Autumn Watch - Green Park

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf's a flower"

.Albert Camus

A child running through The Regents Park

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run the walk, if you can't walk then crawl,

but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

— Martin Luther King Jr.

Pepper Pot - 1a Thorpe Close - Ladbroke Grove

“He who has the pepper may season as he lists.”

George Herbert

This photo was taken in Thorpe Close - Ladbroke Grove, London

Life at times can be boring, full of routine.

Work, home, tv, sleep, work, home, tv, sleep.

Is this your life at the moment?

Sometimes we should add a litle pepper in your lives and mix it up abit.

Evolution my arse! Street Art in Ladbroke Grove

"Life is full of change, but why do people stay the same?"
Trojan Gayle

The above photo was taken in Ladbroke Grove,West London.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
"life:liberty:security: religous & political expression:freedom from torture & cruelty"

The human race has been evolving since the dawn of time.
We have increased our knowledge to make our lives better and to live longer.

My question is, with our collective knowledge, why are people's basic human rights being abused all over the world. Why havent we evolved to the point where we can maintain the fundemental freedoms to which all people everywhere are entitled to?

For further information please check out Amnesty @ http://www.amnesty.org.uk

Fishing - A man enjoying his own company

"There is certainly something in fishing that tends to produce a gentleness of spirit,

a pure serenity of mind."

--Washington Irving

When was the last time you spent doing something just for you?

Try and be the man in the picture and doing something by yourself for 10 minutes today.

Reach for the skies

"In order to reach for the sky,

you first need to look up"

Trojan Gayle

Whatever you do today, look up, pause and start to believe in your dreams.

Bt Tower Standing Looking Over The Regents Park

"Sometimes the best way to communicate is to listen without judgement"

Trojan Gayle

BT Tower is part of the landscape of London, here it stands looking over Regents Park.

Modern communication as changed the world as we know it, however sometimes its good to step away from it all and take a stroll in a beautiful park and feed the ducks!

Acts of Faith - Regents Park Mosque

"Faith is what's left
after everything else has gone"

The London Central Mosque (more commonly known as Regent's Park Mosque for its location), is the principal mosque of London and the spiritual focal point for Muslims throughout the UK.It is also home to the Islamic Cultural Centre, which provides education on Islam to Muslim children and the community at large.

A Tree in the Mist.

"If you are not totally free, ask yourself why?"
Stuart Wilde

Ed's Easy Diner - Soho London

Ed's Diner is an American Retro eating experience in the heart of London's Soho area.

Trojan Corner Supports Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal

Checkout my tribute to Mary Seacole - voted the greatest black Briton .

For further information on this worthwhile appeal, please check out the official Mary Seacole site.

If you wish to make a donation please click here http://www.everyclick.com/elizabethanionwu

By the way keep an eye out for a fundraising concert at the Shepherds Bush Empire on Sunday 6th December 2009! See: http://gettothefront.co.uk/

Many Thanks to Elizabeth Anionwu Emeritus Professor of Nursing & Vuce-Chairperson of the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal and person behind the maryseacole.com site for adding my tribute the her wonderful site.

The Green Park - London

Green Park (officially The Green Park) is one of the Royal Parks of London. Covering 19 hectares (47 acres), it lies between London's Hyde Park and St. James's Park. Together with Kensington Gardens and the gardens of Buckingham Palace, these parks form an almost unbroken stretch of open land reaching from Whitehall and Victoria station to Kensington and Notting Hill.

Below is a picture of the beautiful Green Park and a poem inspired by the couple walking in the centre.

I hope you enjoy it.

it was in the Green Park

where i took your hand,

and kissed your sweet lips,

under the mature trees,

hidden in the wooden meadows,

that is surrounded by the bustle of the city,

the Green Park is the place that reminds me of you,

Its the place, I fell in love with you.

© 2009 T.Gayle, all rights reserved.

The London IMAX Cinema

As mentioned yesterday its national chocolate week in the UK. I thought that this picture of the London's IMAX cinema advertising the new Kitkat caramel bar a good illustration of the celebration (is that the right word) of chocolate!

