Water-mill at Merton Abbey Mills (video 00:44)
There has been working waterwheel on this site for hundreds of years. Originally used to grind corn, the waterwheel later powered machinery used in the dyeing and printing of fabrics, most recently by Liberty’s of London - until 1972.
My Strand Underpass photo on Wikipedia
This is a brief entry merely to note that a photo I took 7 years ago is now being used to illustrate the Wikipedia entry on Strand Underpass.
A broken wall from history
When I was a young lad, a schoolfriend lived in this house up the road from mine in Willesden, northwest London. This wall was there then, over 40 years ago.
Tree cutting sequence
I heard a chainsaw in the street. I tried to ignore it but it was an intrusive noise and I wondered what was taking such a hammering. I looked out to see a man cutting down the large acacia tree in the yard of the house opposite.
Arsene Wenger shows who's the boss
Watching the Chelsea vs Arsenal game on TV yesterday, I grabbed this image from the TV screen as Arsene Wenger displays his passionate displeasure at a bad foul and gives José Mourinho a right good and well-deserved shove.
My part of London as it used to be
One of the old favourites on my bookshelf is a book I gave to my father many years ago and ultimately inherited, the Village London Atlas: Changing Face of Greater London, 1822-1903 (The village atlas), by the Village Press.
Evidence from the end of an era
In my previous post, I wrote about finding my first passport, how it sparked astonishment at seeing my younger self and how it reminded me of a life-changing event that resulted in a period of prolific painting.
Man came, fixed streetlamp, left
They came in a van with a cherry picker on the back and did something to all the street lamps in my street. Replaced the internals for modern LED units, I think. I'll know if they are any different when they come on tonight.
Jim Al-Khalili interviewing Maggie Aderin-Pocock at the University of Surrey
On Monday 3 March, I went along to the latest ‘Jim meets…’ interview at the University of Surrey, with special guest Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, presenter of the BBC’s ‘Sky at Night’ series.
Earl Ferrers has died
The 13th Earl Ferrers, Robert Shirley, has died aged 83. His ancestor was the last peer to be hanged, and it's also the name of my local pub in Streatham.
An accident on the A3 this morning
It must have just happened right in front of me because the traffic was moving swiftly and only slowed as we were right up close enough for me to grab this photo.
Head-on collision on Garratt Lane, Tooting on Friday 24 August 2012
So this accident caused a big queue of traffic in the morning on my way to work. On the way home that same evening, the two unfortunate vehicles that were in the accident were still there.
Professor Sir Roger Penrose, world-renowned physicist
This is Professor Jim Al-Khalili introducing world-renowned physicist Professor Sir Roger Penrose, guest speaker at the inaugural Lewis Elton Lecture at the University of Surrey on the 16 February 2012.
Collision on Mitcham Lane, Streatham
On Friday 27 July, coming home from work, I came across a quite serious collision that closed Mitcham Lane in Streatham, south-west London.
The Earl Ferrers, Streatham
The Earl Ferrers is a really nice local boozer in Streatham, south west London, that serves good beer and great food. I like going there for Sunday roast. Here are some photographs of the pub.