THE CRAFTSMAN...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

...like many people I quite often spend a large part of my day on computers, mobile phones etc, it's just the way it is these days with electronic devices. So you can imagine my delight when I came across this gentleman, as you can see he was laying this classic Victorian style path with small tiles in front of a house in Nightingale Lane. So wonderful to see a craftsman working at a steady pace doing something he enjoyed instead of getting frustrated when a computer takes 10 seconds to react instead of two....

If you need a mosaic tiled hallway, a garden wall or a house restored try Paul Smith, of aps designs you can find him via The Wanstead Village Directory...

AH SPRING IS....

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

.....is in the air. At least that's what this daffodils think. The poor things don't seem to realise that it's only December 24th and they should still be asleep. I spotted them in Nightingale Lane yesterday, must be global warming I expect...

Hmmm...

                               World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

......I wonder what happened here? As I wandered along Nightingale Lane the other day I came across this pair of boots standing side by side on the pavement with nothing else around. They look in reasonable condition, not smart but certainly serviceable, the only thing missing were the laces...

    What happened to the owner, abducted by aliens, human combustion or just forgetful I guess we'll never know...

ALMOST CHRISTMAS...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

'The Duke' at the top of Nightingale Lane had a street party yesterday. Sort of a little early Christmas cheer, there was food, drinks of course, stalls selling candles, clothes and lots of other lovely stuff...I'm starting to feel slightly festive...

A BEAUTY...

    All pictures World © Geoff Wilkinson

This lovely Morris Minor 1000 pulled up outside the Gallery a couple of weekends ago. I couldn't resist taking a few shots, it was immaculate, obviously the owners pride and joy. Designed by Alec Issigonis, around 1950 for this four door version, I believe he went on to design the world famous 'mini' which is still going strong in it's current form. For a few hours it graces Nightingale Lane whisking us back in time for a while...

... appropriately the end both of the car and the pictures...

All pictures World © Geoff Wilkinson

TELE....

                            World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Here's a word that's rarely used these days I thought as I walked along Nightingale Lane from the Farmers Market. In this age of electronic communication e.mails etc when did you last hear someone say 'telegraph'. I can remember when telegrams were delivered by Post Office messengers, that's quite a few years ago but to telegraph I can't ever remember...

I couldn't decide which of these picture I prefer so I'll show you both, let me know which you prefer...

                 World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

A TOUCH OF THE BLUES...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I found this water pipe access cover in Nightingale Lane. I assume it's painted blue so that its easy to find for the repair gang. I quite like it like that, I'm very tempted to put the picture on the wall of the gallery...

THE 60's

     World © Geoff Wilkinson

If you are of a certain age and remember the swinging 60's era this van may stir some nostalgic memories. Flower power, music, peace, free love, psychedelic colours it all happened in that decade. As my mate Keef would say 'if you can remember the 60's you weren't really there'..

On a more sedate mode, I chanced upon this van parked in Nightingale Lane last Sunday, I wonder if the owner had a stall at the market...anyway peace baby peace..

THE DALEKS ARE COMING!...

                                World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

...at least that's what I thought, although of course this would be very, very skinny Dalek. It is of course just an upside down dustbin that someone had placed over the parking restriction sign in Nightingale Lane... hoping to fool the traffic wardens perhaps?

SEEING DOUBLE..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

If you are of a certain age, I'm not quite, just for the record,  you might remember Jane Morgans recording of 'The day the rain came', it reached number 1 in the UK charts in 1959. Originally it was a French song by Gilbert Becaud called "Le Jour ou la pluie viendra" with Morgan singing in English on one side and French on the other. I thought I'd put that in for the French followers of this blog and because I enjoy visiting France so much.

Anyway back to the picture, during all that heat last week we did have a torrential downpour of rain one night. This gigantic puddle appeared in Nightingale Lane almost opposite The Nightingale pub, I imagine it was due to a blocked drain, one thing about living in London the weather's rarely boring...

THE GREAT ESCAPE..

