Random randoms

These pics are from the same trip into town on opening day of the National Gallery. Walking around the streets did not feel good. Not living in central London to see what the reality is, it was quite a shock to see how empty and closed up it still was. Our government had been telling us that the shops, restaurants and pubs were back open again, but that was clearly not the case. As people have lost their jobs, or are still working from home, there is no actual reason to be there at all. To see Piccadilly Circus this empty in the middle of the day was so strange.

I was too weirded out to have my camera head on, so I ended up coming home with hardly any pictures. Somehow this bag of tortilla chips made it on to my camera though.

At one point we walked past the Harold Pinter Theatre where I’d seen ‘Uncle Vanya’ three weeks before lockdown in the cheap seats. It was now sealed off, and will be for a while yet.

The two Masketeers. Me and D at the Marian Goodman Gallery where we went to see the Rineke Dijkstra exhibition (trying to double up on the art in one go) after a very late lunch. We had to walk for ages until we found an open restaurant, and upon arrival we had a temperatures and phone numbers taken before we got seated outside.

Rineke Dijkstra is a Dutch photographer who has done quite a few series like this. Here she took portraits of three sisters over seven years. This was the first set.

And this the last. Fascinating, and as a parent… a bit terrifying.

Afterwards we fancied something sweet, and same again, we had to really hunt to find somewhere open. I’m not one to take pictures of what I eat, but this black sesame soft ice, the first non-homemade treat in four months, felt worth capturing. My mouth is watering as I type this.

And finally, the one thing me and D have become experts at in lockdown, spotting a really cool building, and crushing hard on the first floor window.

The whole experience was so interesting though; after feeling a bit fed up with always staying local I was gagging for a change of scenery but when I finally got it, I realised how grateful I was for my ‘hood, still full of life, and feeling almost like normal. The expression “You can’t see the wood for the trees” has never been been more true ;0)

Looking at architecture

Just a couple of days after me and my friend D walked 15 398 steps around Highgate, we walked back there (15 899 steps this time!) to continue our architecture walk. Highpoint I and II are probably two of the most famous modern apartment blocks in the UK, built by Berthold Lubetkin in 1935 and 1938. This is the front of Highpoint II, and we were swooning a bit as we walked around.

I spotted this little Aalto corner inside the entrance and managed to take exactly one picture before the porter came running out saying “No pictures! Only from the street!”. Ok dude - relaaax. Can you imagine the uproar from the neighbours when this was built? Look at the houses in the reflection and you can see how very different these building are!

This is the back of Highpoint II. They must enjoy some pretty awesome sunsets from up there.

The higgledy piggledy architecture of London used to drive me mad when I moved here 330 moons ago. Why wasn’t it more like Paris, New York or Amsterdam I wondered. Well, mainly because it was heavily bombed in WW2. These days it’s what I love the most about the architecture here; it can change so wildly in just a few metres. This little house, built in 1781 is just a couple of hundred meters away from Highpoint, on the same side of the street. Crazy.

Anyway. Eventually we walked down Swains Lane where we came across this très moderne facade - very reflective.

Which meant…

“HIIIIIIIIIIIII!”

Further down Swains Lane is Highgate Cemetery, built in 1839. I’ve only been once and I don’t think I explored it particularly well. I’m definitely coming back here once we are allowed to - it looks pretty amazing.

These strange looking apartment blocks opposite the cemetery where built in the 1920’s. They’re so weirdly disproportionally tall for that style of building, don’t you think?

Right at the bottom of Swains Lane is the Holly Village estate, which looks like something out of Hogwarts. The houses and green were built in 1865 as servants quarters to a Baroness. It’s pretty eerie in there, and we didn’t dare go in properly, but I can vouch for the strange vibe as we know a family who lives there.

It’s a bit much, non? Imagine coming home late at night and walking through there - uhm, no thanks! I’d expect bats and ghosts and little wizard children coming right at me.

And finally, this classic early Victorian house looked fab with her wisteria necklace on like that.

