Spitfire – Public Service Broadcasting

Just heard this…

 

Banksy: One Nation Under CCTV

Sadly, this piece was removed a good few years back – how Banksy got in to do it is beyond me because as I tried to get inside to take a better picture I was grabbed by the security guard – no doubt still reeling from the bollocking he received when the boss turned up for work to see this piece bang next door to the security gate!

The Barbican Estate

The sun has been shining and its been glorious here in London so yesterday, during my lunch break, I grabbed my camera and went to explore the Barbican and I was properly blown away, I love the place – it’s so cool.

Built during the 1960s and 1970s, famed for its Brutalist Architecture and is now a Grade II listed building.

Even though you’re in the heart of the City, you can wander around and not see anyone.

City of London, Coat of Arms.

City workers enjoying a spot of lunch.

Water feature!

Ladies that lunch.

Whitecross Street, EC1

Four weeks into my new job and so far so good.

Location wise – having spent most of time working in and around London’s west-end, I now find myself working just off of Old Street, in the heart of the Barbican.

I’ve always known about the Barbican, famous for its Brutalist Architecture, as my Uncle Frank used to work there during the early 1980′s, he was a lift engineer working for Otis and used to commute from Milton Keynes to London each day – he would always bring home a copy of the Standard newspaper and kiwi fruit which at age of ten seemed very exotic!

I’m yet to explore the surrounding area but as well as containing residential flats (built during the 1960/70′s – it also houses an Art Centre, the Museum of London, a Cinema, Theatre and the City of London School for Girls.

Literally around the corner from my office is Whitecross Street EC1 – a street containing numerous food stalls selling a variety of food from Indian Curries, Thai Curries, Burritos, Pie & Mash, Cookies – pretty much all food tastes are catered for and at lunch time the whole street is buzzing with office workers seeking their lunch.

Theres a couple of green parks nearby where if the weather is nice, are full of ‘suits’ enjoying their lunch. Theres also a great pub, the Two Brewers where they allow you to eat your street bought food (so long as you buy a pint or two)

I’m really enjoying the Barbican and looking forward to the summer!

Lek’s Thai Food

Burritos!

Look here

The Wild Game co.

Order here (you can see the Barbican in the background)

Fresh Coffee

Galeta Cookies!

Whitecross Street, EC1

Beer…

 

 

Chelsea – Champions of Europe!

I can’t stand Chelsea.

But following their win against Bayern Munich and being able to see Stamford Bridge from our flat, I jumped on the bike and headed across the river to the Kings Road – joining the crowds cheering the team home…

On the Wall, London

Sundance Film Festival at the O2

Over the weekend, I got the chance to attend the Sundance Film Festival at the O2 here in London. We had a great day and saw some great documentaries – all stunningly shot and all three had incredible stories to tell.

By far my favourite and most surprising was Finding North, a movie by Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush.

The movie has hunger as its theme and whilst initially I wasn’t too ‘interested’ the story just blew me away – I certainly didn’t realise that something like 49 million US citizens are in a situation called Food Insecurity, a term which means that these people have no idea where or when there next meal will come from which is outrageous for a superpower.

The movie ran three stories, each beautifully told and heartbreaking at the same time. It’s definitely worth seeking out as were the other two movies; Chasing Ice and The House I Live In.

Chasing Ice was about climate change and the effect of green house gases on glaciers – all captured on time lapse cameras. To see the rate at which these glaciers are disappearing was a real shock – you hear about it on the news and read it in paper but having now seen it with my own eyes, well I’m convinced.

The House I Live In was about America’s failed War on Drugs and locking people up, many of whom were non-white (when all sections of society use) and the boom in private prisons – this was tough watch and for me it really did show that the War is lost and a new approach is needed.

It’s nuts knowing that the US spends over a trillion dollars in the fight against drugs, which it isn’t winning whilst at the same time it’s children and families are starving, its a crazy mucked up place!