the Brutal Trip

This is me the day BEFORE Berlin next to a particularly poignant piece of the Berlin wall. Had been humming the Beck song as I left the pub and walked to the museum.
This is one of the Moore drawing- collapses entirely the veneer of societal mores and daily industry that separates us from our common humanity - and our common destiny.
And coming back to the present-- war protestors at Westminister- much like the one Janet and I participated in - goodness- that is more than a year and a half ago. It is strange to be now in another cycle of life in London. This has been such an amazing time-- wistful because it will not hold-- I am continually mindful I am watching a memory being made. Then again-- aren't we all- every day?
And here- behind the brick and lace lived Cap't Bligh of Bounty fame!

Imperial War Museum- packed- the Children's War was quite interesting as one considered the angst of sending your children to strangers. TheHenry Moore exhibit was the thing though. His drawing were quite small-- intimate-- figures still carried the mass and dignity of his sculpture but there was such presence to each limb it seemed to forshadow disembodiement and the grave, and Death seemed a sweet companion, breathing in one's very mouth.

Off in the distance you see what appears to be a red ferris wheel. It is the London eye, rimmed in red by Comic Relief, people who take the sufferings of others quite seriously. The participation is amazing. I can't think of an analog in the US. Breast Cancer Awareness? Comic Relief raises money and dispenses to the homeless, the hungry and the uneducated- in UK and around the world.
This is dawn breaking looking south toward the Thames from Hotel in Belgravia- 20 Chesham Place. Making note with the knowledge that things don't last- and if I wanted to go back and find it 30 years from now, perhaps the address would persist if not the hotel itself. Had a bit of a balconey and the moist air of early spring was lovely. Down in the square there was some Daphne blooming.

Scrolling down you'll see a 14 foot wooden boat. This was the smallest of the known craft that evacuated British soldiers fron Dunkirk. Can you imagine what the crossing would have been like. The grit-- the courage these people had.

The children are shown in gas masks, standard issue. Now there is a communications challenge- make free hearted children fearful enough that they never go to play with out there gas mask in reach.

Vauxhall Afteroon

This is a communal cafe, vegan of course, and members of the co-op, as I understand it take turns in the kitchen and serving. When I backtracked to find my lost my glasses, I stopped in and we chatted a little. Clearly this is not just about food but about creating an egalitarian center for the area. Something that is not about profit or tax dollars.

I have every intention of going back to eat there some day but as Frost says, " ...oh, i kept the first for another day- but knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back."





This billboard is an advert for a wonderful singer-song writer. How I wish I was too old for emo-angst but it has me in its clutches still! I took a couple shots of this sign--- one was almost premonitory.

The surprise of the afternoon was finding a farm right there in the middle of the city. Two white goats butting heads. Hen following after rooster. Pigs rutting contentedly. Beer with lunch, a great walk-- and a few moments in a secret garden. Unforgettable.




This is a view from the north bank of the Thames looking to the south. There are far more dramatic shots to be seen but this has the look if everyday normalcy which is in and of itself, extraordinary.