Our day in Camden Market Area!

On Thursday, Tony and l went to Camden Market...the change that has occured since the fire there, 2 years ago. It is an amazing place of over 1000 shops, stalls, food halls and entertainment areas. It is open 364 days a year.....closed on Christmas Day! Full of colour, noise and many many characters! below are some images from our day there! Hope you enjoy it!

The image below is a section of one side of the main High Street. l just love all the over-sized sculptures of shoes, cats, heads, trousers ect above the entrance of each shop..advertising their wares!

This is one of the over-sized sculptures l was talking about, above many shops.

The next colourful image is at almost the end of the High Street and l just love this idea, very quirky and says a lot about the atmosphere that is Camden Town!

In the centre of the area, is Camden Lock itself, where the canal boats come in and out and watching the men and woman operating the locks, and the boats going up or down, is very exciting.

Sometimes l wonder what is or was in the minds of designers when they develop an area. For example, the image below shows some fun scooters as seats, which is exciting BUT look at what they are expecting customers to be looking at, while eating! What were they thinking of? If they had put the bikes against the wall, the table in front of them,  they could then watch the passing traffic and people in front of them..far more exciting!!!!

Part of the complex is called "The Stables" and has quite a history of using horse to pull wagons ect and the area at the bottom of the stairs is the old stable's area. These have been turned into shops and eating areas...fantastic place. All over this area, are life sized and extra large bronze horses and workman celebrating their life in this area..

There are many tattoo and piecing salons all over the place, hence all the parading advertising boards! I admire people who dress they way they want and have their own style....long may it last! I love this guys boots but they also remind me of clown shoes!!

For lunch we popped into this Vegetarian Cafe called "Spiral", the food was amazing and the atmosphere was great, with views over the Canal.

There are so many oppurtunities to eat every type of food you could think off, all over the area. Cafes, restaurants and stalls, all with lovely smells, enthusastic chefs and oh so colourful! Reminds me of the many souks and shopping areas, in such places as Singapore or old Dubai!

One of the large bronze horses, that are all over the place, had a decorated ,mane, tail and forehead with ribbons, plastic strands, felt flowers ect. 

The horse was advertising a very funky Hairdressers which creates the most amazing hairstyles, made of weaving, plaiting and so on. 

The shop was called Pepi's and below the horse image is one of the shop signpost..look at all those heads!!!!l think it is wonderful and l want it!Ha!

Below are some men who are now resting but moments earlier where walking around, carrying a "banner on a stick", as my friend used to call them!...advertising yet another piercing and Tattoo studio and/or another kind of shop!

While wandering round the shops l find a "Vintage" shop and hanging on one of the walls were these gas marks. I don't know if it was the lighting or what, but for something l think is quite scarry...they looked so beautiful and almost fragile!!

The man in the next image, made me think l was in the wrong time zone...a hippy on the loose. But he had an amazing aura of peace around him and seems to be at peace with himself and all around him..l envy him almost.

The last image in this entry is of a very colourful group of African hats outside one of the many stalls around the place. A colourful note to end today on...more from this day out tomorrow!Nightx

My Dad's Day at Buckingham Palace

Last friday the 23rd of April was St. George's Day and my dad went to Buckingham Place to be made a Member of tht British Empire ( MBE ), from The Prince of Wales (Charles!). Dad got his medal for charity work for the RAF.

We had a great day at the Buckingham Palace and l have the images to prove it!Hax. I was not allowed to take my camera into the Palce, which was a shame. My mother is in a wheelchair, so we went into the palace through areas others don't normally see. For example, my mother went up in a chair lift, which originally was installed for the Queen Mother. We were sat at the front of the crowd and then were out first as well! Well done mum!

The night before, Tony polished his shoes..as usual!..and also polished his old Army RCT hat...all will be revealed in the image below!

Your chaffeur driven car awaits you Mr W E J Kelley MBE!

Forget the fact that it is St. George's Day and it was also the Marathon at the weekend...the flags were there for dad weren't they?Ha!

This was one of the wonderful views my parents and sister had from our car, while we waited in the queue to get into the Palace grounds. Each car was checked inside and out, we had to have all the correct paper work and proof of who we were. Then we had a sticker, with of all things on it, a bike, to say we had passed all the checks. We also had large "V" sign on our windscreen, to tell the police we had a wheelchair user inside the car and so had to go to another entrance. In other words..the back door! My mum was issued with her own royal chair-pusher, in a beautiful uniform too!

It did seem strange to see all these people standing on the other side of the Palace railings, waving and calling to us. It made my mum and sister feel very important and made them laught!! Last time my parents came to The Palace, which was for a Summer Garden Party and when driving in, my dad had really upset my mum, by telling the tourist crowd waiting at the gate and entrance to The Palace..."It's ok, she is just the cleaner!".

After being in the palace, we all came out to have our offical photographs taken and meet friends or family waiting outside.  The next image shows the newspaper photographers praticing taking images before the crowds come out. Actually they were quite upset because nothing went wrong and nothing really happened that was worth filming! Shame!!

And here is the man himself! Doesn't he look smart and very happy?x Well done dad! 

We had offical images taken and also we have a video coming too. The funny thing is, that because of mum being in the wheelchair and at the front of the crowd...we will be in EVERYONE ELSE'S video's..what a hoot!

The next few images are of other people who were at the Palace to receive medals ect.

The young lady in the image below, was so sweet. It was her Military father, that was the person receiving an award and she was making the most of it. She had a permanent smile on her face and was taking images of EVERYTHING insight..what an experience for her.

And finally....ME! I love hats!

From the Palace, we took my parents and sister to the Thai Bridge in Putney. It over looks the River Thames and we arranged to have a window table and they did us proud. My sister was not impressed but Mum and Dad loved it . i thought the food was great, the staff were sweet and they didn't rush us, even though we were the last customers!

The last image is the reason for the meal..well done again dad.