A party and silly or funny found things on the way to it! and home again!

Let the fun begin.....arriving in Islington.

This little stall is a few doors away from my daughter's new flat. It fasinated me because l wouldn't have thought this was the sort of style crockery young people would be buying..very judgemental l know!. This area is full of young proffesional type people, mainly single but lots of them! But the place was heaving with young people buying. Maybe it was cheap or perhaps l have just got it all wrong! has been known you know!Ha!

The reason for the visit to this part of London was to go to a Christmas Tree Garlanding Party at my daughter's new flat. It was great fun. All her friends and her flat mate tom's friends brought a hanging for the tree and a bottle of something. Jenny had made chocolate fondant sweets..to die for and Tom made his very first cake. well done guys it was an amazing parety. Also thanks for inviting us old foggies to your party!x.The image below is the decoration my daughter choose for her addition to the tree. Very apted for this time of year in any year, l think!!

On our way to the flat we passed quite a few funny things. I didnt take as many images as usual, for as many of you know..my camera is still awaiting repair in the hospital!!! So l am using a point and shoot camera and getting very frustrated with it. So fewer images and not as good but hey...l am still keeping a record and that's what really matters to me if l am honest and not also vain!!
The next image was in the middle of the pavement and what caught my eye was the paper clip!! Why?

Just before you get to my daughters flat in Angel, we went passed this resturant and l noticed this funny drawing on the wall. Made me smile!... which was quite hard to do as it was cold, snowing and the path was very covered in ice!

Travelling just behind us was a young couple with a small boy of about 3 and they had obviously bribed their son to come out, with the promise of a visit to a certain toy shop. Well, l expect that they will not do that again. The reason being, for the 10 mins or so, all we could hear was, "Is the toy shop near,...is the toy shop coming soon....where is the toy shop....is this the toy shop...are we there yet...and so on?". We could still hear him when we were far ahead. I reckon he would have to walk another 6 mins before they got him to the shop. I have to admit, it was a gorgeous old style toy shop full of wooden toys and things you have to wind up by hand. I could have spent ages in there myself at another time.

Just after that, we came across this image. It is one of those images that gets my imagination going. I ask myself questions like..why is their only one handprint? Was it an accident or was it done on purpose? Did the person lean against the door or was he pushed? and last but not leasst..why were his hands/hand covered in white paint??

As l talked mentioned earlier, the pavements were very slippery and no-one had cleared their paths or front of shops to add to the problems. When we lived in Luxembourg you were responsible for clearing your front pathway, house or shop and would be fined if you didn't. We all owned snow shovels and neighbours all helped other,especially if the person was old or lived on their own. A good idea to be started here l feel, especially after l saw this. A bar had emptied and left on the pavement by Jenny's flat all this left over ice! 

                                          An accident waiting to happen!
The Christmas tree, once decorated with many peoples contributions was being to look great. There were still people arriving as we left at 8ish [we had been there since 11 in the morning..helping to put pictures up on the wall ect and the party started at 1.30ish!]..so the image below, of the Christmas tree is not the end product!

At the party we had..hope no health and safety person is reading this.. indoor, l suppose you call them small fancy flares! Anyway they were very bright and l surpose could have been quite dangerous in the wrong hands..eg a drunk person!! 

The eyes in the background belong to my gorgeous son Andrew! I hope you can see the firework l am talking about! Lots of light and stary sparkles and lots of fun. Just don't do this at home if you have had one too many over the limit!Hax

After we left the party, it was dark and all the Christmas lights had been turned on. This is one just a short distence from the flat. I just love this blue!
Merry Christmas everyone as it is 00:43..offically Christmas Day! oh and please note my friends, l am sober and in bed.....all presents wrapped and under the tree. Nothing for me to worry about today because Christmas Day Tony always cooks. Bless him. The best present l could ever getx!x

Another days daily wandering to somewhere!

Today l decided to post another of my walks from home and end up "somewhere"! The first thing l noted was that the Hydranges were still flowering in the last week or so of December! Weird and not only that put they are usually pink and suddenly they are blue as well. I didn't think the soil could change over night! My grandmother, who died many years ago, used to have huge clusters of these bushes outside her front door. These remind me of her, every time l walk past them

As l rounded the corner past our garages l noticed a big yellow arrow has been painted on the road. The strange thing is the road by the garages is two way not one way , which is what the arrow is suggesting. Very confusing. No wonder are parcels are not arriving, the van driver can't get to the Office on the estate, as the arrow means there is no way he can get there!!!

We have a lot of different tress on the estate but my favorite is , l think. called a Plain Tree. The bark is of many beautiful colours and peals away from the trunk at this time of the year. I have peled away the bark and used it in some of my art work. It is just like paper and very flexable.

From the estate l turned to go down Wildcroft Road and it then began to snow. Not like the snow we are having at the moment...huge snowflakes and settling. This snow was sort of trying to make its mind up wether it really wanted to be snow or just fade away. Very pathetic! I mean it was not even leaving a wet mark on the pavement, to show it had been there at all!Ha! Then l heard some one coming up behind me, l moved to one side to let them pass. I couldn't believe my eyes. This lady had an umbrella up, l looked at her and she looked at me and l must have looked confused because she said, " well it might get heavier and l would get wet" and hurried on down the road!!

