Your table awaits - # 121/2011

Those who live in the London area will know that we have had exceptionally warm, sunny weather for the last several days (also some abnormally cloudy and nasty weather, too). Sun in September is normal, cloud is not normal, but temperatures of 28 degrees C are highly unusual and absolutely delightful!  Delightful, too, is this little scene on a cafe-barge moored beside the bank at Richmond. Hot, sunny, and overall, very, very nice indeed.


  

Double espresso - # 26/10

Attracted to the light the RuTDP Bar Fly drowned in the double espresso. 

Relaxing - # 08/171

'roony's thoughts will be elsewhere for a little while, and photos will not be "daily".

It seems most of you liked yesterday's "night shot". I had mixed feelings about it, but one cannot deny that the building is very attractive, especially when illuminated so well.

Streetside cafe culture - # 08/100

The open street cafe is a feature of life in the most unexpected places these days. Britain is far less grey and "indoorsy" than it once seemed to be. Or is that just my imagination?

Brilliant early morning sun brings an extra "something" to the early morning workman's coffee.

He's sitting in deep shade. Spot metering sorted out the shadows.

Portrait - # 08/93

Studies in glass 1 - # 08/82

I discovered that my archive has recently collected a number photos that rely on the effect of glass. It's today's building medium.

Here I was amused to notice how the image of the counter assistant (a real person) - my original target - is counterbalanced by a rather better image of the advertisement asking people to join and become counter assistants: a sort of "Richmond upon Thames Daily Photo needs YOU" poster.

Warm reflections - # 361

Tidetables Cafe inside an arch of Richmond Bridge is a warm and popular haunt.
I've featured it before, but could not resist this new image showing the busy welcoming interior and the reflections of the riverside houses.

Camera: Olympus C7070 WZ

By hardship to the stars a/k/a Spacestation 42 - # 284

This was supposed to be number 11 in the series "the Cafes of Richmond", but it sort of took off and got away from me, and just kind of floated off into space, like, well, you know what I mean, and stuff happens.

Actually, it's the ceiling lights in Costa's cafe. WARP DRIVE: weeeeeeeeeeeooooosh. (By the way, those in the know will be well aware that the secret of the universe is "42".)

The cafes of Richmond 10 - # 264

This is the Tidetables Cafe under the arch of Richmond Bridge (we saw the terrace yesterday, bathed in sunshine).

I took several shots of the reflection. This is the one a chose, so I hope you like it. The scene is a bit cluttered; but why not? It's in context.

The cafes of Richmond 8 - # 78

The Hollyhock Cafe in Terrace Gardens has the most beautiful outlook of all the Richmond cafes. Looking across the lawns and the formal flower beds you can see the Thames and take in the sweep of the world famous view. Do click on my Karl Moritz link on the right and find his Richmond section. A lot of what he says is still true today.

The cafes of Richmond 7 - # 74

Fortunately, there is a Starbuck's immediately next door to the Russell and Bromley shoe shop. How convenient!!!..............and they have wi-fi.

Feeding body as well as soul - # 62

Regulars now know that 'roony cannot avoid a good cafe. The cafe in St. Mary's church Putney is excellent. I don't know what Cromwell's puritan, parliamentarian cavalry soldiers would have thought about it, but today it is a most welcoming place offering a perfect service and good food.

It is now 360 years since the Debates, but they are so important that an exhibition will mark the 360th anniversary this coming October 2007.

The cafes of Richmond 5 - # 39

'roony trots down an alley off the main street and emerges onto Richmond Green. "The Green Cafe" is tiny. It serves good snacks, fresh pressed juices and good hot drinks. The cafe front is shady in the hot weather (so a bit bleak in winter), but you can look out across the Green which is bathed in sun all day long. At week ends you can watch the local cricket match. Next door is the magnificent doorway featured in Post # 38

The cafes of Richmond 3 - # 28

At the junction of The Quadrant and George St we find.....La Fornaia: good value for money, cosy, free newspapers in the rack, theatre play bills on the wall, rugby shirts around the upper shelves. Here, for all to see, is the "All-day Breakfast", which includes a mug of tea or a well-made frothy cappuccino.

The cafes of Richmond 2 - # 19

Coffee Republic. Was my coffee spoon really that long? Perhaps my camera needs a check-up!