I’ve not been outside the house (apart from the garden) since last Tuesday; my headaches, fatigue and body aches made me suspect that I might have had a very mild form of Covid 19. It’d be effing awesome if it was. Six days of headaches, three days in bed and achy bones on and off the whole time. And guess what I did during that time? I watched a LOT of architecture programmes. Must be all that time spent indoors innit :D

Meanwhile in town

After more than five weeks in lockdown we finally dared to head into town on our bikes to see what the city looked like on Sunday morning. It ended up being a 30km long bike ride, and such a weird and interesting one at that. Even though it was amazing to see, it was also quite sad to see the city so devoid of life. On Regents Canal just before King’s Cross we saw this couple having what looked like the most possibly chilled and romantic day you could ever dream of. I waved at them and shouted “That looks so nice!!” and probably ruined the moment…

We knew we wanted to head towards the Thames first and so we did. Designated bike lanes in London are so rare, but they’ve built these new ones in the past few years, and I hope they’ll make many more of them.

I got a total shock from seeing the river so flat. Never in my 27 years in London have I seen it like this. You could probably skip stones on it! The low tide must have helped though.

I waved to my shadow, because I tend to do that.

After we crossed Blackfriars Bridge we cycled past Waterloo and then back to the north side across Westminster Bridge. I kind of don’t recognise the city with the water still like that. It got busier here; most people were also cycling, or running, very few were walking and hardly anyone driving. I hope once this is all over more of us will cycle and walk to places than before. I know I will.

We headed towards Buckingham Palace, but I had to do a U turn to take this picture of the lake in St James’ Park as it was so picture perfect.

Outside the Palace, where there’d normally be a huge crowd. So surreal.

Nice to see these ambulance drivers doing something so normal in these not normal times though.

We passed by The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, and I hope that we get to look at art in person again this year.

At the bottom of Regent Street. I suggested we headed into Soho from here, and as soon we got in there you could hear a pin drop. It was SO quiet.

It wasn’t only we who cycled through Carnaby St.

Came across this poem on Great Marlborough Street. I’ve tried googling it, but I can’t find out who wrote it. I like the “Listen close in the sky” line.

Aaaaah, The Pigeon Pond. ;)

I’ve gone past this pub many a time, but never stopped to take a photo. It was so strange to be able to stop in the middle of the road, and not have to worry about any cars.

I can’t believe that in future history lessons about the pandemic in 2020, kids will read about how we panic bought toilet paper more than anything else. Idiots.

Heading back home, cycling past this queue in Belsize Park. We used to live in the flat above the black square sign with four circles on it on the right. Feels like 100 years ago.

Amazingly we weren’t exhausted when we got back home, the daily bike rides have definitely made us all much fitter, as well as the Joe Wicks workouts. In fact Mr Famapa and Oomoo have clocked 273km (170 miles) on the tandem bike this month! I’ve got a really bad headache today and I feel quite queasy, so I’m cancelling the day and heading back to bed. Hope you’re well!

My random eye

Wanna see how random my eye is when I’m out and about? OK, I’ll show you - in the order I shot these. I saw those alarms on a building as I was walking from the tube towards the Spilliaert exhibition on Piccadilly. People had to duck as they walked past me taking this. I thought they must think I was taking such a weird picture. Maybe I was.

I walked past this lady with her woolly hat greeting me, and I circled back as I thought it was so funny I had to get the shot. I feel quite shy taking pictures of strangers up and close, and when I walked past her the second time I took the picture blindly with the camera at my hip, hoping that I’d get her in the frame. But you know, one great thing about people being so engrossed in their phones, is that you actually can just shoot the pic however you want, without them ever knowing.

See what I mean? Phones are gooooood. This lady’s green dress was just too fabulous darling to ignore.

Something about this empty street corner drew my eye. I think it was all that black.

With all the rain we’ve been having there’s some pretty big puddles out there. I liked how the red of the no entry sign popped.

Orange and burgundy together - who would’ve thunk it? Such a 60’s colour combo, non? And the name of the street makes me wonder what the history of it is. Quack quack?

I know I keep saying it, but I’m eternally grateful to my old art director boss who said that one must always look up. You never know what you’ll see, and seeing as so much of London is so generic at eye level, there are usually more interesting details above your eye line.

Like people making little gardens wherever they can.

Ahh, Bedford Square. You so pretty.

And finally, this building number on Tottenham Court Rd, before I got back on the tube to go home. Nice colours will always draw my (random) eye.