Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Sly


I spotted this rather eccentric house while walking Olga to Hampstead Heath on Monday. You can't quite tell, but the windows and walkway are lined with bedraggled artificial flowers, and the garden is full of weathered lawn ornaments. It's definitely not like all the other houses on the street, which are models of restraint and good taste. Thank goodness for the eccentrics!


But wait...what's that hanging in the upstairs window? It looks like a painting. Why, it's...


...Sylvester Stallone! In full-dress military uniform!

(Or maybe it's actually his character, Rocky -- I'm noting what looks like a Band-Aid on his cheek.)

Or is it just someone who looks like Sylvester Stallone?

'Tis a mystery.

42 comments:

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Ha-ha! This post and the poster made me chuckle at 6.30am on a Wednesday morning. You and Dave could save yourselves a lot of trouble having plastic flowers in your garden. They'd all still be blooming in January and there'd be no trouble from squirrels or other garden pests.

Linda Sue said...

That place is just there to see if your neighborhood can take a joke.

Moving with Mitchell said...

I’ll bet THEY don’t have aphids! The portrait is hilarious -- and a surprise. Wouldn’t you love to know who lives inside? (Or maybe not.)

e said...

This made me laugh and yes, I would love to know who lives there...

Jennifer said...

Excellent! Hahaha! All my favorite blogs are making me laugh this morning. I needed it, too.

crafty cat corner said...

I love eccentricity. Some would say that I am a little eccentric. I certainly was in my earlier years. I made patchwork skirts, wore footless tights (before they became popular) and rode a bike everywhere. I don't care what people think and more people should be like that. As long as you aren't harming anybody or any thing what does it matter what you wear or what your house is like.
I love Sylvester in that outfit, lol
Briony
x

Anonymous said...

Looks like Sly to me. Maybe a film still? It's a hideous looking house but would cost a bomb to buy.

Bob said...

If I were to buy this house, I would fresh flower all the windows and step, right after burning that "painting"!

Ms. Moon said...

It looks like Sylvester as Napoleon to me. What a hoot!

Edna B said...

It takes all kinds to make a neighborhood. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.

ellen abbott said...

yes, thank goodness for the eccentrics.

Anonymous said...

Oh yes, eccentrics and Sylvester Stallone. The neighbors must love this!

Ellen D. said...

What a curious place?! I dare you to ring the doorbell and meet them! You could interview them for us and find out about the Sylvester Stallone picture.

The Bug said...

I feel like I've seen that poster before - I think there was a series of actors dressed as famous generals, but I might be making that up. Off to Google!

The Bug said...

Of course google knows - ha!

Kelly said...

When I saw the title to this post, the first thing that came to my mind was Sly and the Family Stone!

Thanks to your commenter above for solving the mystery of the portrait! I guess they added the bandage to the cheek.

Margaret said...

Definitely Sly. Thanks to the prior commenter for solving the mystery.

Sharon said...

I would say that this is a most unusual find. It would be fascinating to learn who lives there.

Sabine said...

If you shy away from ringing the doorbell - I would, this is London, not a small village - could you walk past this place a couple more times and report back? Surely there's a riddle to solve.

John Going Gently said...

Hummmm

jenny_o said...

Thanks for this, Bug! They are such cool pictures :)

jenny_o said...

I love the shape of that house. All the houses here tend to be boxes - flat on all sides. I like the nooks and crannies of older homes.

Steve Reed said...

Well, they'd be durable, that's for sure -- they'd last about a thousand years!

Steve Reed said...

I wonder how the neighbors feel about it?!

Steve Reed said...

Yeah, it could go either way -- they could be eccentric and fun or eccentric and scary.

Steve Reed said...

Someone who really loved Rambo!

Steve Reed said...

Glad I could be of service! :)

Steve Reed said...

I think eccentricity is overwhelmingly a good thing. I am a bit eccentric myself.

Steve Reed said...

Oh, I can't even imagine what this house is worth -- just steps from Hampstead Heath and the highest point in London? Millions!

Steve Reed said...

I would definitely do some landscaping. But I might keep the painting just because it's so weird. (Probably wouldn't keep it in the window, though!)

Steve Reed said...

Or in one of the uniforms worn by British military. You know how royalty all have those fancy red uniforms?

Steve Reed said...

That's definitely true, and it's a good thing. Makes life interesting.

Steve Reed said...

The world would be a boring place without them! (Us!)

Steve Reed said...

I would love to know what they think.

Steve Reed said...

If I saw them coming out of the house I might ask, but I don't think I'd ring their bell. LOL!

Steve Reed said...

FANTASTIC! Thanks so much for finding that! I did a Google search using just the picture and got no results, but I guess I wasn't persistent enough. Maybe this is the artist's house? (Also interesting that the "Band Aid" isn't in the real painting. Must be a canvas repair job!)

Steve Reed said...

I love Sly and the Family Stone! The bandage (or plaster, as we say in England) definitely makes it more Rocky-like.

Steve Reed said...

Yes, Dana wins the research prize of the day for figuring that out!

Steve Reed said...

There must be some story behind it!

Steve Reed said...

If Olga and I repeat this train experience -- and there's no reason why we wouldn't, I suppose -- we'll have more opportunities to check this place out!

Steve Reed said...

Curiouser and curiouser!

Steve Reed said...

That is a very, very typical London house -- and in fact it's quite basic for the relatively posh neighborhood it's in. Some on that street are more ornate.