That sinking feeling in Canary Wharf

Last Friday nipped out for a nice dumpling lunch with some of the boys and girls and while walking back, noticed this rather interesting sight.

a sinking boat

I knew there are all kinds of sinking feelings around canary wharf, but surely this is taking it a bit too far?

A dinner with the ancients

I am not sure if I have mentioned this before, but I have been elected into the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. One of these days, I will write more about it.. But got to attend a lovely dinner and the dinner was held in the Ironmonger's Hall. Very formal stuff, was wearing my bib and tucker and all. Had to bow and scrape and tug the forelock and all that.

But it was amazing, to see all these senior technologists, busy with their philanthropic activities, assisting in charity and education. Very humbling indeed, to be part of an association which comprises of professionals going back hundreds of years.... But the hall was amazing. I saw a window with the crest of the first Master of the company, going back at least 800 years. Now that's history for you. And the port was brilliant.

I sneaked in some photo's when the dinner was finished.

Can you see the little shields around the walls? Each represent one master of the company, you can just imagine people walking around here hundreds of years back.

The window on the back has stained glass panels, with the original master's crowns embedded. It would have been very embarrassing to go clambering up on the table to get closer so I had to drop the idea.

Everybody is leaving... Lovely time :) I need to write down more about all that's happening there..

Welcome to Iceland

Found this advertisement on the underground very amusing. This is, obviously, an advertisement for the Icelandic Airline, Icelandair. And given the fact that Iceland has just gone totally bankrupt, its banking system into meltdown, an economic spat with several countries and dont know whether you are coming and going, to have advertisements like this is funny.

 

Sure, 249, flights, hotel and all your savings, eh?

 

See what I mean?

 

That's the blue lagoon, its a volcanic pool, lovely place but do I really want to get into hot water again in Iceland?

 

Even though the lady concerned is looking very worried, holding her head in her hands, have her savings gone as well?

 

I bet they do!!!! :) Slide Show here.

 

A sunny autumn Sunday ride on the DLR

As usual, it was a weekend work day and I had to get to work on a sunday. Not a happy bunny. And typically, sod's law, the bloody jubilee line was down, so I had to take the Met line to Moorgate, then Northern Line to to Bank and on the silly DLR.

 

Still, it was a good day, I found the front of the train free and started taking pics.

 

Here we go.

light at end of the tunnel, yours truly and rest of the DLR carriage reflected in the window.

coming out into the sun.

the window was very dirty

See? I told you its a lovely day.

pulling into a station

hey, nice legs lady...

heyyyy, another DLR train, can this excitement ever stop?

that's the promised land where I am trying to get to. Its ironic that its framed by a window bearing a warning sticker.

hmmm, nice architecture on this station.

still constructing I see and you can see rest of the train in the window.

off we go.

bored, bored, bored...

hmmm, interesting building, I wonder what it could be?

damn office is coming closer

giant staples are attacking you!

another station now.

the building of doom coming closer

lets be clear which way we are going ok? the left is not a good place to go down.

the bridge isnt complete on the left

can you see the O2 centre in the background? Looks like an upside down jelly fish?

oh! great, i am now entering the circle of doom

just one stop away from canary wharf, if i get down here, I can to have some excellent tapas and beer.

west india quays station

afraid not.

giving it a morose and lugubrious look

canary wharf station

pulling into it.

Everybody has buggered off the station and so will I.

 

Full Slide show here.

Canary Wharf as it should never be seen

So I am a sad old git, trundling around in Canary Wharf at 6AM in the morning. The light was pretty interesting on the main two towers, combined with the lighted windows ..

 

The HSBC Tower

You can see the Bank of America Tower on the right, the FSA building in the middle and 1 Canary Wharf Tower in the middle with the blue alien flying saucer in the garden

And here's the main tower, strange light, no? . Full slideshow here

Photo Essay: England versus Kazakhstan

It was the football world cup qualifiers and England was playing Kazakhstan and we went to see it. Kazakhstan has the unfortunate distinction of being noted as the wonderful place where Borat comes from. But I think its a lovely country!, Anyway, this is a sporting essay, not a political essay.



somebody is very excited on the way.

 

walking up to the home of English football.  

bit early, the stadium is still empty.

studying the programme

 

studying the betting slip. This was his first experience and since he is very mathematically minded (he wished to have his computer with him so that he could do some statistical modelling) he immediately understood the concept. Then it was decision time, so he placed 4 bets (none of them came through) but I thought it was a very good learning step for him. Best for him to start losing, I think. But he had it in his blood, all throughout the game, his face fell a bit and then a bit and then a bit as each bet fell through. Poor kid, but I suppose all part of learning.


the watering of the playing field before play, spent quite a long time talking about how football pitches are prepared.

The flags are out

 

and the players are out as well.

 

 

the national anthems were sung. God Save the Queen for England, of course.

 

 

and then the kick off happened. The first half was eminently forgettable but the second half was much better.

 

 

England spent most of the time in their opponents half :)
 

 

3:1 scoreline

Rooney the magician scores his goal.

the screens show the GOAL!!!!!

 

 

It was ROOOOONNNNNNEEEEEYYYYYYY!!!!!!!

 

David Beckham unleashes his famous right foot on the football from a corner.

 

the final score, 5:1

 

 

That was that, the end of the game, good support from the crowd, with the exception of that Ashley Cole disaster.

 

emptying out of the stadium


I had fun :)

Looking backwards at the famous arch over Wembley, we will be back!

Full slide show here.