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I spotted this little guy trying to escape. I was walking along Nightingale Lane when I came across this plant creeping between the boards of the garden fence. Perhaps he had outgrown the garden that he was planted in...bit like a triffid, will it take over Nightingale Lane eventually....

A GLIMPSE INSIDE...

             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I have photographed Wanstead United Reformed Church which is at the top of Nightingale Lane several times, you can see a picture of it bathed in late afternoon sunlight here. A few days ago I had the opportunity to have a look around inside, I have to say it is beautiful. When you enter most churches they appear oblong (apologies I don't know the  architectural term) this is more of a square and appears very homely. It is very light and airy inside like another of my favourites, St Mary the Virgin in Overton Drive. 

The United Reformed Church has had an interesting past .It was transported brick by brick by horse and cart from it's original location in St Pancras to Wanstead in 1865. In September 1940 it was hit by three bombs during an air raid and the crypt was used as an air raid shelter. 

If you are passing and the doors are open do pop in and have a look around,  like all of Wanstead's churches it is wonderful.

  World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

THE DAY THAT THE RAINS CAME DOWN..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

WHERE did all that rain come from. Around one o'clock yesterday it was torrential, thankfully it lasted only a few minutes. The top of Nightingale Lane near the The Duke turned for a few moments into a mini slow running waterfall. One thing you can say about British weather it's never predictable...

On a different subject but connected.. I have started posting again on my photography website Geoff Wilkinson Photography after a break. It's got tips, stories, thoughts and information, if your interested in photography, and who isn't as a blogger, its worth stopping by.

TWO CHURCHES...

    © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Apologies for not keep the blog up to date this week. Christmas is always a busy time in the Gallery and this year is no exception plus I've had this terrible cold/flu thing that seems to be doing the rounds. Anyway on Sunday evening there was a glorious sky for a short period as you can see above. I took this picture from Nightingale Green looking along Nightingale Lane, it was only when I looked at it on my computer that I realised there are two churches in it. The straight roofline on the left is the United Reformed Church while the steeple behind is if course Christ Church on Christchurch Green.

REFLECTION....

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I was wandering along Nightingale Lane on my way back to the gallery the other evening when I noticed the light striking this fence. It's protecting a building site behind it, I think there is a house under construction. Anyway the way that the street light and what was left of the daylight was catching the shiny metalwork looked interesting to me.

HURRYING...

                      World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

As I mentioned the other day I really don't mind taking pictures when it's raining. Combine that with evening light and you quite often have a recipe for success. So when it rained yesterday I grabbed my camera and shot out of the Gallery. I didn't have to go very far, coming along Nightingale Lane was this mother pushing her baby in a buggy, I thought it made a lovely rainy night picture.

EVENING TIME..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Sorry Wanstead Daily Photo has been a little hit and miss this week, its been very busy.  A big photoshoot on location and several in the gallery, so apologies, anyway I'm back on track now. I saw this a fabulous sky as I left the Gallery in Nightingale Lane on Saturday night, I love the dark cloud cutting the sky in half.

ANTICIPATION...

       World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Next to our gallery, 'eightyfour' in Nightigale Lane there is a newsagents, Annes News. Of course it doesn't  just sell newspapers it's more of a convenience store with groceries, sweets etc. Anyway drivers pull up outside and pop in for whatever they need, quite often there seems to be a  dog in the car or van. The thing that really amuses me is that the dogs must be able to smell or sense the 'goodies' in shop, so they are always peering out for the owners return, hopefully with a treat I assume.

WALL FLOWER...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I think I have probably mention this before, how does a plant manage to grow in what to me seems such an inhospitable place?  I have no idea but I think they add a lot to a road or street or in this case Nightingale Lane.

FOR NO REASON..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved.

Sometimes for no reason at all, something just catches my eye. This photograph was taken just outside our Gallery in Nightingale Lane, it was the angle of the shop blinds against the dark sky that made it leap out to me. It's such a dark and brooding scene, hard to believe it's taken in summer!