tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:01:49 +0000Living in LondonLondonfunnyrecessionwimbledonairair showsquaretrafalgarvulcan2012B52London OlympicsRoyaladvertisingantonyartbicyclebirdseconomyeveningfairfordfootballgormleyinternationalmayornational trustparkrailred arrowsriverspringsurreytattootenniswalking201099p storeAlresfordDanyl Johnson X-Factor Auditions 2009Great DepressionHMRCPringlesSir Jack CohenTescoVATafghanistanafroairportairshowalexander rybakaltonandy murrayanimalsarboretumarcherarchitectureauditionautumnbank holidaybarcelonabargebbcbig benbigginbikebirminghamboris johnsonboysbritishbuldingbuscanary wharfcannon streetcarriagecarscelebritychampions leaguechampionshipchange of seasonchelseachildrenchipschurchcillicclaremont gardenscolourscommentcommoncommutecomplimentcomputercostumecourt casecourt of appealcraven cottagecredit crunchcrispscut pricecyclecycling campaigndancedanyl johnsondarkday outdeathdeerdeer parkdestinationdistrict linedorsetdrivee colie.coliecolieggsengineentourageentrepreneureuropeeurovisionexhibitionfairfarewellfarmfavouritefighterflash mobflightfly pastflyingfourthfree lunchfriendlyfulhamfunny signsgameget london cyclinggodstonegooglegraham nortongreengurkinhampshirehang outshighhighspeedhillhistoryhockeyhomehouses of parliamentinner cityinnovationjacksonjade ewenjamiejamie archerjetjokekentish townkings of leonlakelaptopleaveslifelinelittle bayliveliving monumentlloyds banklondon marathonlufthansamanakin birdmanchestermapsmarathonmarinmemorialmemorymertonmerton abbey millsmexicanmichaelmid hants railwaymockmoney backmoonwalkmotorwaynaturenigerianightnorthern irelandnorwaynotice boardnuls pointsolympicolympic stadiumolympicsone and otheropen weekendoutoutbreakpartyperformancepersonal datapeter ilicphotographplacesplinthpocketpoolepound landpudding mill laneput pocketqueensquerryrailwayrefereerepairrestaurantrichmondrichmond parkromanrubbishsafetysavingscamscotlandscrambledsecuritysemi finalseries 13shopshowsky newsskyridesmilesmilingsoldiersspeedsquirrelst james parkstaples centrestar trek moviesteamstonestrangestratfordstrollsummersunshineswine flutalk talktantaxthamesthe forumthrillertopgeartraintransporttrashtreestroopstubeunder coverunited kingdomupliftvalidatevalidationvideovirgin atlanticwandlewandsworthwarwarnwatercress linewatershedweddingwestminsterwild lifewing walkerwinkworthworld recordwrestlerx factorWhat is it like to be Living in London in 2009?http://livlondon.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Mike)Blogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-8722613598392572109Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:40:00 +00002009-09-21T22:51:21.763+01:00bicyclecycleLiving in LondonLondonmayorskyrideThat has to count as one of my weaker puns ever...Sorry - couldn't resist.Yesterday here in London was the Mayor's Skyride day - and several of London's main roads were shut to traffic for 8 hours and opened to us mere mortals on our two wheeled vehicles. (OK, to be honest, some had more than 2 - but all were pedal powered)But what is always good is when there is corroborative evidence of the http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/09/look-skyrider.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-3435291829772972899Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:53:00 +00002009-09-16T22:17:10.770+01:00childrene colie.coliecolifarmgodstoneLiving in LondonmockoutbreaksurreyImagine if I told you that "British Airways" was a train company, or that "Barclays Bank" was a sweet shop. You wouldn't believe me. Not just because you recognise the brands, but because the name and the enterprise don't go together... So you'd expect a government agency called the "Health Protection Agency" to be an AGENCY that PROTECTED our HEALTH.Well you try explaining that then to the http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/09/clue-is-in-name.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-7554268838621319170Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:11:00 +00002009-09-13T21:22:36.942+01:00hockeyLiving in LondonHockey is usually a winter sport, but just on ocassion you end up playing a game in lovely sunshine.However, when that "game" is a pre-season tournament, and the "warm" day is a glorious autumn day and you find yourself playing three shortened games on that day, then you start reconsidering your enthusiasm for the coming season...Still, it was a great day out. However, having previously thought Ihttp://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/09/hockey-in-surrey-sunshine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-7403014556412419943Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:35:00 +00002009-09-10T20:44:48.563+01:00cannon streethistoryLiving in LondonLondonromanstoneI love finding these types of bits of information...It would appear that something that has been a core and central part of London since Roman times is now no more than a little know piece of rock behind a metal grill - the London Stone.I found the story of the London Stone a few days ago and, almost more out of disbelief than anything else, had to go and find it for myself. How many times must Ihttp://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/09/lost-part-of-london.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-8063963760965743326Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:17:00 +00002009-09-08T21:36:54.842+01:00autumnchange of seasoncolourscommoneveningleavesLiving in LondonspringtreeswimbledonIt is September, the Southern Hemisphere just rejoiced at the advent of Spring, so I assume we here in the Northern Hemisphere should have celebrated the advent of Autumn.And yet, today was absolutely beautiful. Once the cloud cover of the morning had burnt away, we rejoiced at a truly beautiful day, with a rather warm and lovely temperature.Ideal therefore to take a late evening cycle through http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/09/change-is-in-air-almost.