I came across this gruesome scene outside a charity shop on Finchley Road yesterday morning. What could have happened here? It looks like a gigantic object fell from a great height onto these unsuspecting pedestrians, at least one of whom was wearing no pants. It's a mystery.
I also found a really good clay flowerpot, which was sitting next to some trash bins. I left it there because I couldn't very well take it to work, figuring if it was still there when I walked home I'd grab it. It was, and I did.
So you could say I had a productive day.
Oh, I did other things too. I worked in the Lower School twice yesterday, and I'm embarking on a new project to help them get their board games organized. For example, they had two "Monopoly Junior" games that had become intermingled over time, and I spent about an hour counting out all the pieces so that we had one complete game. (The second game wound up being just bits and bobs, not enough to play, so maybe we'll save it for spare parts.) As I said to Dave when I got home, "For this I went to college?"
Here's a new artwork in the Lower School hallway. (I recommend clicking the picture to enlarge it for full effect.) It says "respect" on that sunray leading to the...dog?...carrying a forked stick and wearing two neckties. At first I thought the background was outer space, but then I saw fish and what looks like lots of little bacteria floating around. Clearly someone is studying surrealism.
Thanks for indulging my musings about my childhood yesterday. In the interest of fairness I should mention that my parents did at least two other things for me photographically when I was a kid -- they enrolled me in summer camp, where photography was an activity I studied, and I got experience both taking and processing photos there. They also signed me up for a weeklong kids' photography course at the local university when I was in eighth grade. I was hardly deprived. My main gripe is that it took so long for them to give me a decent camera, but I suppose I could have saved up for one if I'd been really committed. My weekly allowance was something like $1.50, with occasional $10 or $20 payments when I mowed the lawn -- so it would have taken years, but it was theoretically possible!
Our tube strike is continuing. Every time I pass the crowded bus stops and busy overground stations -- the overground rail network is not closed -- I thank goodness I can walk to work.
Love that highly original artwork. Very eye-catching.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you have such a long history of taking photographs Steve and judging from your blog, your enthusiasm has never waned.
Digital really set me free. I remember wanting to take more pictures when I was young but lack of film (and money) always stymied me!
DeleteThe things you see outside charity shops!!
ReplyDeleteHa! It's true. People leave ungodly messes outside charity shops.
DeleteYou had a productive day because you picked up some junk on the way home. There is little dignity in death, especially if you are clobbered by a falling suitcase and end up having your arse exposed to passers by.
ReplyDeleteI hope some students stop and look at the painting.
It doesn't take much to make my day feel productive! LOL
DeleteYes, thanks goodness you can walk to work. Tube strikes seem to be not uncommon. What a headache. You had an allowance of $1.50? My father was generous it turns out. I’m quite a bit older and got $5 which increased to $10 when I was 15! We had no lawn to mow. I painted for free.
ReplyDeleteI think mine may have gone up to $2 or even $2.50 at some point. I really can't remember. I don't think it ever went higher than that, though!
DeleteYou do see some fascinating things.
ReplyDeleteMy middle daughter is working from home because of the Tube strikes. It's no hardship to her - she prefers it.
I imagine some people are quite happy with these strikes!
DeleteI can't remember what my allowance was. When I was very young, whatever it was, we had to put part of it in the collection plate on Sundays.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been helpful if your parents had offered to pay at least half for a good camera.
I used to put money in the collection plate as well. In fact the church gave me a box of special little envelopes to hold the money before it went in the plate.
DeleteThe halfsies idea is a good one. I could have managed saving to pay for half a camera, or worked off the debt over the course of a year.
I’m always impressed by how artistically talented the students at your school are. I could totally see both the animal heads and the artwork in my apartment.
ReplyDeleteConsider it a contribution to waste reduction that you turned two Monopoly games into one.
Maybe the appeal of taking good photos wouldn't have been as strong later on if you'd gotten the camera earlier. That way, the desire had time to grow.
Well, that's an interesting idea -- maybe I appreciate photos now because it was so hard for me to take them then. Hadn't thought of that.
DeleteI like the painting too - all that color is right down my alley. I would have found sorting the two games to be very soothing, but I don't know if I'd want that to be ALL I did every day. Ha!
ReplyDeleteOh, it's not. I have my fingers in fifty different tasks on any given day!
DeleteI can't help but think that maybe British Dorothy got caught up in a windstorm while sitting in a piece of luggage and when she came down she landed on the Wicked Witch of No Pants ...
ReplyDeleteHa! Where are those striped socks?!
DeleteProbably with her pants?
DeleteI wonder who staged the Barbie doll disaster?
ReplyDeleteOr if it was staged intentionally? Someone might have just plunked down that suitcase on top of some dolls and not given it a thought.
