PHOTOGRAPHY: FIRTH OF FORTH

THE FORTH RAIL BRIDGE

I think a visit to Edinburgh is on the cards... I have not been there since 2011 and want to explore the Firth of Forth in greater detail. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Forth Bridges (especially the Rail Bridge) are feats of engineering.

PHOTOGRAPHY: FULL MOON

It seems like it's always full moon these days... and that the moon is getting brighter and brighter.

PHOTOGRAPHY: STOCKHOLM

I am looking forward to visiting Stockholm again in just under a month's time. I like being close to water, but somehow taking a walk along the Thames is just not the same.

ILLUSTRATION: OS PASSARINHOS ROSADOS

Illustration titled "Os Passarinhos Rosados" (Little Pink Birds).

PHOTOGRAPHY: SUNRISE AT THE O2

THE O2 ARENA SEEN AT SUNRISE

I am not really an early morning person, but sometimes it is worth getting up that extra bit early. The O2 Arena definitely looks better at sunrise than during the day.

ILLLUSTRATION: OS PÁSSAROS NAMORADOS (PURPLE)

Illustration titled "Os Pássaros Namorados" (purple version).

PHOTOGRAPHY: CORFU

OLD FORTRESS OF CORFU TOWN

I wish I could say I was blogging this photo live and direct from Corfu, but I am not. Very much need a break from London and its blasted pollen. Oh well, I can dream but that water does look very inviting.

ILLUSTRATION: OS PÁSSAROS NAMORADOS

Illustration titled "Os Pássaros Namorados".

ILLUSTRATION: OS PÁSSAROS

Illustration titled "Os Pássaros" (The Birds).

ILLUSTRATION: PASSARINHOS

Illustration titled "Passarinhos" (Little Birds).

ILLUSTRATION: PASSARINHOS DE VERÃO

Illustration titled "Passarinhos de Verão" (Little Birds of Summer).

ILLUSTRATION: O GALO PORTUGUÊS

Illustration titled "O Galo Português".

NO MORE PIE & MASH IN SHEPHERD'S BUSH

And so another piece of local history/ tradition is about to be lost... It has been announced that A. Cooke's [traditional pie, mash liquor and eels shop] in Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush, will cease trading on Saturday 25 July. It has been there since 1899 and is still a firm favourite with customers. In fact, when the shop is open, there is always a queue to get in. Sadly though, it would appear that the "gentrification" beast is arriving in this part of West London, which means the shop has to close (despite strong objection from local residents).

I remember being taken here when being dragged to Shepherd's Bush Market when I was a child (far too many years ago). The idea of eating eels (jellied or not) always grossed me out, but the mashed potato and liquor (parsley-based sauce that looks like the contents of a pond, but tastes rather nice) was lovely. I had not been there for years, but went there yesterday. I was slightly disappointed to see that they had not moved with the times (a vegetarian pie option would have been nice), but overhearing fellow customers, there were no complaints.

ADDRESS

A. Cooke's
Traditional Pie, Mash, Liquor & Eels
48 Goldhawk Road
Shepherd's Bush
London W12 8DH

Tel: 020 8743 76430
Website: A. Cooke's

Nearest tubes:
Goldhawk Road & Shepherd's Bush Market (Hammersmith & City / Circle lines)

ILLUSTRATION: O GALO DOMINGUEIRO

Illustration titled "O Galo Domingueiro".

ILLUSTRATION: O GALO PSICODÉLICO

Illustration titled "O Galo Psicodélico".

ILLUSTRATION: O GALO DE CORAÇÃO PORTUGUÊS

Illustration titled "O Galo de Coração Português".

ILLUSTRATION: O GALO HERÁLDICO

Illustration titled "O Galo Heráldico".

PHOTOGRAPHY: THE BT TOWER

I have always wanted to go up to the top of the Post Office Tower (can't get my head around calling it the BT Tower), but - for some unknown reason - it's not usually open to the public and, when it is, tickets go like hotcakes. The views from the top must be awesome.

ILLUSTRATION: O GALO DAS CRUZES

Illustration titled "O Galo das Cruzes".

ILLUSTRATION: O GALO FLORIDO

Illustration titled "O Galo Florido"

ILLUSTRATION: O GALO BORBULHANTE

Illustration titled "O Galo Borbulhante"

ILLUSTRATION: GALO E SARDINHITAS

Illustration titled "Galo e Sardinhitas".