Further down the road, something caught my eye in the bushes, it was a black lace up boot and beside it were 2 discarded packets of cigarettes. Either some one had a good party a night or so ago, a car was being cleaned out or..something sinister happened in the woods late one night! You decide!

Then as l reached tthe bottom of Putney Hill, I loooked across the road and saw a glove sitting on the hedge. But the funny think about this glove was the way only the little finger and another finger were sticking out. Gave me an idea for a weird hand puppet. Watch this space and when l have made it, l will put it up on this blog!

Ruby Tueday!

Here is my image for Ruby Tuesday.
We were driving along in our pocket rocket (soft top mini!!) when l yelled at my husband to stop. He slammed the brakes on thinking l has having a heart attack or something and luckily there was nothing behind us! When he realised it was just because l had seen a red building that was just right for my ruby Tuesday challenge, you can guess he was not amused. Bless him! Anyway, l think the emergency stop was worth it, so that l could get this brillant red pub!!
Happy Ruby Tuesday everyone!xlynda

The pub is called The Redback

Work of the Poet: Ruby Tuesday

Work of the Poet: Ruby Tuesda

Just found this amazing site..l am joining right now! And here is the picture l would have posted on Tuesday if l had known about this blog then..if you see what l mean!!

My coffee cup book project....on going!

Just for fun today l thought l would show you some of the throw away coffee cups l have photographed over a few years. "Coffee cups" l hear you say.."Is she mad?". Well... quirky yes!!!!and l think you have to be slightly mad to be a good artist!Ha! No seriously l am making a book about coffee and the images are part of the story. when it is complete l will show it on this blog. I am also making books involving cigarrette boxes....all will be revealed at a later date!!!Patience my little ones.

 It wasn't until l started this project that l became aware thast there were so many different designs for coffee cups.Also the companies change them for different celebrations such as Easter and Christmas and some change the text all the time..fasinates me!

The green cross cup is from Guildford and it is the first time l have seen it and l have been taking images for the past 3 years!! Must admit the green does stand out doesn't it?

Today tony and l went on a mad dash to Cirensecter to play Father Christmas and deliver presents to nephews and nieces. While we were there, discovered that Nero's had opened....great excitment with queues stretching out the door for the past two weeks apparently. So we refreshed ourselves with strong coffee and got back in the "pocket rocket" and drove to Rustington on the South Coast to deliver pressies to my parents...then back to London!phew. We were very lucky with weather and traffic..blue skies, snow on the ground and no traffic jams..Bliss!

The image you see above, was taken at Waterloo Train Station. You will see piles of cups and bags of rubbish all over the station because they no longer have solid dustbins. This is because the Police don't want to make it easy for people to place bombs at the station. In our local station, Putney, we have clear plastic bags hanging on poles for you to put your rubbish in. It works, so l have often wondered why Waterloo doesn't do it too? l don't mind because it gives me a chance to take more images of "rubbish" but it would look better and give a better impression of London, to tourists if we used bags!

I love the cup above because they have such wonderful things written on them and always make me smile. What more could you want from a coffee first thing in the morning?

I challenge you not to smile when you read the caption on the side of this coffee cup?!

Some are just boring, like this one. Although at least it has some colour and a pattern on it, not just plain white like the ones you get on British Railway buffet cars!!!Boring...These next and last two images are of Coffee Houses celebrating Christmas with new designs for their cups. Happy Christmas everyonex Lynda

 Coffee...gone are the days you went into a coffee shop or cafe and asked for a coffee and the waitress would say, "Black or white" now there is such a choice.....  Esspresso, Cappuccino, Americano, Mocha, Latte and oh so much more!!

 ENJOY what ever your final choice...................oh and is that with or without sugar???????

A few images from a trip up to central London to have lunch with my daughter.

This is an amazing image, l stumbled across while going to see my daughter up in Central london. I write more about this image in my blog http://lynda-oneimageaday.blogspot.com/  I am so glad it is not multi-coloured because l think it would be less dramatic and wouldn't be noticed as easily. But l maybe wrong as...Art is in the eye of the beholder!

After lunch,we were walking back to my daughter's office when l came across this car!  It really made me laugh, the painting on the side is brillant!! These smart cars and especially as some now are electric,  they are the future to travelling in and around towns.

I spotted this image of "home"( see below) as l walked to the tube station. It is in a door way of an office. My husband and daughter walked straight passed it but l spotted it straight away. I thought this was so sad and as it was rainning and very cold, l really felt for these men. I know some people choose to sleep on the streets but the most don't and many of them are ex service people. Last year my daughter was involved with "Crisis at Christmas". She was involved with the soup kitchen and then was there over night in a huge office space, to see that everyone was safe. Homelessness is sad at any time but Christmas is some thing special and always makes me feel extra sad for these people. To me, Christmas is Family time and they are not with theirs for what ever reason. So if you are reading this, please give generously to any Homeless or ex-serviceman's Charities. Thank you! Merry Christmas every one.xx

Visiting all things Christmas!

