Beach Homer

A tribute to the great man (in tie and y-fronts) by sand sculptors on the beach in front of Gabriels Wharf at the South Bank.

Yes London has a beach. The first was created on the foreshore of the Tower of London by King George V in 1934. The King decreed that the children of London should have free access to a beach and sand was deposited there each year. Between 1934 and 1939 over half million Londoners dipped their toes in the Thames and swam among the ships and barges working the river. Boats were available for hire and amazingly you could row under Tower Bridge and back for 3d. I have no idea how many people must have been killed doing this but they certainly knew how to enjoy themselves back in those days.

Bud Flanagan

The birth place of Bud Flanigan. No 12 Hanbury Street, E1. That's not him hanging out of the top window. Hanbury Street was also home to Annie Chapman who was Jack the Rippers second victim.

I just 'don't get' the Crazy Gang.

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Dirty South

I had planned to ignore the riots, only focusing on the good things about London, but it’s just too big an event to overlook. These pictures are of the Dirty South, a pub in Lee High Road, South London that was ransacked by looters. It has a link to the Alabama Three, who are responsible for “Woke Up This Morning”. This made me wonder if this type of thing could have happened to the Bada Bing, if Tony, Furio, Paulie Walnuts and Sil were around. It’s at times like this that the Mafia seem like a reasonable alternative.

I originally wanted to title this entry ‘the South will rise again’ but that has ugly, racist overtones and what happened has nothing to do with race, politics or the under privileged. Just plain greed. “Shopping with violence” is the most accurate description of what London has just experienced.

London -11th August

I’m not sure what has just happened to London. I only know I don’t want it to happen again. For a few nights ferine rats had control of certain districts but now all is calm. This may be due to the 16,000 Police on the streets or to the outrage of ordinary men and women from all walks of life, all colours and all creeds.

I have just spent the night in the West End and all the bars and restaurants are full. It’s as though the rioting of a few days ago happened a few years ago. London is back on its feet.  Slightly bruised and hurt but back on its feet.