Since I don't have a whole lot to say today, how about another post of random photos? I haven't done one of those in a while. Here are some images that have stacked up over the past several weeks.
First, a lost cap not far from school. It's gone now so hopefully whoever lost it found it again.
Here's some graffiti that appeared on a utility box in my neighborhood, by the writer who goes by the name Tramp. I've photographed some of his/her messages before, which usually focus on race and class.
This one says:
For this country to get back on track, we need to be allowed to be proud of it. I love this city, especially this bit of this city. I love that you can hear four different languages on the tube. I love that after Brexit, now any human has the same chance to come here and call this home no matter what color or creed or background. So to show how proud I am I picked up my flag and waved it. But I was then called a racist and my new neighbors feared me, so I put it down. Later I saw one of my new neighbors waving their flag. I went over to ask them to stop being racist and put their flag down and was told to stop being racist.Satire or sincerity? You be the judge.
Kind of a weird photo -- I was experimenting with the reflection in our kitchen window of a Scottish shot-putter on an oatmeal box. Here's a whole article about the history of this image on the box of Scott's oats. Apparently there was controversy when he was updated a few years ago and critics called the new Scott's oats guy a "soyboy."
Someone tracked this ginkgo leaf into the library. I love how yellow ginkgos get at this time of year.
When I went for my doctor's appointment last week I passed this car near Regent's Park. Wonder what the story is there? From the haphazard parking to the filmy layer of grime and collection of fallen leaves, it looks like this vehicle hasn't been moved in a while.
A curious message, apparently for "Blind J," from someone who has gone to Tesco for "bitch training," whatever that is. At least they helpfully left a phone number. There's also a note for passers-by: "Please don't be a c--- and move the sign."
Of course, if "Blind J" is really blind, you gotta wonder how helpful a sign will be.
Someone scattered yellow rose petals around the base of a tree at the top of our street. I'm not sure if this means anything or they were just trying to beautify the cigarette butts.
Spotted on my walk home last night. Ever the optimist!
You win the prize for the best and most interesting graffiti.
ReplyDeleteMakes me wonder how many Londoners write on walls. Is it just a few people writing a lot, or lots of people writing a little?
DeleteA sarcastic note to an expected visitor with phone number if he can be arsed.
ReplyDeleteAnd what is "bitch training"? Although, more likely, it's "Gone to Tesco, bitch. Training." (Hence the importance of punctuation.)
DeleteAnd again I remind myself to open my eyes and search and maybe also find the simplest and most interesting things when going outside, inspired by you.
ReplyDeleteSometimes when I stop and take pictures of things, other people stop too, to see what I'm photographing. But if I weren't there, they might have walked past. Maybe they wouldn't have minded that!
DeleteInteresting that you call that hat a " cap". We would call it a bobble hat, or a beanie without the " bobble" . A cap would have a peak. Ok, English lesson over...or should I say Brit speak lesson over? Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I didn't really think about it. Don't those yarn beanies sometimes get called "stocking caps"? But yeah, maybe that's not the right word.
DeleteNope, that hat in England is a bobble hat and nothing else.
DeleteStrange messages all around. I am in two minds about the message on the utility box, it could be sincere or satire. (Four languages on the tube? I very much doubt that - certainly many more, even here in my small town you get to hear a large number of different languages on the local trains and in the street.) In any case, the writer seems to be American, judging from the spelling of "neighbor".
ReplyDeleteThe apparently abandoned car is intriguing. On TV, it would definitely be part of a mystery.
The yellow gingko leaf is my favourite of this set of pictures.
And yet he/she spelled color "colour" -- so who knows?!
DeleteOn the box..sincerity then sad satire.
ReplyDeleteI like your mixed bunches of photos.. makes us think more of what we see as we look
I think the box starts out sounding like a reasonably liberal Londoner and then shows us that supposed liberality isn't all it's cracked up to be.
DeleteAn "interesting" collection Steve. A psychiatrist would have a field day analysing these image choices and then conclude that you are one crazy dude!
ReplyDeleteHey, don't kill the messenger!
