"Tired of London, Tired of Life"

The phrase, 'Tired of London, Tired of Life' was started from a blog which went onto become a book and the phrase is one, I can get very much on board with. 

I'm from London originally but probably only started discovering things about it as I grew older and more involved with my own direction of things to do - post university I'd say. (I didn't go to university in London.)

Whenever I discover something interesting to visit/see in London, I make a note in my diary and the next time I'm in the area, I'll seek it out. 

One of such random things on my to do list was Lower Robert Street - a secret little road between the Strand and Embankment used mostly by Black Cabs. 

It's pretty bizarre, part tunnel, part warehouse. To read more about it, visit here. 

I then took my wanderings through Lamb & Flag Passage on the way to my dinner that night, a tiny alley that is almost part of the historic pub (Lamb & Flag). 

All photos my own. 

Doris

My wonderful cat Doris

Some photos from last year's trip to Bath

We headed to Bath Abbey on our first full day. Noted for its fan vaulting (see above), Bath Abbey was founded in the 7th Century but has been rebuilt several times including by Sir Gilbert Scott in the 1860s. 

We also visited the wonderful Thermae Spa, worth the queue! It was freezing outside (this was November) but lovely relaxing in the rooftop spa and steam pods. It was then time to eat and we had a lot of meze at OPA. Plates get smashed frequently here - intentionally! 

The next day we visited Tithe Barn in Bradford-on-Avon, a 14th Century monastic barn with an incredible timber cruck roof.

Before, we got the train home, we stopped off at Mr Salvats 1700-style tea rooms. 

All photos my own. 

Muzak

I thought I start sharing playlists. Here's my first one



I'm currently very obsessed with Cate Le Bon, she made her own mugs to coincide with her new album 'Mug Museum'.  Her pottery efforts look far better than mine. There are also a few old favourites, stuff I work and few other recent tracks. 

God's Own Junkyard

We went to visit God's Own Junkyard in Walthamstow before it moved out of its original premises. There was a lot of neon and a lot of (good)junk.

All photos my own

A selection of photos from my Open House 2013

Battersea Power Station

Due for redevelopment shortly (this has been said many times in the past, but it appears, it's finally happening), this year was the first year BPS was included in Open House and its last. 

I joined the queue an hour early, and then queued some more for a chance to explore the old coal-fired power station. 

Battersea A Power Station was built in the 30s, the B side (identical to form the structure we know) in the 50s. Decommissioned fully in 1983, the building achieved Grade II listing in 1980 and is also the largest brick building in Europe. 

They had a marquee up inside part of the station which was annoying, it obscured the view of the north side and I think took away from the grand size of it all. Perhaps it was for safety though. 

Queuing sights

Entering via the North side

Looking to the South 

Turbine Hall B (I think) 

Peeking through a keyhole

Looking up at the South side

Taken from the bus enroute to my next Open House

Lambeth Palace

This is the official London home of the Archbishops of Canterbury and has been since the 13th Century. 

Lambeth Palace has been rebuilt in parts several times due to the Civil War and WWII. The Great Hall is home to the Library - Lambeth Palace has almost 200,000 printed books, many unique and 30,00 from before 1700. 

We weren't allowed to take photos during the guided tour inside but I got a couple of outside. 

Visit Lambeth Palace. 

Entrance to Great Hall/Library  

The Library/Great Hall 

Morton's Tower - built in 1490

Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate

Finished in 1968, this estate was designed by Neave Brown - Camden Council had appointed Sydney Cook as Borough Architect and Director of Housing who challenged the government's tendency for high rises. 

I went on a guided tour of one of the houses in the estate. Bought 3 years ago, the architects had turned the 4 bed house into a spacious 2 bed house. They wanted to echo some of the original designs in their restructuring (the original features had been pulled out) so installed plywood in the kitchen (see pic below). The house & cupboards all feature sliding doors (the house had the original sliding doors) to maximise space. 

The top floor remained pretty much the same - acting as lounge with a nice balcony. 

All the flats have balconies and they look onto each other 

None of the flats have radiators, but heated walls - these are the cooling towers for the estate 

Brutalist Wizard of Oz

Only two flats would share entrances  

Horniman Museum 

Victorian tea trader Frederick John Horniman began collecting objects from his travels and in 1901 opened the Horniman Museum to share them with the public. 

We went on a Behind the Scenes tour of the museum which even took us inside the clock tower. 

Visit the Horniman. 

Conservatory 

From inside the clock tower

Clock Tower

All photos my own