The paint had barely dried on this striking new mural in Stucley Place when I snapped a picture of it this morning. The work is by the Lost Souls group (more specifically SiMitchell, SPzero76 and Squirl) who some readers may remember had a piece in this spot earlier this year. I actually caught the group…
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Freedom for expression
While on my way to lunch this afternoon, I happened upon this striking mural on Castlehaven Road, Camden. The piece, by London based artist Dale Grimshaw, was created to raise awareness toward the occupation of West Papua by the Indonesian military. Indonesia’s occupation of West Papua has been described by various human rights bodies as…
Long time no talk
The last month was a particularly busy one and I haven’t had much of a moment to think of any kind of writing proper. We moved into our new home in West London and have all but gutted the place, taking a sledge hammer to the cheap IKEA furniture with which the previous tenants had…
Acid Picasso and gentrification
I very much like this new Picassoesque mural by Italian artist Renato Hunto that can be found on the Kentish Town Road in Camden, London. Behind the oppressive looking gate on which the piece has been sprayed, demolition crews are working to knock down the old Camden Lock Village Market to make way for a redevelopment project that is set to build new residential, retail…
Cure the Sunday blues
I haven’t had much time to write recently as we have just moved into our new house in Chiswick; this task involving a significant deal of packing, lifting, unpacking, rearranging, realising it doesn’t look quite right and then throwing away altogether. I saw this sandwich board while we were walking through Hamstead last week. After…
The Chalk Philosopher returns
I found another poem written on a boarded-up demolition site in Camden Town this afternoon. Judging by the handwriting, I believe it has the same author as yesterday’s work. It would appear that the person responsible for these poems is indeed a vagrant – or at least someone getting their night’s rest in a sleeping…
I am an Emperor
Simon & Garfunkel sang in The Sound of Silence that “the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls.” I don’t know much about all that, but I happened upon this poem chalked onto the boarded up window of a condemned building on Camden High Street this afternoon. The grammar certainly leaves a…
A hump like a snow-hill
Caught in a downpour, I rounded a corner on my way through town and was greeted by this beauty. It brought me right back to my home off the coast of County Mayo, Ireland. Every few years a whale will wash up on the shore and it’s always a spectacle for the locals. Some families will…
Blog Awards Ireland 2015
In a very interesting turn of events, I have been long-listed for the Blog Awards Ireland 2015 under the Best Diaspora Blog category. This is cool news, I must say. Thanks go out to Tenderness on the Block for the nomination.
Happy Sunday
Herself celebrated her 26th birthday this week, and with all the partying and celebration, I haven’t had time to write a single word. I saw this sign today while we were walking along London’s Southbank and thought some of you might get a kick out of it. Have a great Sunday!
Scoping out the West
The search for our first place continues, and on a fine August Saturday afternoon it took Herself and I to Chiswick in West London. We had arranged to view a neat little one bedroom flat above a restaurant on the High Road and we’re excited about a change of scenery. We set on the idea of getting…
Too weird to not post
I went to the dentist before work today and spotted this very unusual piece of street art near Camden Town tube station on the way to the office. It’s incredibly odd, but I quite like it. Any suggestions for a caption? Please comment below.
Custodian of the ephemeral
I’d like to keep things simple today. Herself and I go to Brick Lane at least twice a month, and it’s remarkable how quickly the street-art changes in that neighbourhood. Here are some of the pieces that we found while out on a Sunday stroll last week. That’s all I’ll say for now as I’d much rather…
The Romans and the Moralists
I am half way through rereading Augustus, a suberb novel by John Williams, author of the equally brilliant Stoner and Butcher’s Crossing, and noticed this particularly eloquent passage that I had overlooked the first time through. The quote is taken from a fictionalised 12BC letter from the political advisor Gaius Cilnius Maecenas to Titus Livius and…
Even More Street Art in Camden Town
Opinion may differ as to whether this kind of work should be considered Art, but if you ever happen to spend some time down the grim backstreets of North London, then I am sure will agree that the place could do with a bit of colour.