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
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.
It sifts from leaden sieves,
It powders all the wood,
It fills with alabaster wool
The wrinkles of the road.
It makes an even face,
Of mountain and of plain, —
Unbroken forehead from the east
Unto the east again.
It reaches to the fence,
It wraps it, rail by rail,
Till it is lost in fleeces;
It flings a crystal veil
On stump and stack and stem, —
The summer’s empty room,
Acres of seams where harvests were,
Recordless, but for them.
It ruffles wrists of posts,
As ankles of a queen, —
Then stills its artisans like ghosts,
Denying they have been.
– Emily Dickenson
Bramhope Paddocks (Credit: Robert Wood)
Swineside Knott and Sheffield Pike (Credit: Dave Adnitt)
Gloomy Norwood Shed
Misty Waterfowl (Credit: Dave Adnitt)
Holly Bush
Wombling in Wimbledon
Incessant Grey
Crystals in the Palace
Blencathra (Credit: Dave Adnitt)
Delicate Frost (Credit: Dave Adnitt)
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…
I’ve been a fan of Dale Chihuly since I wondered into a fantastic exhibition at the Halcyon Gallery in 2011. And of course, everyone adores his Rotunda Chandelier at the V&A. So I was happy to queue with the hoards of other fans on a sunny Saturday in June to see Reflections on Nature at Kew Gardens.
Photographs can’t really do the works justice; I’d definitely encourage packing a picnic and heading over. The trail takes in the newly renovated Temperate House and spruced up Great Pagoda; and with the summer flowers starting to come through, it’s a good time to visit. I plan to return later in the year too, to see the sculptures illuminated at night.
A little collection of winter foliage – and even some splashes of colour – as we prepare to welcome in spring. A reminder that, whilst our politics may be a dismal and dreary affair, switching off the news and getting out can lift the soul….even in January!
I’m at the intersection of nowhere
and lost in the vicinity
of a city that’s just
a pretty mirage
– Jerm IX
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