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-1266904043449403184Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:38:00 +00002009-08-30T11:54:27.603+01:00afroarcherauditiondanyl johnsonjamiejamie archerkings of leonLiving in Londonx factorIt's been a while, but finally South West London has something to shout about on the X-Factor.last night a pub singer from Putney blew the judges away with a fantastic performance of "Sex on Fire" by the Kings of Leon.With confidence and personality exceeded only by his hair style, Jamie "Afro" Archer had the audience in a frenzy and, for what must be the first time in television talent show http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/south-west-london-has-something-x-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-548254474179195233Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:49:00 +00002009-08-29T08:51:53.408+01:00commentcomplimentLiving in LondonsmilesmilingupliftvalidatevalidationvideoI found this video purely by chance.Be warned - it is a long watch, but it is well worth the viewing...When I found it, it was being used to promote "commenting" on blogs, and you can see the link. But I think it is just such a good story and can apply to so many areas.I hope you enjoy.http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/smiling-can-be-infectious-pass-it-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-4704842291760737976Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:12:00 +00002009-08-26T10:33:27.341+01:00birminghamhighhighspeedlineLiving in LondonLondonmanchestermotorwayrailrailwayscotlandspeedIt is odd to think that the United Kingdom only has one High Speed Rail link, and that was only recently completed, linking St Pancras to Folkestone, and allowing the EuroStar to journey between London and Paris in less than 150 minutes.However, today Network Rail has announced plans for a High Speed Rail link between London and the Scottish cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, passing Birmingham andhttp://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/high-speed-rail-link-to-scotland.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-9152871462637165684Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:21:00 +00002009-08-25T09:30:55.142+01:00danceflash mobLiving in Londonsquarethrillertrafalgarworld recordI am not sure how "flash mobs" work, or whether one is supposed to advertise these things, or pass on the details.Regardless of the etiquette involved, I am going to pass these details on...This Saturday, 29th August, there will be an attempt to break the Thriller World Record, currently standing at 1,500.The event gets going at 12:30. For more details see the Facebook event page here.http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/thriller-dance-world-record-attempt.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-6991974042659667620Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:34:00 +00002009-08-23T22:50:43.658+01:00greenLiving in LondonparksunshinetanwarnOnce it gets to September, every day that is sunny and warm always feels like potentially "the last day of Summer" and seems figuratively welcomed with more open arms than its predecessor.Today was such a day. The mercury touched the nose bleeding heights of 28 degrees (that is degrees Celsius) and you felt like you simply had to be outside the house enjoying the sunshine.I ended up doing http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/last-day-in-sun.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-4408912934228799622Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:55:00 +00002009-08-23T00:02:22.567+01:00Danyl Johnson X-Factor Auditions 2009Living in LondonI must admit - I don't often watch the early episodes of an X-Factor series. I very often find the auditions cringe worthy, and find myself hiding behind the couch as some poor soul tries to battle through nerves and indescribable lack of talent, attempting to woo the judges and audience with a song that God himself would find difficult to master.However, I seem set to be in for the long haul in http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/x-factor-danyl-johnson.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-4621886526219346266Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:34:00 +00002009-08-19T22:47:44.084+01:00Living in Londonmoney backpocketput pockettalk talkIt's not often that someone happily gives money away, but that appears to be exactly what is happening in London for the rest of August.Talk Talk, a british mobile phone and broadband supplier have enlisted the help of 20 former pick pockets and converted them into "putpockets" and for the rest of the month these 20 convertees will be "putting" money back into unguarded pockets and bags in busy http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/brightening-gloom-of-recession.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-8727614173758302316Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:59:00 +00002009-08-17T22:20:05.370+01:00afghanistanbritishdeathLiving in LondonsoldierstroopswarIt is sad when something serious becomes so mundane, so normal and accepted - almost anticipated, that it loses its sting, its ability to get us to sit up and take notice.204...No, that's not the Ashes cricket score. That is the number of British troops that have been killed in Afghanistan.What is really sad is that just a few weeks ago that number stood at 150, but over recent weeks almost like http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/on-sombre-note.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-4020904194088204799Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:48:00 +00002009-08-17T21:59:10.075+01:00Living in LondonOne of the principles I learned in radio was to only say something when you have something to say... Well, the recent radio silence means I haven't had much to say...But now I can at least bring you up to speed...Football season has started once more. This means that finally loads of British men have something to do with their Saturday afternoons and the garden and other DIT projects can be http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/whats-happening-in-blighty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-1761604953636287011Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:08:00 +00002009-08-09T18:29:53.598+01:00architecturebuldingcanary wharfgurkinLiving in Londonlloyds bankLondonWe experienced another very sunny day today in London - the kind of day that couldn't be ignored, nor spent on the sofa.So I headed to Canary Wharf and the City of London, and rather than looking around me at road level, looked upwards.London is such a mix of architecture, and the more recent building that has taken place has seen far more glass and steel being used, and this gives a whole new http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/reflections-of-london.