Elstree and Borehamwood

The sort of place where you expect film stars to be in the local Mcd's but when I called in there were only people who looked as if they might want to be film stars when they grow up or were film stars when they were younger. Elstree makes a little film history go a long way (literally) and have a studio trail. Two and a half hours of looking at where the studios were and a mound and poplar trees where Ivanhoe's castle set was built behind Tesco. Admittedly the BBC has a place there and the Gate Studios near the station can still be seen (and are still used for making cinema screens etc.) but they are the only bits of history. Some plaques recall famous British film stars of long ago...

Otherwise a rather dreary suburban dormitory.

Guernsey

A little island off the coast of Normandy. Quite a lot British but just a little bit French too. The mild climate, well maintained houses and new cars give the island a prosperous, sunny look and the ruettes tranquilles are great places for a country stroll. Cars have to give way to pedestrians on these quiet roads!

There are some grim reminders of the wartime occupation, but all in all a pleasant clean and friendly place to go.

Thanks to Paul for a glorious stay.

Here is a guernsey blue post box.


Guernsey post box 

Southampton

My holidays were spent between Southampton and Guernsey this year- many thanks to Jon and Ray for a happy stay. I went to college in Southampton and it has not changed much since then. Still very much the same as ever. Very relaxing though.
The picture shows the Bargate

Advance to Mayfair

An idle half hour near the Curzon Cinema in Mayfair yesterday led to a wander round the Shepherd Market. It is everything. Run down and upmarket with council flats and tesco near posh restaurants and Annabels night club, right near Park Lane. My guidebook from the seventies adds that it is noted for its friendly, if acquisitive, ladies. There was some evidence of this.

the historic city of London

The new camera arrived so took it out for a run round the city, especially the historic bits around St Barts Hospital. The weather was a bit dull (partially wet) but got some good shots of St Bartholemew the Great church, St John of Jerusalem gate and other historical views in the city including a good one of St Pauls framed by a narrow street. A worthwhile morning out.

St Bartholemew the great is one of the oldest churches in the city and is very atmospheric and meadieval. Worth a visit.

No pictures until I get them developed and (hopefully) scanned.

Upminster, Hornchurch, Barking and Rainham

This should have been a trip to try out a new camera but the new camera has not yet arrived…

Upminster

This town looks as though it was developed in the 1930s and not redeveloped since then although there are some modern buildings. The church is very old with a tower held up by wooden beams and this contains six bells.
The highlight of Upminster is its windmill. The picture shows the windmill. This is one of the few windmills left in Greater London and is quite a sight. I imagine a good view can be obtained from the top as it is set on a hill but it was closed when I passed on Saturday afternoon!

There was a cricket match in progress on the recreation ground and I paused to think of those immortal lines- does the church clock still stand at ten to three and is there cricket still for tea?

Oh for the sound of willow on leather.

Hornchurch

Busy suburb town with a Woolworths and olde inne (lots of new ones too). People in Hornchurch like to drink, play bingo (the Mecca Bingo Hall was open when I called) and have homeopathy, these being a few of the services on offer in the main street. There is also the Queens Theatre.

Barking

Nobody smiles in Barking.

Rainham

A pleasant surprise! A little 10th Century church, the peace memorial is striking - a truncated clock tower and there are two old inns and Rainham Hall, only open on Saturdays by written appointment with the tenant. I could not get into the church as there was a wedding party when I called but the outside is a gem. There were also lots of wild blackberries but the best I saw were on the railway cutting and thus inaccessible.

Brighton Pride

An exhausting day!

I went to Brighton Pride to help on the Coöperative Group’s stall there as well as for the fun of one of the best free festivals around. The stall was decorated with nude pictures of head office staff with the words “altogether different” (geddit?) obscuring the important places and we volunteers were given a t-shirt with the same slogan. There was a free dance mat machine. This was being used enthusiastically and hilariously before we opened by head office staff (not in the altogether) and this proved a popular attraction during the day. However it was not as popular as the fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate and biscuits offered for tasting samples and the bottles of orange juice for sale! There was a prospect of a protest by Christian Voice at our stall- they never turned up. I suppose, like all bullies they would not have the courage to turn up where they’re hopelessly outnumbered.

My task (in two hour shifts) was to encourage people to enter the prize draw for a holiday in Sydney at Mardi Gras 2006. There was no catch to this but getting people to fill in the form was hard work although it was easier if someone had had some chocolate etc first! We were giving out pink wristbands for Smile- the Internet Bank and these were popular too.

The festival dance tents, fairground and market areas were all very busy and I managed to make a few interesting purchases as well as get some useful information from the Police and Fire Brigade.

I saw a few people I knew including Chris from the DCA Rainbow Network- Hello everyone!

All in all a fun but exhausting day.

High Wycombe

Visited High Wycombe today, a busy market town in the Chilterns with lots of flint cottages, a large medieval church (although rather plain) and two market crosses. The town is and has been home to the chair making industry and the local history museum with friendly staff contains many examples of the work done in High Wycombe.

The high street was filled with charity muggers. Why do these dreadful people speak to you like a long lost friend? I wouldn't choose any of them for my friends!

On the way back I visited Moor Park Golf Course and had a drink in a nearby pub. I did not realise there were strippers on and nearly had an argument with the stripper collecting the money. I was not going to pay as I was not staying for the show!- And I didn't!

The picture shows a sculpture in the grounds of the museum.

my picture

potters Bar again

It seems I missed the High Street and Oakmere Park in Potters Bar. I did say it wasn't easy to navigate. I will have to revisit and see those places.

Potters Bar

Decided to visit Potters Bar today, formerly in Middlesex (according to my 1933 guide book) but now in Hertfordshire. Not an easy town to navigate. The built up area is round the station but spreads out in two directions- facilities (churches libraries etc) to the West, shops to the East. There are some nice shops including an Oxfam super savings where I bought a brass jar for 99p which has polished up beautifully (need to find out if it is a copy of an arabian rose water jar).
The Church was closed, but there is supposed to be a cross made from zeppelin metal inside it and a memorial to first world war airmen killed in the zeppelin. I did not see either.

Potters Bar is hard on the legs- Mutton Lane is long as is Church Road (I didn't see any church in Church Road). I walked to a small hamlet outside and walked back.

Rail service good- on the way back I went to Hadley Wood. I did not see much there.

Introduction

Hello, welcome to my blog!

Somebody suggested I should blog my travels to places around London and give my general impressions of what I see and find. I use a guide book from the 1930s/40s, and it is interesting to note the changes. I hope I can post photographs or scans. Thanks for reading