Having recently come into possession of the Brutalist London Map, a handy guide put together by the 20th century society, today we braved the Mayday April showers to gawp at some of London’s finest buildings. I think the cliche about Brutalism enthusiasts is they sneeringly enjoy it from the comfort of their Edwardian townhouse. IContinue reading “Brutalist Bloomsbury and beyond “
Category Archives: Diary
Triggering article 50
When the politics undergraduate textbooks of the future come to summarise Brexit, I’m not sure how they’ll pithily describe this period between the referendum and the triggering of article 50. Obviously comparisons with the Second World War are trite, so let’s assume they won’t get lazy and refer to the past seven months as aContinue reading “Triggering article 50”
Strange Powers
There are over 240 new black majority churches in Southwark. Just off the Old Kent Road, in a grid of old warehouses and light industrial units, there were several glorious examples. Just up from the Salvation Church of God & Stress Relief Centre, and next to a church represented by a logo incorporating an eye, aContinue reading “Strange Powers”
US election reflections
Since I was born, there have been nine US presidential elections. The maths is easy, since they come every four years, as opposed to the much messier pattern of UK elections.* I remember the Reagan years largely through spitting image puppets and half-understood private eye cartoons; Bush senior I remember for the Iraq war andContinue reading “US election reflections”
March for libraries
There were two marches in London last Saturday: the million masks march (widely reported in the press) and a national protest against library closures (less so). A quarter of all libraries have been lost since May 2010. Since then, we’ve seen this venerable and worthy profession hollowed out by austerity and its cheery Cameroonian coverContinue reading “March for libraries “
At Lord’s for the cricket
A lovely day out at the cricket today. Young Geoff was in town for Middlesex v Yorkshire at Lord’s, his having arrogantly decided months ago that Yorkshire would be in with a shout at the title He wasn’t wrong. His team, Middlesex and Somerset are all still in contention, which is quite exciting given there’sContinue reading “At Lord’s for the cricket “
Comics, real and imaginary
Not much to write home about today, but even a few sentences prove that I exist, should there be some kind of audit. I went to the vert centre in Bermondsey, to climb walls and try to remove some of the images from my mind. I arrived in a fog, having wasted three hours readingContinue reading “Comics, real and imaginary “
Pullman Court, Streatham
Starting up my daily diary again. I plan to get back into some non-work writing projects, and I could do with the practice. Today is a Sunday, the bleakest day of the week. I didn’t have anything in the way of plans, only half-formed ideas that relied on my telling other people about them forContinue reading “Pullman Court, Streatham”
Dunwich Dynamo
Last Saturday was the yearly ride to the coast for no good reason that is the Dunwich Dynamo. It was my fourth year taking part – I was a slightly different person four years ago. We all were. This year I was riding with a new gang, after 2015’s manic solo ride and what canContinue reading “Dunwich Dynamo”
Pre-Brexit France
Up bright and early, I cycled down through slumbering Poole to the ferry harbour. It was very exciting to line up alongside all the cars and trucks on my bike, particularly as I got ushered to the front of the queue. The only other cyclists were a lovely old French couple on a pair ofContinue reading “Pre-Brexit France”
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