DeleteThe "messenger" chose the images when he could have chosen different ones.
DeleteThe Porage photo is fascinating! As for the box, I agree, och aye the no. But Rory didn’t have any pec definition either. The stream of consciousness graffiti? Satire is my guess. Ah, the smell of rotting gingko fruit! The Mercedes driver was totally drunk and forgot where they parked. The car has been reported as stolen. The rose petals are a great addition. The final one now IS a pretty picture. I enjoyed these.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right about the Mercedes! I think only some ginkgo trees have fruit. I haven't smelled that smell in a long time.
DeleteMaybe the car was stolen for a joyride and abandoned. Police have more to do than go searching for it. Or something. I like the gallery today. The ginkgo leaf on the rug is great, colors, textures, really good.
ReplyDeleteGood guess on the car!
DeleteI like Tramp's graffiti ... not haphazard and hurried, but somewhat orderly and reasonable.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why no one catches him or her in the act -- surely this took a while? Or maybe no one (including the police) cares.
DeleteI like that you can hear four different languages on the tube (maybe more!). We noticed that and it was impressive, reminding me of what an isolated society I live in here. Tramp's graffiti is interesting. Sigh -- my gingko tree has shed all its leaves now. It's my favorite tree, now bare. And I smiled at the hat. Carson would have liked that -- for some reason (maybe it's a seven-year-old thing) he's very into foxes!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a "kid" hat -- probably lost by someone who attends our school.
DeleteI always love your random photo posts. Such interesting things to ponder.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of interesting stuff out there lying around!
DeleteA good variety of photos that make us ponder, Steve. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed them. :)
Deletealways a fun post. I think I like the yellow rose petals around the tree best.
ReplyDeleteThey're definitely colorful at an otherwise dreary time of year.
DeleteAfter reading the comments I've been trying to figure out what *I* call a hat like that. If I'm not just calling it a hat, I call it a toboggan! Which of course is confusing because a toboggan is a sled, right? So sometimes I call it a toque to switch things up. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI call them yarn hats or beanies. It's interesting how many words there are for this particular item!
DeleteThe OATS logo/guy really took a dive- the original one is heart thumping gorgeous, the replacement looks is so poorly designed- I hope that you kept the original box. Fun post- love what you see just going about in your daily business. Rose petals for the tree, how very thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteI actually like the new one -- he looks more streamlined, but yeah, definitely less rugged.
DeleteYou find some great variety in your world every day.
ReplyDeleteThere's always something new and interesting to see!
DeleteI feel like that cap on the ground is smiling at me. Another great collection of life's little oddities.
ReplyDeleteIt IS smiling at you! And all of us!
DeleteYour photos show random sentiments of what people are thinking. Self-expression provides an outlet. There are many messages in your photos.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is why cities never seem lonely to me -- I'm getting messages all the time.
DeleteI love that hat. Like you, I'm not sure what to make of the graffiti.
ReplyDeleteI do like the last graffiti picture, though. Maybe someone will paint a picture there?
DeleteThanks for transcribing that sign as I was finding it hard to decipher. I like the message the author was trying to make.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I had a feeling it might be hard to read in photo form!
DeleteI wouldn't mind having that toque, very cute. We live in very different worlds, you and me. I'm not urban but I'm not rural either, somewhere in between. Love your look at London.
ReplyDeleteSuburban, I guess? You seem fairly rural from your dog-walking pictures. :)
DeleteIn my lifetime, many graffiti artists all over the world have stopped me in my tracks, usually in good ways, challenging me to see the world, as opposed to just look at it. This message seems ambiguous, but the visual is clearer...how do we learn to love each other more? That's important, and definitely needs our attention.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's true -- the fact that it's a big heart certainly suggests some overarching message of togetherness.
DeleteThat fox cap is so cute! I would wear it. 🙂 My aunt had a ginkgo tree and I loved to see the yellow leaves in the fall!
ReplyDeleteI would think being a bitch came naturally....
Ha! Yeah, no training required. In fact most of us need some degree of training to NOT be a bitch.
DeleteLots to ponder here...
ReplyDelete