Yesterday after work I went back to check out the "selfie booth" on the St. John's Wood high street. I was right -- it does light up at night, and quite impressively too.
And as long as I was at it I checked out some other holiday lights in the neighborhood.
Here's the high street from the other end, showing the street lighting and the Christmas tree.
And here's nearby Eyre Court, a large apartment building that has a big ol' decorated tree in the front garden. The tree is a permanent feature. I wonder whose job it is to string up those lights every year? They must have a cherry-picker to get to the top!
I had another busy day yesterday, but I did at least have a chance to write back to the reader who sent me a letter. Hopefully I can get my response mailed to her today. I spent time with two classes in the Lower School, including one where a girl in first grade asked me to read a specific book to her, which was cute. (Usually I'm just the guy behind the desk and the teacher is the reader, but I was happy to comply!)
I also covered and/or put spine labels on about 40 new books, including this one:
I'm imagining the author on a camping trip with a young relative, and the kid making up those characters from what he sees in front of him. I didn't read it to get a sense of the action. Does someone build a new Cabin Head out of Tree Head? It looks like there's also a Bush Head, a Flower Head and a...Rock Head?
Dave and I started the show "Pluribus" last night on Apple. It seems very promising! It's by Vince Gilligan, the same guy behind "Breaking Bad," and it grabbed our attention right away. I'm also slowly watching "The House of Guinness" on Netflix. Dave isn't as impressed by that show so I have to watch it after he's fallen asleep. We finished "Down Cemetery Road," which I liked but I must confess I do not understand the title at all. It's supposedly taken from a Philip Larkin poem. Maybe I need to read the poem more closely.
I like that big tree in front of the apartment building best - it must be nice for the people who live in those flats to look out of their windows and see the tree lit up at night.
ReplyDeleteCabin Head and Tree Head... not sure I'd entirely "get" the humour in that book, but then of course I am not the target group :-D
Pluribus and Down Cemetery Road get suggested to me every time I start AppleTV, but I have not watched either of it. I'm currently watching "Loot!", which I really like for its quirkiness, clothes and music. Also, it is refreshing to see mostly unfamiliar actors (to me).
I love the photographed lights of London you take; You do all the walking for us and we sit back and admire.
ReplyDeleteIt's a big compliment for you that the little girl asked you to read to her.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I haven’t heard about Pluribus. Thanks! I can never get enough of holiday lights.
ReplyDeleteShould we assume that Scott Campbell took his inspiration for that book from a meeting with you and Dave? Also, you wrote, "They must have a cherry-picker to get to the top!"...now I might not be a tree identification expert, but that is definitely not a cherry tree outside Eyre court. To me it looks like some kind of spruce.
ReplyDeleteSorry - that should read Eyre Court with a capital "C".
DeleteWe've started Pluribus, too, and I'm not all that impressed with it so far. Maybe I need to keep watching, though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting photos with the sparkly lights!
I enjoy looking at all of the holiday lights. We just finished watching House of Guinness and we both thought it was pretty good. I think it got better as the series progressed.
ReplyDeleteI loved House of Guinness. Love also the Christmas lights. Everything is better w/Christmas lights.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get on with House of Guinness and have just finished Down Cemetery Road. Pluribus is in the wings after we've finished the latest series of Shetland.
ReplyDeleteI prefer a TreeHead to a RockHead, personally.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photos of the decorations. It looks so festive!
ReplyDeleteHave you watched the series Death by Lightning on Netflix? I thought that was good. It's about President James Garfield - historical fiction I would call it. It shows you that corruption in government is not a new thing but there are always some good guys trying to do what it right.
Thanks for the follow up on the lights. Great!
ReplyDeleteThe house of Guinness was a joke, the Irish family had a laugh and a sigh and switched channels.
Thank you for going back to check on the selfie booth. Did you make a selfie?
ReplyDeleteI always like looking at the light displays and that 'box' is definitely lit and glittery. And what did the little girl ask you to read?
ReplyDeleteWe're still enjoying The Low Down very much. Graham Greene was one of the characters and that was one of his last roles. Peter Dinklage has also moved onto the scene and he is so great.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful lights! I always wonder who in hell hangs all those things? The city must have to set aside quite a bit to pay for all of that. I have noticed around here this year that there are signs up advertising the service of light hanging. It's becoming a huge thing even in the neighborhoods.
And to think in my day, all I had was a Potato Head.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the House of Guinness and probably would like Pluribus since I was such a huge fan of Breaking Bad. Unbeknownst to me, another great show I enjoyed years ago, Turn: Washington's Spies showed up the other day with a fifth season. It took me a couple episodes to get into again because I had forgot all that happened between the characters. I really should have gone and rewatched the previous four seasons but didn't want to put in that much commitment.
Oh gosh, you've already finished Down Cemetery Road. I think I have at least one more episode to watch. I've enjoyed it so far but I am looking forward to that evil official to get his due. I'm also watching Pluribus which is a fascinating take on the usual science fiction theme.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting photos of the Christmas light displays. They are all well-appointed and beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteReading to the little girl brought an enjoyable time for her and you.
Our library has story hour for young children, and it is very popular. The 5–6-year-old children love it. In my opinion, they are building their listening comprehension skills and learning to love books.
I'll check out those series! I've seen something about the Cemetery one and was interested. I'll have to check to see if I have the correct streaming services though; that's usually an issue. :( Love the lights and the photo booth! I wouldn't be able to resist a picture in there.
ReplyDeletesubscribing to "next door" has been a pretty good thing for me to do, especially since I do not go out and bout much. Although there are so many dumb posts that i nearly unsubscribe every time. "Karens" both male and female moaning about the most idiotic things. "the clerk at the grocery was rude to me..."
ReplyDeleteLOVE the photos of all of the lights and beauty! London at Christmas is a visual not soon forgotten. You should retire TOMORROW, take your camera out for daily walks and thrill us all.
you and your camera- on tour!
DeleteThank you for going back to check out the "selfie booth" . . . nice to see it lit up at night, and it looks great.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
In never tire of your lights. The selfie booth is impressive! That's really sweet about being asked to read the story!
ReplyDeleteOne of my blogging/instagram buddies (in Wales) and I correspond via snail mail on a regular basis. We have for quite a few years now! I always enjoyed writing letters.
ReplyDeleteI love Breaking Bad, but I never finished it and have forgotten where I stopped so will have to start over. Next year. I'm currently watching Keeping up Appearances and cringing at a lot of what Hyacinth "Bookay" Bucket gets up to.
ReplyDeleteThat book looks interesting and it was sweet of the first grader to ask you to read to her.
I love all the London lights you have shown us.