The Banksy in Borough Market...

...well, the site where (it is claimed) he originally stencilled "This is not a photo opportunity" that then got a (fairly poorly done, but carefully varnished) "Laugh now" when the first work was removed, seems to have been updated with a little note -
 

Found the Sun Bus...

Found the Sun Bus...
Originally uploaded by finkangel.

I seem to have...

...gone back in time to the early '80s...so this is where all the trains from my childhood have gone!  Any and all complaints about comfort and décor on modern Southern trains are hereby withdrawn...

...and off to Broxbourne tomorrow...

...in Hertfordshire to visit the company print works to see how the magic happens...what fun! ;)  Just trying to work out all my trains, it's quite a return trip from Earlswood!

Pictures from the Brighton Conference...

...arrived at the Grand a bit early (as I mentioned on Friday morning already)...




...checked in and had a spot of breakfast (caffeine/cakes), worked through the -extremely entertaining- conference stuff in the morning, had a quick break mid-morning for more tea (etc.) when I had a bit of a wander around for some fresh air (very hot in the conference hall with all the lights/projectors/people)...



...lunch was a hot buffet (best bit was the tiny roast beef and horseradish sandwiches imho, all the hot bits smelt a bit fishy) then hopped on a load of coaches to the Brighton Lagoon, right on the beach, separate from the sea but full of (very salty) sea water...





...my favourite activity was the laser sailing, couldn't wakeboard to save my life (just drank a load of seawater for 20 minutes)...yuk...

...oh and then found Chilli Pepper Pete's shop in the Lanes on the way back to the station!  Will need to do a proper shopping trip there at some point!  Obviously the rest of the office stayed on to enjoy the free drinks and free hotel bed and breakfast (and free coaches back to London) in the morning...but we had a wedding to go to!  Office is slightly abuzz with the carnage/stories of regret that happened after I left (so quite pleased I went when I did!)... ;)

Life in a trailer tent with 2 children

It's amazing to think it's almost 5 years since we last went camping and next weekend, we hope to have our first trip out in the new trailer tent.

So much has happened in 5 years, we now have Thomas and Poppy to think about and whilst I'm sad we sold Colin, there is absolutely NO WAY all 4 of us would have squeezed into the camper.  Next weekend, we'll be off on a trial break and I've been unpacking all the old camping bits, along with all the memories attached.  I'm wondering how the children will cope with sleeping under canvas and more importantly how well our neighbours cope as I'm sure we will all be up early! Still, all very exciting and I can't wait!

We've got to get through the week first, then get lots of things packed and organised.  Finally, I have to tow the trailer for the first time & work out how to put up the trailer tent.  Fink and I will probably fall out and provide lots of entertainment for onlooking campers, but hopefully we'll be able to get it all set up before it falls dark :O)

Heres a link to our last holiday in Colin... I can't believe it's been so long

Here's to more happy times ahead.

http://finkangel.blogspot.co.uk/2007/08/blazing-sunshine.html

Okay, perhaps...

Okay, perhaps...
Originally uploaded by finkangel.
...I set off a *little* on the early side! Oh well...

Off to Brighton!

Off to Brighton!
Originally uploaded by finkangel.
Rather foggy start to the day!

Oh and it was Chicken Chettinad today...

...in the staff canteen (absolutely delicious spicy curry from Southern India) served with Saag aloo, steamed cardomom pilau rice, mango chutney and raitta...£3.57...going to need to top up my payment card again soon at this rate, lunch is normally a bit cheaper than that... ;)

Off to Brighton tomorrow for the company conference/awards ceremony (they have laid on a bunch of coaches to get everyone there) at the Grand Hotel (and then some water-based -out at sea- activities in the afternoon - hope my wetsuit still fits after all this fine grub!), plus they have paid for *everyone* to have a free hotel room for the night afterwards! Amazing!  What a pleasant way to segue into the weekend... :)

Bank of Mum and Dad Ad in the Times...

...today, a brilliant full page advert (click it to zoom in)...it's actually for Shelter, a jolly clever bit of advertising... ;)

Knife of Dunwall in London

...and so, the other night after work (on my way back to London Bridge station as for some reason the free shuttle bus didn't happen) I basically managed to walk completely out of London and into level 1 of Knife of Dunwall from Dishonored (can't find a better image, but trust me, this *has* to have been the inspiration for the level designers)...It's called Shad Thames (if you are interested) and from the looks of things there used to be a few more bridges...!

Just enjoying my totally free lunch...

...from the staff canteen...it's free today *because* - power cut yesterday - of course...! Yeah, not sure I quite get it either...not that I am complaining (nor is it expensive normally either, this sort of gourmet affair would break the bank at about £2.50)... ;) So, today's free lunch is "Spiced beef and bean meatballs served with boiled rice in a tortilla basket with chilli cabbage salad and sour cream"..topped off with a medley of chopped olives and garlic and a banana chilli and tomato relish...might go back for another one later... ;)

Whitechapel Nature Study Museum

Just up the road from the office, what at first glance appears to just be a derelict shack, is actually an interesting bit of history...originally a mortuary, for many years, this building was a satellite of the Whitechapel Museum seeing up to 1000 visitors a day(!) who came to enjoy exhibits such as "live fish and amphibians, stuffed birds and mammals and displays of butterflies" (among other things)...if the sign is to be believed there is a restoration project in the planning stage... ;)  More interesting bits on it over here (including the fact that there was a resident cockerel (which was, very oddly, washed in benzol) and a monkey that had "from time to time bitten and attempted to bite not only members of the museum staff, but the general public as well"...well, forget Legoland - what fun that sounds!  Roll on the rebuilding project! ;)

East End Power Cut...

...and two of our buildings have been evacuated due to reports of loud banging noises (probably the people stuck in lifts whacking the walls) and a smell of smoke (probably from the diesel generator kicking in for essential kit)...from the sounds of things most of the East End of London is power-free at the moment due to an underground cable being accidentally cut...the current estimated time for fix is half past four according to UK Power networks twitter feed...it's getting rather hot in here now...sure could use some of that free ice cream now... ;)

The Sun and The Times covers today

Free ice cream!

...on the hottest day of the year so far (33.5 at Heathrow!)...thank you, office!!! :)

Fortress Wapping - Taxi sign

...a little bit of vanishing history spotted on the corner of the old Wapping Print Works site (now a construction site), a sign that illuminated (in bright red) the message "Taxi Wanted" over The Highway to summon black cabs to reception...I'm guessing from the days before one could simply call and book one...?

Mile End Park

Trying to spot Saturn last night...

...as apparently it's very easy to spot right now with the naked eye...got a nice picture of the moon (which shows off how good my zoom lens is, quite incredible really)...but it was just too overcast to see anything much else, in fact, at 11pm I did a quick scan of the entire sky and counted exactly one visible star...might give it another go tonight if it's less cloudy... ;)
Update (@16:00hrs) - looking good so far! ;)

Volunteering with @GroundworkLON - Clara Grant School

Had a very hard (32 degrees!), but extremely rewarding time yesterday, volunteering to help out clearing a site at the Clara Grant School in Tower Hamlets and helping some of the kids to build Insect Hotels as the first stage of turning an old playground into a wildlife garden...I now have (aches in muscles I didn't know I owned and blisters on top of blisters, but) a big smile on my face from having done something so tangible to help out the local community...enjoy just a few pics that I took during the day (I will definitely be volunteering again!) -