As threatened, here’s another set of snaps from a recent walk around the neighbourhood, traversing the length-and-breadth of Penge and as far as Anerley and the borders of Beckenham. Shops, garages, car parks, alleyways, hoardings…nowhere escapes the spray can in our enclave of south-east London.
Seriously considering handing over the front of our house. These pieces bring me so much joy!
Nine months of enjoying Penge’s vibrant street art scene, and I’m still discovering new works all the time. These shots are from a recent amble. I found so many good ‘uns that there’ll be another post hot on this one’s heels…
As well as enjoying the murals, I’ve been making regular use of Alexandra Rec as part of my new jogging route, and taking the short train journey to my favourite reading spot in Brockwell Park’s walled garden. The last couple of months have been focused on taking more time for relaxation, mindfulness and quiet. Trying to be present. Trying to avoid the incessant noise and the tyranny of choice that comes with every decision. It’s a work-in-progress. But turning my phone off and strolling the streets with my camera is part of this renewed effort – and I couldn’t think of a better place to do it…
After a stressful 6 months, we finally moved into our new pad: a little terraced house in glorious Pengé-a-la-mer (or Penge, for the uninitiated). We already love it here – it’s got such a great community vibe, our neighbours are great, and we’re a stone’s throw from the dinosaurs in Crystal Palace Park (who wouldn’t covet that!). There’s a well-stocked deli, lots of craft beer bars, proper high street Christmas lights, corner shops where we know the owners’ names, parakeets in the trees, and a weekly food market. Of course, there are downsides too….but I struggle to think of them right now.
The best thing is that Penge is the street art capital of the world*. Over 1,150 artworks have been placed around SE20 over the last seven years, and at any one time there are over 400 to see. It takes 4-5 hours to get round them all! I’m in heaven.
I’ll be making regular photo dumps of the new ‘hood over the coming year, starting with these beauties…
*unverified
Whilst on holiday in Sardinia earlier this year, I spent a day in the fascinating town of Orgosolo. For many hundreds of years, this bandit town – hidden high in the hills of the Nuoro region – was a place to hide the kidnapped and elude the authorities. It would have remained an isolated and ignored hamlet, were it not for its inhabitants’ spirit of resistance and the artistic flair of a local teacher.
In the late ’60s, having successfully resisted the military’s plan to create a base on common land used by shepherds, a group of local political anarchists created a mural in the town commemorating the event. Francesco Del Casino, a local art teacher and communist, worked with disadvantaged youths to turn this isolated piece of art into a trend. Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, huge cubist graphics were created throughout the town – on walls and gates, window shutters and rocks – recounting a host of global social injustices, from Vietnam to Gaza, or calling for Sardinian independence.
The brightly coloured paintings and frescoes have been well-preserved, and artists now travel from across the globe to contribute to the spectacle. Some tell the story of the province’s customs and traditions, the rural way of life; others continue the anti-establishment, socio-political themes of the early works.
To see every mural (there are ~150) would take several hours, but you can pick up a map in the small central town square that helps you navigate the main streets and includes informative descriptions of over 70 works. Here are photos of a few of my favourites…
Generally acknowledged as the worst of the national lockdowns, ‘Lockdown 3.0’ – which started officially on 5th January 2021 and drifted interminably through winter and into a grey, drizzly spring – has been, to put not too fine a point on it, resoundingly s**t.
Dark and cold for most of the last 4 months, the Covid-19 pandemic has once again robbed us of seeing family and friends, deprived us of entertainment (cinemas, theatres, gigs…all legally banned) and forced us to convert living into office space. Any sense of fascination for these unchartered waters, or gallows humour (such that it was), has long since departed. And the novelty of regular Zoom calls has dwindled. We’ve hunkered under blankets, stuck out our bottom lips, and refused to show any more of that bl**dy British stoicism our Prime Minister is so keen to eulogize.
And yet… As we enter May, there are signs to be hopeful. “We’ve been here before!” the more hard-core pessimists declare. And it’s becoming easy to slip into that mindset. Especially when, for the third time in as many weeks, a social engagement has been postponed due to dreary weather. WOE IS ME! WILL THIS ORDEAL NEVER END?!
