Kingston upon Thames! - # 09/04

Looking down from Kingston Bridge we see a collection of house boats and derelicts awaiting repair and resale. In the brilliant December sunshine the garden screen looks more Mediterranean than "England in Winter".

Across the water we see where the old industrial quays have undergone the typical make-over that swept through Europe's derelict old industrial waterside areas in the 1980's and 1990's. New "luxury" apartments and "entertaining bars and restaurants" replace the old sites of grubby labour and toil.

We are looking at the next stage of Kingston's long history that stretches back at least 1,000 years to a time when Saxon Kings were crowned at Kingston before the invasion by the Normans under William the Conqueror transformed English society and established new systems and laws we recognise even today. This invasion transformed the language into the rich mixture of old French and Anglo-Saxon which today we know as English.

Nothing is permanent. Everything changes - quickly, and suddenly.

Don't fret! - # 08/154

Thanks to all who rushed to my rescue over my tendency to make the Thames flow uphill. And yes, I do have "tilt adjusting" software, which I frequently have to use!!!!!!

So what does this picture say and what does it show? (It's worth clicking on it to enlarge and see the quality).

1. It shows (and says) that now and then I can take pictures that are properly levelled.

2. It shows the delightful fretwork, tiling and detailing put into the typical late Victorian/Edwardian villa built at the turn of the 19th century. And it shows that a lot of original features remain. Many iron railings were ripped out during wartime to provide scrap metal for weapons production. Were these replaced, or did the original railings somehow escape ? Very few escaped; much was lost. Look at Post # 08/151 and you will see that the funny curved metal clip thing is the same as the footing of the railing in this picture # 08/154 i.e. evidence of railings cut off to go for scrap.

3. It says something about quality standards and about the difficulty of caring for elegance and graceful material structure as it decays (even our own human form). It comments on the cost of maintenance and the provision of resources to meet it. It asks a lot of questions about passing time and the move into the future, especially in a country like Britain.

Grey, and abrasive - # 08/125

I feel the need to explore "Dark Side". Some of it will be B&W; some colour but with light and shade as the real subject, rather than the thing shown. It will be angles, nooks and crannies and shapes. Just for a few days it will be the Richmond area, but what the camera sees and the hand contrives to make it into: not the "conventional" landscape snap shot.

Here is Regal House, Twickenham, a 60s-70s "urban renewal monster". You could be in Communist Eastern Europe or 60s London or Paris; anywhere in Europe recovering from war. In fact you could be anywhere but in a harmonious comfortable frame of mind. Just be afraid and pray that it never happens again.

Brentford rising - a walk around the "new dockland" #3 - # 08/52

The 19th C Lock Keeper's Office (naturally, still in regular use) has been carefully refurbished. I admire the human scale and warmth of these 19th C working buildings. It's hard to believe that this architecture was created at a time when the dock area was surrounded by slums and squalor......or are we being misled? Sometimes I'm puzzled. But even our own times also show shameful contrasts.


FreeFalling (a regular visitor) has asked about services and water on the house boats. There are extensive "environmental service" stations all along the canal to provide water, battery charging and sanitary services. Of course most barges use wind and solar power for electrical services. See also "the Coal Lady # 179" http://richmonduponthamesdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007/07/coal-lady-179.html


Camera: Olympus C7070 WZ

Brentford rising - a walk around the "new dockland" #2 - # 08/51

I have enjoyed my recent walks around the new Canal Harbour that I think it is worth sharing in full. This view is looking East. The stunning "Turner Sunset" was taken from the bridge in the distance.

The grey clouds lit by the late sun, and the golden light on the bricks are spectacular. The water takes on a very special appearance.

This is the "Gauging Dock" where barges were assessed for their cargoes and fees calculated.

Brentford rising - #08/48

Turning away from the quaint and quirky we move towards the "urban renewal". The old canal harbour is being transformed into "luxury" apartments and in the distance is the stunning glass creation that houses the giant HQ of GlaxoSmithKline - evidence of "the Knowledge Economy" where once the Smoke Stack ruled (But even that was based on science and knowledge). For the next few days we'll explore "the up-and-coming" Brentford.

(BTW.....there are some unexpected imperfections in this image. The GSK building is a bit fuzzy. Blame me, not the camera. On closer inspection I see that it is "noise"....so do blame the camera.)

Camera: Olympus C7070 WZ