RECOMMENDED: JACKSON'S ART SUPPLIES, FULHAM

Every once in a while, you come across hidden gems. I am not one to dish out publicity for shops, but this particular one - Jackson's Art Supplies - deserves a special mention.

Located right next to Putney Bridge Tube Station, I cannot say how many times I must have walked by here without realising there was actually a shop there. It's a small store in comparison to some others you may find on the high street, but what it lacks in space, it more than makes up for in variety of stock... And more importantly, it is considerably cheaper (especially Letraset Pro Markers and paper). I will definitely be returning!

ADDRESS:

Jackson's Art Supplies
66 Station Approach,
London,
SW6 3UH

Telephone: 020 7384 3055

Web: Jackson's Art Supplies

PHOTOGRAPHY: PUTNEY

Putney Bridge and Putney Wharf as seen from Carrara Wharf, Fulham,

PHOTOGRAPHY: ENJOY COCAINE

I saw this sign in an antiques shop window in Portobello Road and, despite the rain, could not help but let out a rather loud laugh. Enjoy cocaine, indeed!

PHOTOGRAPHY: THE CHAMPIONS

"The Champions" is the name of this statue near West Ham United's current stadium, Upton Park (Boleyn Ground). It features several members of England's World Cup winning squad from 1966, who had played at some time for West Ham. I wonder if this will stay here once they move to the Olympic Stadium.

ILLUSTRATION: KURBITS

Illustration titled Kurbits.

ILLUSTRATION: TOWN HOUSE

Illustration titled Town House.

ILLUSTRATION: CASA DEL RELLOTGE

Illustration titled Casa del Rellotge.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROMFORD

ST EDWARD THE CONFESSOR CHURCH, ROMFORD

I went on a magical mystery tour the other day and ended up in Romford. I am still not sure if it is in London or Essex, but I did discover a few several things:

• If you start your journey in East London, be prepared for a long journey.
• If you start your journey travel from Central London, be prepared for a very long journey.
• If you start your journey from West London, take an overnight bag with you... You may need it!
• If you travel by bus, take a packed lunch and a spare phone battery... You get the picture!
• Once you arrive, you will soon discover that there is not much there.
• Pretty soon you will notice the disproportionately high number of Romfordians with beards.
• At the same time, you will discover that most residents seem to be tattooed to the eyeballs... Not literally, thankfully!
• The return journey doesn't take quite so long, but you will have enough time to figure out it takes less time to fly to the likes of Barcelona.

PHOTOGRAPHY: DON'T KILL YOUR WIFE

I saw this sign on the shop front of a dry cleaner's in Upton Park, East London. It reads "Don't kill your wife... Let us do it". It is ambiguous to say the least. Absolutely hilarious! In fact, I haven't stopped laughing since I saw it... NOT!

PHOTOGRAPHY: HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE

For me, Hammersmith Bridge, which links Hammersmith on the north side of the Thames to Castelnau and Barnes on the south side, is the prettiest of the bridges over the Thames (yes, even more so than Tower Bridge). Worryingly, it is not one of the safest, but that should not come as any surprise as it was not originally designed to bear the weight of so many vehicles every day. It looks better in the sunshine as it brings out colour of the paintwork.

PHOTOGRAPHY: FULL MOON

Taken late last night... Very bright (the photo doesn't do it justice) full moon

ILLUSTRATION: ALFAMA

Illustration titled Alfama.

PHOTOGRAPHY: VAUXHALL

Vauxhall is not the most interesting of areas, but - like many other parts of London - it is in the process of being "gentrified" (a term  I despise with all my might for its classist connotations). The newest feature on the Vauxhall skyline is the St George Wharf Tower, which is apparently the tallest residential building in the UK. However,  as you can see from the photo, the south bank of the Thames between Vauxhall Bridge and Battersea Power Station (Nine Elms) looks like one huge construction zone at present.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ALBERT EMBANKMENT

London is always nicer when the sun decides to come out to play; something that doesn't happen that often. Albert Embankment (the stretch of the Thames between Lambeth Bridge and Vauxhall) is a good area to take a walk, as it has some nice views and is not normally chock-a-block with tourists and commuters.