Yes. Yes, it will. On 21st June. And – actually – things will be pretty much back to normal from 17th May. They will. We will be able to hug again, and drink together in the warm, and stay over at each others’ houses….and finally watch ‘Nomadland’ on the big screen. Basic human rights restored!
So I will not embrace the mantra du jour: “It’s the hope that kills you”. I’ve watched far too many Disney films in my day for that. Hope is a wonderful thing. Today I get my second dose of the vaccination. And I look forward. To a warm, long, sunny summer. To trips around the UK. To meeting friends’ new babies for the first time. To sharing picnic food. To seeing my mum and dad. To parties. And weddings. And meals out that don’t involve sitting in scarves under makeshift awnings.
I am hopeful.
‘Courage’ photo credit: Simon Bibby
Back in the heady days of summer 2020, when for a brief few weeks we could visit the city centre again… God, I miss London. So near, and yet so far. Would it be wrong to steal a couple of vials of the vaccine? Worth more than gold.
We all had such high hopes for 2021. Right now, I could forego a holiday; I don’t need exotic climes. I’d take the opportunity to meet with those I love…in a noisy pub…to hug and laugh and breathe each other’s air. Without fear.
And so the weeks and months rolled on… Happily, April and May brought lots of sunny days. And Paul and I got very competitive with our ‘Lockdown Food League’, so very many nice meals were consumed. We got a delivery of wine; I finally learned how to keep a sourdough starter alive (and produced several pleasingly well-risen loaves); my running times improved; the nation carried on clapping weekly for NHS staff and key workers; and stunning flowers bloomed everywhere.
Less positively, the £30 yoga mat has only had two outings in 10 weeks. But you can only have so many lockdown projects at once, right?!
Day of the Triffids
Orchids Rule
True Dat (Credit: Alex Badrick)
Short-Stay Aliums
Squatters Rights
What You Looking At?
Crystal
Phlegm in ED
Lockdown Food League #1
Sunshine in Bloom
Stamen Envy II
Brighten My Journey
No Bowls
Having spent the whole of Spring in lockdown, I thought I would create and save a few photo blogs for posterity. Over the last 13 weeks, I’ve pretty much explored every inch of the three-mile radius around my house, deepening my love of and appreciation for this pocket of south-east London. Whether it’s jogging in Brockwell Park, admiring the architecture in Dulwich Village, stalking the dinosaurs in Crystal Palace, counting the bluebells in Sydenham Woods, picnicking in Dulwich Park, or finding new murals and street art throughout…there’s been plenty to occupy the time. Yes, I’m dying to get further afield (I really wish we had a car!) and yes, I can’t wait for pubs, restaurants, theatres and galleries to reopen. But if I’m gonna be locked-down anywhere, I’m glad it’s here.
I’ve also loved seeing other people’s photos of their springtime activities in lockdown. Most of the pictures here (and in Parts 2 & 3) are my own, but I’ve credited where others have contributed. Including special appearances from friends in Greenwich, Leeds, Elephant, Cumbria…looking forward to seeing everyone again soon!
Out of Decay
First Leaves
Coffee & Kindness
Poppies in the Park
Bunny Watch (Credit: Jenny Hancock)
Pollinating
Fear is the Virus
Until Further Notice
Glowing Wisteria
Supporting our Key Workers
Fleeting Magnolia
Superheroes Wear Masks
Fallin’ and Risin’
Not going to pretend that waiting out Covid is a great hardship: a fully-stocked fridge, loaded bookshelves, Netflix, running shoes, a pile of board games, WhatsApp and Zoom do not a wartime Britain make. Very privileged, and won’t be forgetting it. (Neither am I underplaying how truly difficult it is for some. Just acknowledging I’m one of the lucky ones.)
Even still…these snaps from crisp winter walks around our fabulous city made me a tad wistful. Looking forward to venturing beyond Dulwich borders once again. T-minus 10 weeks (give or take a month or two) to go. The heart will only grow fonder…
“You can ask a Northerner for directions, but unless you already know the positions of key piles of rubble, canals, coal mines, railway crossings, and where factories used to stand, you’re better off trying to find it yourself” – Noel Coward
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