DeleteI think if I lived in a large urban area like you do, I would definitely want to be able to walk to work. I like mass transportation, but I don't like the crowds often associated with using it.
ReplyDeleteWalking is a huge plus and another reason we live where we do, even though we can't afford to buy in our neighborhood.
DeleteYou have eventful walks to work. You'd never see suitcase disasters on the tube. No, wait..
ReplyDeleteHa! I see a lot of weird little events on the tube, some of them minor disasters!
DeleteYou find the most unusual things, Steve!
ReplyDeleteLiving in the city!
DeleteThat artwork is amazing!
ReplyDeleteWe never did get allowance, but I do remember my parents giving me $50 when I graduated from high school. I'm older than you and we had to walk uphill, both ways to school:) I couldn't resist the Four Yorkshiremen.
https://smedjeback.wordpress.com/monty-python-four-yorkshiremen-the-good-old-days/
Ha! I remember that skit! I got $50 from my great uncle when I graduated and I remember being quite amazed.
DeleteI think that's a fox and I only see one tie. And what's that thing in the circle by it's head, a dogfish? The patterns in the circles are really nice.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to walk to work is a real plus.
There's a long necktie and then, below the stick, a bow tie. You may be right that it's a fox! Still not sure what the stick is about, though.
DeleteSteve, they have to keep you busy to earn your money so they make you count things. I still like playing monopoly.
ReplyDeleteThere's more truth to that than I care to admit!
DeleteMy goodness, that is a gruesome scene you've shown us. I hope the charity shop people cleaned it up before they opened for business.
ReplyDeleteAs for the artwork, there is some talent in the young surrealist.
I'm not sure it was one student. It might have been several of them collaborating. But yes, some talent for sure!
DeleteWalking to work allows you to find some great treasures. There is always room for a new flowerpot. I bought a few on "end- of-season" clearance recently. I'm ready for the growing season, next year.
ReplyDeleteI also got an allowance and my own bank account where I had to make regular deposits. I did this with my son too.
I loved having a bank account. I used to make weekly deposits of whatever spare change I'd collected during the week. Back then you could walk into a bank with a handful of coins and they'd take them.
DeleteBeing able to walk to work is precious. I would hate to be like those that have a 90 minute commute.
ReplyDeleteYeah, me too. Every time we think about moving, that's one of the reasons we don't.
DeleteCodex: The art work is interesting looks like planets. To yesterday's post; you envy a life you weren't born into. Your camera experience is like my art supplies. Art was fostered and supported but the professional grade watercolors and real sable brushes (100 a piece) I didn't get until much older. As to obsessive traits. I accept and value mine. Photography is a passion that stayed.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think obsessive tendencies can be a good thing, as long as they don't get out of hand. Particularly in young people, they're a vehicle for learning.
DeleteIt doesn't look like a dog to me, but I don't always trust my perceptions. You do find such interesting things on your walks. How long is the strike projected to last?
ReplyDeleteEllen might be right that it's a fox! The strike is due to end Friday.
DeleteWhether is a surreal space scene or underwater scene, I like the artwork. The crime scene at the top is a little alarming!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it?! It stopped me in my tracks when I walked by!
DeleteI hope the strikers get what they need soon, London is walk-able within reason, but time is definitely a factor. The new painting is ...orange , and yellow, and blue, colors that go well together. That is about all of the positivity I can opine.
ReplyDeleteHa! Can't go any further than that, huh? :)
DeleteI love that art work! I often gravitate to children's art. Maybe because I was a teacher for many years.
ReplyDeleteI remember you saying you still have some!
DeleteI like that art! It's so happy looking and colorful. You're so lucky you can walk to work. (Is the school in St. John's Wood? I know we passed it when we returned with Jenny from our Road trip.)
ReplyDeleteYes, St. John's Wood, just south of Swiss Cottage. It's less than a mile from where you were staying.
DeleteI love your capture of the space junk that has landed. It's wonderful that you can walk to work.
ReplyDeleteIt's good for me both physically and spiritually.
DeleteHa, in 2025, we're all studying surrealism.
ReplyDeleteHa! That's true. EVERYTHING is surreal!
DeleteThat scene is really troubling!!
ReplyDeleteYes, good job you can walk to work. It makes things so much easier.
I am glad that my line of work allows me to work from home when I want to, or when it is necessary because of train trouble or very inclement weather (and the office building is not heated well in winter to save on energy cost, which is why I prefer going in only once a week).
Oh wow, I would love that! I didn't realize you worked so much from home.
DeleteI like the painting. In the carnage I see a red haired doll who might be one of the little "Madelines" so popular a few years back. I have four of them and they feature on my blog occasionally. I would have rescued the dolls if I'd seen that.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think to check if it was one of the "orphan red" dolls that you and others blog. Sorry about that!
Delete