ALAS POOR YORICK...

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...as Shakespeare said. Well no actually it's Dexter who has been living with us for many years. Dexter has now decided the time has come to move out and is off to live with a medical student, I hope they'll both be very happy together...

...by the way Happy Halloween....

RAIN DROPS..

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I took this picture a few days ago, as you can see it was raining. As you may know I never let a little inclement weather stop me taking a photograph. I shot it from inside the car through the window, you may have already noticed the clue....

PAST IT'S BEST BUT...

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I found this rose in a champagne glass a few days ago. It was past its best but I thought it still looked lovely in the glass with the light coming from behind it...

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...

ABSTRACT 2

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I spotted this unusual lamp in the window of Longhorn the American style restaurant  in the High Street. As well as serving fab food Mel who owns Longhorn has a great sense of design hence this stunning light, if you look very carefully you may just spot me lurking in the reflection..

ABSTRACT...

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I rather like this picture. It was taken early this morning as the sun came through the window, the shadows and the highlights really caught my attention...

FLUTTERING..

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.....those eyelashes. I spotted these enormous lashes on a car the other day, I do remember seeing similar years ago perhaps they are making a comeback together with the fairy on the bonnet...

SPRING IS IN THE AIR...

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Wanstead's guerrilla gardner Marion Temple popped in the Gallery the other day, she had news and the leaflet in the picture above. As you may well know Marion lovingly plants up the odd patches of otherwise unloved earth around Wanstead. Her plan for next year it to take on Nightingale Green, on Sunday 18th October 2015 11am onwards everyone is invited to join her in planting spring bulbs! Marion says 'families are more than welcome' so the more the merrier just bring along tools if you have them and help bring some colour to Nightingale Green next spring. Donations toward the cost of bulbs welcome, do try to come along...

VINTAGE...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

....why is it when we see something old, not necessarily antique we tend to get all nostalgic. Take this wonderful old VW spilt windscreen camper van, as you know by now I'm not really all that interested in cars but this did tug my heart strings. Visions of the open road, camp fires etc who knows where you might end up...   

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...

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ANY THOUGHTS...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

.... ok to save you wondering. Mrs W spotted this one last night, it's contrails from a high flying 'plane in front of the moon. What are the chances of the two lining up, very slim I would have said but there we are...

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. 

Pictures world © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

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...

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A ROSE BY....

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.....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....

GRRR.....

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

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....

THATS IT THEN....

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....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...

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...

A MAKEOVER...

     World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

...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..

2016 !!!

                        World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

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, 

SWAN LAKE..

     World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

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...

HIDDEN...

                            World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

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...