History of the London IMAX

The London IMAX is an IMAX cinema in the South Bank district of London, England, just north of Waterloo Station. It is operated by the British Film Institute.The cinema is located in the centre of a roundabout on Waterloo Road. Stamford Street is to the north-east, York Road is to the south-west and Waterloo Bridge is to the north-west.The London IMAX was designed by Avery Associates Architects and completed in May 1999. By far the largest screen in Britain (20m high and 26m wide) it has a seating capacity of just under 500 and a 12,000 Watt digital surround sound system. Although the site is surrounded by traffic and has an underground line just four metres below, the architects and engineers accounted for this in their design and the entire upper structure sits on anti vibration bearings to prevent noise transference.The cinema won several awards at the time of opening, including a Design Council Millennium Products Award in 1999 and a Civic Trust Award in 2000.

Duck Island cottage in St James Park

During my lunch, I and a colleague walk round London's St James Park and Green Park. It’s great to stretch your legs, moan about the office politics and enjoy the beauty of one of London's great open spaces.

On our route we pass the above cottage which reminds me of the cottage in the Hansel and Gretel story. I can almost imagine an old woman waiting for some children to tempt and later cook! When thinking about the kind of stories I used to read, its strange how the themes of those stories are probably not suited for children's entertainment! The cottage is really quaint and a strange sight to see in central London. It has a beautiful garden, filled with flowers and sits on the bank of a large lake.

While i have fantasies of it being the residence of a child killer, In fact the cottage is called Duck Island Cottage, the picturesque lodge which serves as the offices of the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust in St James's Park, is aptly named - it occupies a site which has long been the haunt of these aquatic birds. Birds of various kinds have been kept here since 1612, when James I began converting the swampy chase of the Tudor monarchs into a formal garden.

As it is national chocolate week in the UK (why would we need a week to celebrate chocolate, when we celebrate all year round anyhow?) my fellow blogger Giles from Giles World posted a interesting article on chocolate - please check it out by clicking here!

Sunrise in Morocco

A new day and a beautiful sunrise in Morocco.

Everyday

Everyday, a sunrise greets the world,

Everyday I see that I have you in my world,

everydayI get to feel that I am so lucky,

so lucky that when the sunrises,

I see you,

and having you makes the sunshine brighter,

Everyday with you,

Every sunrise with you,

my whole life with you,

thank you for being my sunrise.

© 2009 T.Gayle, all rights reserved.

Phones4U - Bouncing Ball Advert

Its been a busy weekend and I have not had a moment to do a post.

Thanks everyone who have posted a comment and I promise that I will be responding to all your feedback.

Any how I thought I'll post this advert that has been showing on UK televison for mobile phones. Its a kinda clever ad.

Enjoy!

Graffiti On the Move -London

I spotted this van while on my way to see the movie Moon (see my review) and thought even graffiti has its own transport in London. I'm off to London's West End (central London) to do a little shopping and take some photographs as well. Whatever you do this weekend. I hope you have a good one!

Gold - Beverley Knight

Giles a fellow blogger (Giles World) recently posted a great review on the British soul singer Beverley Knight.

I'll suggest that you should check out his well written blog when you have a moment.

Gold is a song written by Beverley Knight a few years ago and it carries a really strong message that people everywhere can relate and be inspired by. We all been through times when a person who is close to you doesn't realise your true value. The secret is that you should recognise your true value within yourself.

This picture taken on a misty morning in Spain last year was my inspiration for choosing this song. The golden flowers hidden in the mist, hiding there true value if you don't take your time to look.

Have a golden day and recognise the gold in your life!

GOLD

Some people never recognise it
Though its right before their eyes
And shines in all its glory
They never ever see
They choose something that looks just like it
And it may glitter all the time
But gold it will never be
I guess you never held on to quality
Or you woulda recognised by now
Something so special so true
When its standing right in front of you

I'm gold babe
Catch me in the slipstream
Passing by the fools who just don't know
Pure gold babe
Youre looking at the real thing
If you knew my worth you wouldn't let go

Gold lies in rivers undiscovered
Hidden from the sight of those
Who dont know what to look for
(they aint never gonna find it)
Sometimes the value is uncovered
Other times its cast aside
By those who are just unsure

I guess you never held on to quality
Or you would of recognised by now
Something so special so true
When shes standing right in front of you

All the things you failed to see
Separated you from me
I decide who wins my time
And who comes inside yeah
Cause what is true and what is real
Finds a way of being revealed
I dont have to even try
Cause Im certified-pure-

Gold

Written by Beverley Knight

Violet Affection - A Poem - National Poets Day

Today in the UK is national poets day. Poetry is something that touches all our lives whether its through the music, film, popular culture and literature. Today poetry is being recognised today with a range of programmes on the BBC TV and Radio.

