FOOTBALL FOOTBALL FOOTBALL

Before I returned this time to England, people would ask me the obvious questions "What was I going to do?" and "Who was I going to see?" while I was back in the motherland. But they also asked me "What English things I missed?" which got me thinking and lead me to decide that on this visit I would do some very English things. Some of these "things" funnily enough would turn out to be sporting events and so last night I went to the Chelsea V West Brompton match in Fulham. Now, for those who don't care for British team events, there is nothing like going to see a football match and if you're lucky enough to go to a Chelsea home game, you are sure to leave the grounds with a couple of thousand more friends. Friends, families, free flowing beer and a great game all together make a high like no other. End result Chelsea 4 West Brom 1.

WHAT MAN CAN ACHIEVE

In the early 1970's, due to the increasing high water levels at London Bridge (think melting polar caps) the Thames Barrier was built. Costing around 500 million pounds sterling and consisting of six gates weighing roughly 1200 tonnes each, covered in stainless steel, you can understand why I have always wanted to see this wonder of man's engineering in person. Today looked like the only chance I was going to get to visit the location and of course it was raining. I still went. You approach the site on the South bank by walking through a park and then immediately as the greenery haults, you are confronted by the barrier stretching accross the river. The tide was out when I arrived and I was so in awe of it's majesty that I didn't notice the rain coming down stronger as the wind picked up. The image of the bicycle is an obvious occupant of the rivers banks. The other image is what I ate in the visitors center/cafe (a scone with jam and chocolate milk) as I sat alone, apart from the staff.

ISLE OF DOGS?

The train I take from my brothers village (I guess that's what you would call it) on the out skirts of London (zone 6), into London's center (zone 1) has beautiful vistas of green fields that slowly disappear to be replaced by an ever growing metropolis with striking new architecture. But as you already know, that isn't what caught my eye. I noticed the scrap metal yard and the walls of recycling bins that lined the commute. I decided to get off at what I thought would be the nearest station to this treasure. I was obviously wrong there was one closer, but the walk was interesting none the less. I arrive at my desired destination and there was a HUGH scrap metal yard. But the guys who worked there said I couldn't photograph anywhere near it. Which actually turned out to my benefit. The streets themselves were covered with random items that people had either carelessly disgarded or left out of lack of a better use. The streets were dirty with rubbish from homes and industry. I felt as if I could have been standing there 50 years previous, with the sun beating down adding to the grit and the dirt. I looked forward to the shower I would have upon my return to the clean green fields.


Before that was possible, I walked to the closer of the two stations and took the slick Jubliee line to Victoria. There I changed to an older model commuter train to take me just South West of the river. As the train crossed the bridge, what Londoners consider as THE icon of the city, came closer. Of course I'm referring to Battersea Power Station. The now decommissioned power station still holds it's own, standing tall against it's meger surroundings. As I left the train station I intitially walked the wrong way and along the far side of the site, but as luck would have it I found this cosy little love seat someone had kindly left for me. The image of the presently best concert venue in London, the power station, is taken from the North bank of the river, as I walked back into the west end.

GYPSY CAMP

So, It's Friday and I set out on the 2 mile walk from my brother's house, along what might be considered a country lane, to the train station. I'm about half way when I spot this side road break off and end abruptly infront of some garages that seem to be housing carivans. Now, I did consider the likelihood that this could infact be gypsies, but all I could see was the large amount of rubbish my side of the carivans. I decided that it was safe enough as I could be seen from the main road and went in. I has just taken my last shot when I heard someone furiously beeping their horn. I looked up to discover a dirty white Ford Escort screeching towards me, full of people. The occupants all jumped out of the vehicle before the brakes were fully applied without fear of life; and without hesitation started hurling questions and acusation in my face. "Who are you?" "What are you doing here?" "Who sent you?" "What newspaper sent you?" all in thick none coherent accents. I surprisingly remained calm and explained that I didn't work for anyone and simply enjoyed photographing rubbish. Now you can imagine this took some convincing. After everyone had taken a step back, it appears that my sex saved me. Through their garbbled rambling I heard "You're O.K." "You're safe" "You're a lass." They also revealed through their ranting and raving that a kid was recently injured/died plaing in the rubbish that I found so appealing. I left "Tut suite" with the prmise never to return.

SLOUGH?

I arrived in London at 7am this morning. My brother Martyn did the honors and picked me up from the airport, then proceeded to drive me to Slough, a very strange little neighbourhood in greater London. Found a shop that sells good film, but it cost me three children and a visit to the blood bank! I forgot how expensive England is. The locals seem bewildered by my interest in photography the sights. THEM. Images to follow, but you'll have to wait until I'm back in the U.S.

THE ART FART

I have been a fan of ADBUSTERS magazine for a long time now, even when they were making statements such as, all consumers are themselves terroists. July/August 2004 was a particular hard issue to get through. I'm happy to say they've done it again in managing to take a seemingly safe topic and look at it from every angle unknown. The subject this issue is ART, what it means, how it is valued and how that value is constently shifting. Anyone interested in art or considers themself an artist should pick up a copy...it will help you to break down what your work means to you and why your doing it in the first place.

KNICKERS TO HAND LADIES

The last two nights Chicago has been in a frenzie! Playing at the United Center, to a sell out crowd was your favorite leather jacket wearing, gold medallion touting cassanova, Neil Diamond. If you missed it don't fret, he'll be back some day, but in the mean time here is a link to a little movie called NEIL DIAMOND PARKING LOT! You can guess the rest.