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-1614697987231632288Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:20:00 +00002009-08-09T18:03:16.560+01:00carsentourageLiving in LondonLondonweddingIt is true to say that in London, sometimes things are not done in a "usual" way - normal does appear to sometimes give way for simple abnormality...So I shouldn't be surprised by two wedding entourages I have seen over the last few weeks.The first was in London Central, close to Oxford street. Thank goodness that not every Route master red bus has disappeared from the streets.And the second was http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/london-weddings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-1848735496744856778Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:17:00 +00002009-08-01T09:55:02.010+01:00animalsbirdseveninginner citylakeLiving in Londonparksquirrelst james parkstrollsummerwalkingwestminsterwild lifeDespite there having been several complaints recently about the weather, the lack of Sun, the end of "Summer" and it starting to rain once more, Friday evening was a fantastically sunny evening, and even the call to the gym had to be ignored. I took myself rather into Central London just to mosey around and explore.I ended up enjoying a fantastic evening in the company of some Inner City http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/08/wild-life-in-london.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-4518689304678302349Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:00:00 +00002009-07-25T20:04:10.217+01:002012Living in LondonLondon Olympicsolympicsopen weekendIt might just be me, but I was not aware that this weekend is the London 2012 Open Weekend.A series of events celebrating arts, culture and sport are taking place through the Capital and the UK this weekend, and people are being invited to participate and experience the growing excitement of London 2012.There is just one day left of the Open weekend, but in order to see the list of available http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/07/london-2012-get-involved-in-open.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-1148442587976162482Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:29:00 +00002009-07-25T20:08:19.377+01:002012Living in LondonLondonLondon Olympicsolympicolympic stadiumpudding mill lanestratfordI must admit to never venturing further East in London than Greenwich. Somehow my London experience to date has been very "western". Until today that is...I took myself out toward Stratford, to the enormous building site that is where the London 2012 Olympic Park and Stadium are taking shape.The size of the construction site is breathtaking, and as you look out over it, it almost seems to spread http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/07/london-2012-stadium-takes-shape.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-8396520030173455443Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:14:00 +00002009-07-22T22:18:23.431+01:00computerlaptopLiving in Londonpersonal datarepairscamsky newsunder coverSadly, not all repair men and repair shops can be trusted.Beware if you have to send your laptop or PC away for repair. This story is running on SKY news this evening and makes for some very nasty viewing...http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/07/beware-repairman-shocking-under-cover.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-1062157840520548867Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:19:00 +00002009-07-22T20:24:50.729+01:002010Living in Londonlondon marathonmarathonLet me start this by saying.... I don't do jogging!I can run around a hockey field, I can cycle a bike for a fair distance, but some how running on a road has never interested me...Yet, despite this, I find myself completing an application form for the London Marathon in 2010, to be run on April 25th. That makes it 9 months away.I will only find out in September if I actually have a place securedhttp://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/07/doing-something-outrageous.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-3011830202838108494Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:48:00 +00002009-07-20T23:51:30.918+01:00airair showB52fairfordinternationalLiving in Londonred arrowsRoyaltattoovulcanI managed to sit myself down and put a montage of some of my photos together from yesterday's air tattoo.First up, the Avro Vulcan and the B52 BomberAnd then the Red Arrows performing and closing the afternoon.http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/07/videos-from-fairford.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-7654894570035599773Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:46:00 +00002009-07-19T22:48:00.784+01:00airair showB52fairfordfighterflyinginternationaljetLiving in LondonRoyaltattoovulcanToday I went to my first Air Tattoo. I had known about this annual military air show, having lived close to the Gloucester air field where it is held, but had not previously made it. This year I was determined.With experience from the Biggin Hill air show recently, I knew that traffic would be my biggest problem, and so I set out at 05:30 from London, and made good time through to Fairford. Once http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/07/flying-visit-to-fairford.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-371951697122104047Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:13:00 +00002009-07-16T22:19:48.699+01:00celebrityfavouritegooglehang outsLiving in LondonLondonmapsplacesGoogle have launched a new section within their domain showing where some of London's more famous residents like to hang out.They have consulted such names as Ken Livingstone and Kelly Holmes and lead singer of Madness, Suggs, and asked what their favourite places in London are.Then, using Google Maps, these places have been set out and marked with customised "pins".If you are familiar with http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/07/where-famous-hang-out-in-london.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360273661146538580.post-8110659781175809171Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:39:00 +00002009-07-16T13:13:05.742+01:00antonyartgormleyLiving in LondonLondonone and othersquaretrafalgarA few days ago I blogged about the new art display taking place at Trafalgar Square, Antony Gormley's "One and Other", taking place on the Fourth plinth.So this evening I went in to London to see it for myself. I got to Trafalgar Square just in time for the 8 o'clock transition between participants.The earlier participant was a Lollipop lady - someone who helps at pedestrian crossings, generally http://livlondon.blogspot.com/2009/07/trafalgar-square-art.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike)0