GIMME SHELTER...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

....you may remember this 1969 Rolling Stones song, that's what sprung to mind yesterday. My mate Jo from Elmcroft Ave telephoned to say that her builders had uncovered a WW2 airaid shelter in her garden during building work. When I arrived the excavation had been covered by an old garage door for safety, but peaking under the door I was able to get this shot from the back of the tiny shelter looking out. I just love the way the light from the entrance is bouncing around inside, I think it gives it a moody, atmospheric feeling. According to records a bomb did land in Elmcroft, probably within a hundred yards of this shelter, it certainly makes you think...

GHOSTLY FACE..

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

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....

BLUE SKIES..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

You probably realise by the view that this photograph was not taken in Wanstead. I have been looking through photographs that I took on a French trip a couple of years ago, this is one of my favourites. The blue sky just reminded me of sunshine and warmth, something sadly lacking for the last little while in London. In case you are wondering this is the bridge that runs from La Rochelle to Ile d Re, one of my very favourite places, roll on summer...

JACK the....

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

...Ripper! While I was sorting out yesterdays taxi picture I came across this other Spitalfield's photograph that I am very fond of. On the 25th January I posted a photograph of an alley in Wanstead after dark. A reader in Canada remarked that it reminded him of old Whitechapel, Jack the Ripper territory, this photograph was taken in very much in that area. I waited for a figure to enter the alley with an open billowing coat, I think it rather captures the atmosphere of that time in a modern way.

http://wansteaddailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/after-dark-4.html

TAXI !

                            World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Not a Wanstead photograph but Blosson Street in Spitalfields. One of the great things about photographs is that they evoke memories. I had a comment on a post earlier this week that made me think of publishing this picture. Hope you like it..

WHO'S A PRETTY BOY THEN...

                       World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

As I think I have said before, one of the best things about our Gallery is that you never know who's going to come through the door next, hold that thought. For the past two years we have donated the photographs that I take for the Wanstead Daily Photo to The Wanstead Society for use in their calendar. Anyway on the January page of this years there is a lovely picture of the twisted tree on Christ Church Green in the snow. So far so good, if you look closely you will see a small dog almost up to his tummy in snow. That's who came through the door yesterday, Paddy brought his owner Lisa in to see us, he was thrilled at being in this years calendar. Paddy was more than happy to pose with the calendar, there was a fee of course, a sausage.

Don't forget we have copies of the calendar for sale in the Gallery at 84 Nightingale Lane, Wanstead, E11 2EZ. It's only £6 and makes a great Christmas present and all proceeds go to The Wanstead Society.

EARLY FIREWORKS..

                        World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Great display of fireworks by Eaton Manor Rugby Club last night. A little early for November the 5th but well worth seeing. It was a mild evening so I ventured to one of my favourite spots, the footbridge over the A12 where I took this picture.

AMAZING DOUBLE RAINBOW..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Fantastic double rainbow over Wanstead this afternoon, truly amazing. I've never seen this before, I wasn't in the best position to capture it but I thought this was pretty impressive.

CHEQUERS..

                            World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

...no not the Prime Ministers country home. I came across this rather smart car at the top of Nightingale Lane yesterday. It was parked opposite the United Reformed Church, as you can see it had this two toned chequered roof, very sporty.

ANY IDEAS ?

                      World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I came across this weathered  wall on my Wanstead Park walk the other day. It runs  along the side of the river Roding, I wonder if perhaps it was part of the original Wanstead House layout and used as a dock for boats on the river. Any suggestions welcome.

*Don't forget today is the start of The Wanstead Fringe and The Wanstead Art Trail, lots of stuff to see and enjoy...

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

....completely different, from last weeks pictures which showed the lovely green and pleasant river Roding valley, here's a mass of concrete. Its actually an underpass with the A406 running over, I think it looks a bit like a nuclear bunker. It's worth the journey through however as it does lead to the river Roding which of course is a perfect stroll

JUST LOOKING..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I thought I would end the week of river Roding photographs with this one. If you stop and look as you walk the river bank there is such a lot to see. So wherever you are take a little time from your day and just observe. Enjoy the weekend.

If you have enjoyed the pictures this week and fancy an amble along a stretch of the river Roding check out our Wanstead Fringe page for full details.

ARCHITECTURE..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I have always admired the architecture of Victorian pumping stations. It's the first time I have seen the one in Roding Lane South from this point of view. The river in the picture is of course the Roding. I am not sure what the flower in the foreground is, I suspect it's a weed but in any case it looks good.

BRIDGE OVER..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I came across this bridge over the river Roding, it just really appealed to me. The sunlight falling on it, the blue sky with the clouds, the clear waters of the river but most off all the rust coloured metalwork. It just appealed..

ON THE BANK..

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I discovered this lovely vine covered tree on my river Roding walk. It was high on the bank and it was easy to walk past without really noticing, I'm glad I spotted it.

WINDING THROUGH

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

This is another photograph from my river Roding walk. It's a simple picture but I really like the way the river just winds between the reeds. It's taken from a bridge and that little bit height made all the difference. 

RIVER RODING..

     World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

We are so lucky, looking at this picture it's difficult to believe that we are only a few miles from central London. I took a little time at the weekend to walk part of the river Roding, the same stretch that we are having a photo walk along on Sunday Sept 7th. It was the first time I had walked this stretch and it was great, so many picture opportunities and you are going to see a few of the pictures this week. I do hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

If you enjoy a walk and fancy an amble along a stretch of the river Roding check out our Wanstead Fringe page for full details.

RAYMOND BLANC..

   World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I know there are quite a few 'foodies' who read this blog and also the number of French readers is growing. It seemed only fair to give both groups a look at this smashing article by my mate Holly Brooke-Smith, it's in the September issue of the excellent Good Food magazine. It's about chef Raymond Blanc and his organic vegetable garden at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, his restaurant and hotel in Oxfordshire. On page 127 is a great simple recipe for tomato salad 'Maman Blanc', enjoy! If you are wondering what this has got to do with Wanstead, well I took the pictures for the article and no I didn't stay for lunch...

HIDDEN..

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - all rights reserved

This is another photograph from my Wanstead Park walk. I really like the way these tree trunks have been laid to form paths, it helps to keep people from trampling over the bluebells when they are out. I deliberately shot this picture from very low down to include the fungus growing out of the side of the trunk. There's also a small frog or toad in the picture, I'm afraid I don't know the difference, it's well hidden and didn't seem to mind my presence.

BARK...

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

This tree is in the bluebell wood in Wanstead Park. I'm always on the lookout for strong designs within the bark of trees, having the ivy growing around the trunk of this one was a bonus for the picture.