If you are a regular or first time visiter to this blog, I hope you enjoy this short poem I wrote today. You can also click on the poetry tab for more poetry written by myself and others.

Its called Violet Affection inspired by a photograph I took earlier this year.

I wish you was here,

sitting in this field of heather

purple haze, violet affection,

which holds so many memories

but alas, not everything last forever

only in dreams

© 2009 T.Gayle, all rights reserved.

Its Awards Season! - One Lovely Blog Award

Last Sunday I received a gift of sorts, well to be honest I received an award.

She Poet has a gem of a blog, she writes the most thought provoking poetry and short stories. Her poems are best described as a special box of chocolates that are words of beauty. Thanks She Poet!

So here is the hard part. Now I must share the love. So here are the rules:

#1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. #2) Pass the award to fifteen other blogs and remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Therefore, I shalt bequeath the "One Lovely Blog Award" to:

(Roll out the red carpet for..)

1. Ramblings of a drunken spinster
2. Giles World
3. SOMETHING SIGHTED
4. Vita Stunder
5. Fresh eyes on London
6. Chicago: A Daily Photo Blog
7. Quincy Daily Photo
8. Clueless in Boston
9. La photo change le regard
10. ninth sunn

Although I was suppose to choose 15 blogs - I decided to stop at 10. Please visit at least five of the winners and give them some of your love!

Surrogates - A Film Review

People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates -- sexy, physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves. It's an ideal world where crime, pain, fear and consequences don't exist. When the first murder in years jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer (Willis) discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate, risking his life to unravel the mystery. Written by Touchstone

This is my review of Bruce Willis latest film review, I hope you enjoy the review and share your comments via the comments section below.

Twisted Elegance - A Poem

Autumn is almost here. I wake in the morning, in darkness and sunshine that once greeted me as I water my vegetables is strangely absent. There is a chill in the air that is announcing the arrival of autumn, the shedding of summer and embracing the change in life’s ever changing cycle. Of late I have been thinking what the coming changes could mean to my life personally.

This picture was taken in St James Park, London. A tree stripped of it leaves, its youth and beauty. Here is a poem reflecting that sentiment, I hope you enjoy it

Twisted elegance
And full of regret
stripped naked
Exposing my lies
Reaching for salvation
So don’t cry for me,
Just remember me as we were
As not everything can be saved

© 2009 T.Gayle, all rights reserved.

Stillness.... A Poem

This photo was taken in Spain during a visit to see my mum.

It was a particularly misty morning and the scene reminds me of when Lucy met Mr Thomas in the story "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe".

Below is a poem inspired by the photograph.

"as the mist lifts

and the cold creeps into my soul,

i am hoping you will come back

and disturb the stillness within my heart,

that has robbed the colour of my life."

© 2009 T.Gayle, all rights reserved.

Comic Relief Presents Yellow Lightning - Catford's 1st Superhero

When It comes to Superheroes I have to admit that I simply love watching the films and cartoons. Sci-fi TV is my guilty pleasure, my TV scheduling in littered with a wide range to sci-fi shows that most of my friend would never admit to watching.

My nephew Deion has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user. Several months ago as part of the schools charity effort to raise money for Comic Relief the kids was tasked to create an alter ego superhero. Deion became Yellow Lightning ... Sally his mother and writer of the blog Sally’s World is real life superwoman created the costume and took the pictures I hope you enjoy the video..

The Gherkin and the Church - London's Architecture Past and Future

30 St Mary Axe, also known as the Gherkin and the Swiss Re Building is one of my favourite Iconic modern skyscrapers in London. Its so different from the typical skyscrapers that you tend to see in cities and its unusual design and shape provokes move love or displeasure.

I really like this picture as it highlights London history, the past and its modern future. London never really stands still, but then again it doesn't sheds it past completely.

This building was recently opened to the public for the London Open House, unfortunately I missed the opportunity.

May be next year, perhaps?