As it is almost Christmas, l thought l would put up some of the Christmas "things" l have seen over the last couple of days. The first image is not exactly a Christmas image but it does show the people are already going or have gone on holiday. The box at Putney Railway Station that stocks The Metro is normally empty when l go through at about 3pm on some days. Today...........almost full!!!!

Next are 2 images of wreaths that l saw on doors, while visiting my daughter. I thought how much nicer these 2 looked because they were on doors that had been painted black. Really made them stand out from the other wreaths l had seen.

The next two images are of christmas trees put up by one large company and one small company. I thought the contrast rather interesting. But thats me, l find almost everything interesting one way or another!!!

This the Christmas tree outside the Offices of Manor Fields Estate in Putney. I love this shade of blue..so calming l find.

This Christmas tree is in the lobby of a building belonging to Lloyds Bank in Spitlefields. It looks very dreamy and fairy tale like l think!
The next few images are of decorations around town. The first one is of a large blow up Santa that was advertising Christmas trees for sale in the garden of The Green Man pub in Putney.

I saw this very brave Santa Clause,while l was sitting, as a passenger in our mini,waiting for the lights to change at some road works. I yelled at my husband, "wind the window down and don't move"....."why" he yelled back....."just do it and don't move even if the lights change"! Much grumbling and window was wound down..well electically actually but you know what l mean! I managed just to get the shot before my husband was nearly lynched by a mob of irrate motorist who we had held up to take this image!!! The things my poor husband has to do for the sake of my Art!!!!!

These gorgeous stars, that actually twinkle, are in the new Spitlefields Market. you can see the spire of the church in the background of this image. Last sunday, l went to see what they had done to the new Spitlefield Market and was very upset. Why? To me it has lost its old worldly charm, it is now too modern, too organised and too commercial! Ok its warmer and there are some interesting resturants but the wonder of the place has gone.the artists with masses of work in boxes and tubs, handmade stuff that really looked hand made and the artist was there making it.The real odd characters who you were not sure what they were actually selling, the artists with recycled art and so on... in my mind it has lost its magic! End of rant!!!!
And last but not least, this years range of throwaway coffee cup designs!! The must have's for the well dressed buisness person on the train or the tube!

                                                     And a Happy Christmas to you all!!    
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Small front gardens in Richmond.

I had three hours to kill the other day, while my tyres were being changed. So I decided to walked along from the garage towards Richmond on the other side of the road for a chance. As it was so cold, l decide to go and get a coffee and keep warm till pick up time! But that was not to be..the camera eye took over and for the next three hours, l froze, couldn't feel my fingers or toes but l had an amazing time. I never knew that the little houses on that side had some much to see in their tiny front gardens. There were gardens full to bursting with plants in pots, there were amazing water fountains and bird baths and the ornaments in some of these gardens just made me laugh out loud. Others made me wonder what these people were like that put artifical butterflies in their gardens and laughing frogs? Anyway l have put some images up of the ones l thought you might enjoy or chringe at depending on your mood at the time?!!! ENJOY!
The large stikey plant you see (the first image) was one of two in a very small front garden but the flowers were oh so beautiful, so l can understand why they would want them in their garden.

How many pots can you see in this small front garden? Overkill or just desperate for a garden and not a piece of concrete?

Unlucky for some..the number is cracked as well...but an upside- down horseshoe too....not so sure if that is just too much! I looked up the meaning of an upside-down horseshoe and there is quite a lot written on the subject. Horseshoes are meant to be lucky because blacksmiths are mystical and magical and there- fore so are there product. Upside- down ones are also meant to be lucky but these is a big debate going on...If horse shoes are lucky, surely if you turn them upside down, doesn't that mean all the luck will drip away? The answer to that one seems still open to the jury? What do you think?

Don't these 4 big pottery balls and these 2 laughing frogs make you giggle?....

What a clever way to us up broken pieces of crockery and the broken pot itself...clever re-cycling idea.

And in many of these small gardens, there apears to be quite a lot of recycling going on from using old sinks to recycling old chimmney pots. Maybe this is the way to go, as everything new seems to be getting so expensive to buy new these days.

Many of these tiny front gadens have funny signs in them like.."dont feed the birds..they are not real"..or "shut the gate, the dog bites" and so on. But one sign made me giggle for ages. It says, "A lovely lady and a grumpy old man live here". Maybe it has to do with tony becoming "retired" in two days time!!!! 

And on that happy note, l will say "Goodnight" and a Happy Christmas to you all..x

Art every month challenge: RECYCLE

One of the many pieces l hope to make during December's Art Challenge is Tao! ..(He is the first one l have completed!) He was a charity find with no eyes, and holes all over the place. So l restuffed him, so he sits up right on his own. Re-did his face, sewed up his body and hey pressto!! a new teddy bear BUT..there was something missing... he still wasn't mine! Then as l was routing through my sewing box came across a tiny red heart.That's it l thought. Added the heart and ...enter one new teddy..Welcome Tao Howells!

I think he is so cute nd has a character all of his own!