Early September and the Shard's glass sheath has moved up higher: taken at 200mm and probably three miles away or so 

The Shard is there towards the left horizon but flattened out at 10mm – Little Brownings (SE23) in foreground


Underneath the grey Shard (6.9.11)

London skyline: September 2005

Noticeable change to London's skyline over the last six years. In 2005 the Gherkin stood alone. Not anymore and then there was no sign of the Shard.

London skyline: 26th June 2011

Now in June 2011 the skyline is much more crowded with the Shard dominant. Did someone say there was a recession on?

London behind bars

Monday saw the first day of judging at The Worx (Parsons' Green) for the 2011 edition of the Decanter World Wine Awards, which has seen another record entry with well over 12,000 wines entered. Also a record entry for the Loire with some 270 wines this year. The highlight of today's tasting was giving a medal to a Romorantin. 

 

We have fancy new barcoded badges this year. All very flashy but they seem of limited use as it wouldn't work on the tube barriers nor would it pay for my groceries in my local Sainsbury's.  

 

Then after DWWA a few photos of springtime London:

 Towards the centre

 Light on the Shard

 Canary Wharf

 Turrning green

 Downland view

 The Médoc by night...

2011 Magnolia

Glorious Spring day in London, so I took a walk through Dulwich Park to the Oddbins branch, which is in Dulwich Village. Oddbins pics to be posted tomorrow but here are two from the park.

Daffs and the park

Horniman clock tower@5.50 pm 13th March 2011

As the nights start to shorten nature starts to green and colour up.

The Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, London SE23 

Some brief rays of sunshine before it all turned grey with rain arriving early afternoon.

Taymount Rise, SE23

Dawson Heights and the City beyond to the right

A particularly foul Monday morning in London. Fortunately it has now (after midday) cleared up as I'm off to a Louis Jadot 2009 Burgundy tasting.

Now back in London after Christmas and the New Year in the Loire. Made a quick trip up to Maltby/Druid Street to do the shopping, which included buying some Seville oranges from Tony Booth. We were also tempted by the Eccles cakes@St John Bakery. Will be trying them with some cheese from Neal's Yard very soon. 

I gather that the opening of the new St John Hotel, in the building that used to be Manzi's near Leicester Square has been delayed until March.  

PS: The rich and spicy Eccles cake was excellent with some Cheshire and was also pretty good with some Stichleton. 

The Shard and NatWest Tower plus Dawson Heights

City of London


Canary Wharf

Bandstand – Horiman Gardens

Over Catford towards Gravesend

Horniman Museum, Canary Wharf etc.

Horniman Garden and the East End (above and below)

The City

Towards east and north east London around 4pm Monday 29th November 2010

Unlike Scotland and parts of the north of England, no snow here yet in London, although some quite heavy showers are forecast over the next 24 hours.

The City 

Brief break from work today to go on the London Eye – for the first time for a number of years.

An 'I-pod'!

The Shard

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

Charing Cross

Train heading into Charing Cross

County Hall

Skating rink by County Hall

Stata tower @ the Elephant& Castle winner of this year's Carbuncle Cup as the ugliest building in London turbines at top of building supply 8% of building's energy requirements and have been dismissed as green toekenism

Waterloo Station

Hayward Gallery

Thames towards Vauxhall

Snapping the lion

Big Ben and Portcullis House




Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Waterloo Pier