23rd April 2016

Lots happening this week including the Queen's 90th birthday which she celebrated in Windsor, so no photos or sharing of the birthday cake. Of course, the Queen has two birthdays, her official one is in June and she will be in London for that one so maybe she'll want to hang out with me then.

 There was another celebration today, that of William Shakespeare who died 400 years ago on 23rd April 1616. There is some debate about his birth date which was not recorded but his baptismal date was 25th April 1564 and it is assumed that he was born on 23rd April the same date on which he died. To celebrate the event the Globe theatre has produced a series of short films to be shown free along the Southbank this weekend.
The complete walk consists of 37 specially made short films approximately 10 mins in length, playing on a loop along a 2.5 mile route between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge. Each film explores one of Shakespeare's plays and includes scenes shot in the locations Shakespeare imagined when he wrote them, as well as other footage.

 Unfortunately a number of the screens were beset with technical problems

 I was there early this morning before the crowds arrived but as the day went on there were large groups surrounding the screens. Time for me to move on.











We were also entertained by musicians.

              

It wasn't just the Globe theatre that had planned something for today, the British Library have designed this wallpaper. Read more about it below.

 

 So there is no excuse for not reading or watching the Bard's work this weekend.

 The 23rd April is also St George's Day and as he is the patron saint of England there was a big party in Trafalgar Square with music, food and entertainment.

  And if it's St George then there has to be a dragon somewhere that just might need slaying.

And tomorrow? Well it's the London Marathon so another busy day ( as a spectator!).

World Heritage Week

This week is World Heritage week and standing in the centre of Trafalgar Square is a replica of the Arch of Triumph which stood in the city of Palmyra, Syria. The 2000 yr old ancient monument  was destroyed by the Islamic State (Daesh) in August 2015.

This recreation was made possible by the Institute of Digital Archaeology using 3D technology and pictures of the original. The Oxford based Institution is a partnership between Oxford University, Harvard University and the government of the United Arab Emirates. The arch is one third the size of the original.

Sharing with James at Weekend Reflection

Stratford Underground

I have had a break from blogging whilst visiting Naples in Italy so I will try and catch up with you all soon. In the meantime I have posted my latest 'Above the Underground' tour here

Battersea Power Station

Travelling into London Victoria by train I took this photo of Battersea Power Station through the window. The power station was decommissioned in 1983















I took this photo of the power station in 2013 whilst walking the Thames path. Work had just begun on the restoration of the building and its conversion into plush apartments, restaurants etc.

Three years on you can only see one of the four chimneys, the others will be back. As this is a listed building, they have to be reconstructed and returned to their original position on the power station. They anticipate work to be completed by 2020,

Sharing with   Our World Tuesday

Subways

This is one of the many exits/entrances to King's Cross/ St Pancras tube station. Walking from Granary Square towards King's Cross this is the first entrance you encounter. It is the first time I have used the entrance and I'm not sure how many people know it exists. Just look how empty it is. I can only assume it has  recently opened..

I really like the design as it it so different from all the other subways I have walked through. Looking back towards Granary Square and the escalators at the end of the subway.

Above the Underground - Leyton

Click here to read the next post in this series.

Planes on Parade

The reason I went to Horse Guards Parade on Friday was to see these 3 aircraft. The Sopwith  Snipe, a Spitfire and a Typhoon Jet. Friday was the 98th anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Air Force. The same aircraft are on the RAF centenary Project logo.

The Sopwith Snipe and the Spitfire overlooking the Parade ground as the Changing of the Guard is taking place. Doubt I will ever see that happening again.

   The Sopwith Snipe was a successor to the Sopwith Camel and was first used by the RAF in September 1918  until 1928. This one on display was built by the Vintage Aviator company in New Zealand in 2011/12. Many of the parts, including the engine, are original from the RAF Museum

This is the Supermarine Spitfire and was used mainly for ground attack during the latter part of WW2

The Typhoon Jet was a full sized replica and was assembled on the Parade ground. A real Typhoon Jet flew over Horse Guards Parade later that day. It can fly at a speed of 1,320 mph. but I imagine it didn't reach that speed as it flew over London.