8 aug 08 Thames walk

Still pictures from the same walk,

Today, I went out of the door with the intention of continuing from the Embarcadre or Charring Cross towards West to walk near the Thames, or to visit Islington see how is there.

But on the way, I was diverted by an Leting agency near the bus station and a nice young men showed me a flat in Greenwich's main road.

Well located and even silent inside at least with the windows open, almost no one living upstairs, neverless the dump air and smell told me one cannt open often the windows and the light was not very bright either in that place downstairs. The small court was there "but do not come with" it did not seem a friendly gesture from the absent landlord either.

I did not feel I'd be happy to live there.

At noon, another place to see, will I have force to go in Central London the afternoon? I am not sure, we'll see. With each new visit, I learn more, not only about the places to live and their neighbourhood but also about myself and my likes and dislikes.

Just hope, soon I'll find a place speaking to me, smiling to me: telling me "here is MY place".

PS Perhaps, perhaps - I found it. Bright, one bedroom one living room, a real bath and strong shower and a small kitchen but with a place to eat there and all anemities. Quiet street and not far from the familly - I hope I'll get it!

8 aug 08

Life in London is interesting - but I did loose probably the first flat were I already felt "inside" so I have to begin to look again.

On my way to discover the city I find many nice and friendly people - and portraits to take so I do not have to complain, my days are full, even when I feel impatient to have "my place", that will arrive also.

In the meantime, my two grandchildren organised a great spectacle for us, it was a pleasure to see them intereract so well and we even had a small diner with it that they prepared!

It is a pleasure to see them florish here!

And thanks a lot to the people smiling at me and letting me take their portraits.

8 8 08

Yesterday, I took the train for the fist time to go center London, from Blackheath Village - it took me do Canon street near the river Thames and then I walked the Thames path until the Embarkment.

But that time, I did not have any more space left on my memory card and my legs told me enough too. I had a lunch and spoke with a young and beautiful server arrived from Spain a month ago: she found imediatly work!

It took me a lot more to come back, one hour, with waiting at Cherring cross for the next train to Lewisham and a bus from there back, but could we say "I have time" ?

Home, it took of course even more to look at the pictures and select them and improve them, I put some in the Thames walk set, and if they are not yet there, will put them soon!

But not yet progress in finding a place to live by myself (or even with others in a flatshare). Some times, it will arrive too!

After dinner outside the pub

It was a great animation at the Blackheath Village pub that evening, but I have seen it only from the car, but after our dinner, at an italian restaurant, I went nearer.

Almost no more there, but the mood still persisted.

Unhappilly, I have to learn yet how to do night pictures, the theme of the Afterclass group in flickr this month. I have to go out more often after dark instead of going to bed at 8 pm as usual (and waiking at 5 am) if I want to learn, I'll have to do.

02 London

Nice and funny at the same time, he was happy with me taking pictures of him, at the entrance hall of O2 near the North Greenwich station.

Two angels were there too for explaining what is where and they did also posed with joy, in all I came away that day with a great portrait collections.

Today I strolled in Blackheath Village, Lee and Lewisham, and when a big sudden rain came out just entered a bus that took me to Greenwich center. From there a car took me to East Greenwich closed library (noon break) and accross the street were there is a great and nice cyber coffee that I recomend to all.

O2 Greenwich

As much as I love the old Victorian houses in London, I do like also the new constructions - so many ideas and creativity in them!

A few days ago I went to the Greenwich Nord metro station (closed in summer on weekends) under the building called strangely O2 - I did not learn yet why.

I met there a few very nice and very different people.

The first was a construction worker, originally from north Ireland, and after taking two photos of him, he told me "please no two without three" only then I observed his tatoos and took a photo that showed them also. We had a nice chat and after we entered the building he went to the young men at entrance and told him "this lady takes photos, she'll take yours too."

And he agreed also, he was the only for me very british looking one. After I have taken the two Angel girls, also for information there, and enchanted to be photographed, and Indian looking lady who after that offered to take one of me and did so very knowedgable, and so on.

I came home not only with some pictures despicting the modern mood of O2 but mostly with a new collection of my loved portraits - also having spoken to them, and feeling less alone in London.

Telling too fast

I was too fast happy about being able to blog from home, whoever had an open web around, closed it and in the weekend even the cyber nearby is closed.

But I used sunday to take my car and try it around and even in London, as there is not taxe to go into it in that day, and at six and seven in the morning there was also very little circulation.

Very good circular way indications and I did not loose my way often, so went from Greenwich in South East to Hamersmith Heath North West, beautiful Heath and Forest, nice people jogging and walking their dogs.

One couple even had a place like for the babies to carry them, and going back through Island of Dogs and the entrance of the foot tunel (which I did not take) I have seen dogs even carried and walked by a lady in automatic wheel chair.

When you go from a place to other, you observe things not seen usually at your place.