakes and lemonade on their Stall in Grosvenor Road...as I'm always saying dont'ya just love Wanstead..

and finally and probably the piece de resistance.....Syd from the pet shop in the High Street crocheted around an entire bicycle, that really deserves a round of applause. And that is just the first day...

Saturday, 5 September 2015

NO PEEKING....

.....until at least 11o'clock this morning. Today is the start of the Wanstead Fringe and the Wanstead Art Trail and amongst other things we have a new photography exhibition starting, it's some of my pictures of sporting portraits that I have taken over the years and a selection of New York photographs by Helen Simpson. In addition we have three beautiful multi media works by artist Agnes B plus, big roll of the drums, a smashing picture by Alison Ball who was exhibited at the Royal Academy this year.

If that not enough don't forget we have craft workshops between 11 and 3 and there is 10% off all craft products today....phew I hope you can pop in and say hello..

...and no peeking at the pictures till 11....

Friday, 4 September 2015

PANORAMA..

...and one more from Mersea Island. No sun on the day that I was there I'm afraid, it was a little overcast, however it didn't put me off taking pictures. I took this panoramic photograph from my friends balcony as you can see it's a magnificent view, it looks over the River Blackwater and come rain or shine it's a stunning view ...

Wednesday, 2 September 2015

HOW OLD ?

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

This is another picture that I took on my Mersea Island excursion. These roofs were on houses in the village of West Mersea and I just loved the texture, colours and angles. I don't know how old they are but it is thought that the Romans had a small settlement and harbour there, although these are not Roman they're not exactly modern either...

...only four days to the Wanstead Fringe and the Wanstead Art Trail don't forget to pop in and say hello..

Tuesday, 1 September 2015

OK, SO IT'S NOT....

World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

.....Wanstead. I didn't find this seal in Wanstead Park or the river Roding but he looked so cute when I came across him who could resist. He was in fact swimming in the River Blackwater just off Mersea Island, hoping for titbits I suspect...

...and don't forget starting this Saturday the Wanstead Fringe and the Wanstead Art Trail, we are keen supporters of both. Check out our Art Trail/Fringe page at the top to see what we are up to...

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