To A Very Fine Cat Indeed

“I never shall forget the indulgence with which he treated Hodge, his cat... I recollect him one day scrambling up Dr. Johnson's breast, apparently with much satisfaction, while my friend smiling and half-whistling, rubbed down his back, and pulled him by the tail; and when I observed he was a fine cat, saying, 'Why yes, Sir, but I have had cats whom I liked better than this;' and then as if perceiving Hodge to be out of countenance, adding, 'but he is a very fine cat, a very fine cat indeed.'”

-James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson 1799

Writer, Samuel Johnson, was very fond of his black cat, Hodge. Hodge was a very pampered cat and ate oysters that Johnson fetched from the market for him. In 1997 a bronze statue of the cat by sculptor Jon Bickley was installed outside Johnson’s house at Number 17 Gough Square in London where he lived from 1748 to 1759. The bronze feline sits on a dictionary with oysters at his feet. The words A Very Fine Cat Indeed are inscribed on it.

 Atlas Obscura

Via My Own Private Book Club

Speak English Like a Brit

Here’s a list of words you’ll hear when you travel to London:

• Tube = London Underground Network
• The Knowledge = The cumulative knowledge of London’s black cab drivers that they have to learn to be licensed. They have to learn every street in London.
• Boris Bus = Boris Johnson’s key platform of replacing the old London Routemaster bus.
• Red Ken = The name of London’s former Mayor Ken Livingston who leaned VERY far to the left.
• The Standard = What some call the Evening Standard – the evening paper dedicated to London.
• The City = The City of London – the square mile bit of central London that goes back 2 thousand years.
• Square Mile = The City of London also
• Congestion Charge = Tax on all cars entering the central London congestion charge zone.
• Silicon Roundabout = Area around Old Street that’s a hub for new media and tech companies.
• Council Estate = Public housing

Read more at VisitBritain 

London From The Air

Aerial photographer Jason Hawke has been gliding across the London skies once more, capturing some amazing video and photographs of the capital at night and during the day.

Via  Londonist

LONCats: The Top 10 Cats Of London

These are the cats I have seen in London:

The most photographed cats in London have to be the four Trafalgar Square lions, sculpted by Edwin Landseer and unveiled in 1867. Climbing all over the lions is an ages-old London tradition for children, a potentially dangerous activity that patrolling wardens happily turn a blind eye to. Another proud beast guards the eastern end of Westminster Bridge. Made of Coade stone, the felid once topped the long-demolished Red Lion Brewery. After a sojourn to Waterloo station, the lion was erected next to County Hall in 1966.

Tipu’s Tiger, one of the V&A’s most famous, and unusual, exhibits. The bizarre sculpture dates from around 1793, and shows a life-size tiger mauling a fallen European. Still odder, the piece conceals a mechanical pipe organ that simulates the cries of the unfortunate man and the growls of the tiger.

Mummified cats at the British Museum. A mummified cat once graced the upstairs bar of the now defunct Tiger Tavern (but, then again, it also reckons Elizabeth II was imprisoned in the Tower). Sir John Soane’s Museum definitely contains two mummified cats. Finally, a mummified cat was discovered in 1949 inside the church of St Michael Paternoster in the City…burial place of Dick Whittington.

See more at Londonist (I particularly liked the story of Faith, the silver medal winning cat).

London’s Longest Roads And Where They Lead

Did you know that Selfridges is on the same road as the Brecon Beacons? That you can see the Scottish Parliament from a road that passes through Islington? Or that you can walk directly from Lambeth North to Brighton Pier without setting foot on more than one road?

If you were shopping on bustling Oxford Street you'd never guess that you could follow it all the way to Fishguard in Wales:

See more long London roads at Londonist

Save the People's Supermarket

Due to financial difficulties, The People's Supermarket has struggled to keep up with the payment of business rates to Camden Council. The People's Supermarket is a Co-operative and Community Benefit Society and operates for the benefit of its members and the community, not in pursuit of profit. For that reason, we ask that Camden Council continue to support us by allowing for the renegotiation of rate payments. In the absence of such support, The People's Supermarket will become insolvent by March 1st.

When we were in London recently we stayed near Lamb's Conduit, a street in Bloomsbury with charming shops and pubs. We bought a bottle of wine at The People's Supermarket and asked if they could sell us a corkscrew to open it. They had none for sale but a very nice fellow fetched one from downstairs and gave it to us so I have a soft spot for this place and hope they manage to stay afloat.

Sign the Petition at Change.org

Enchanting London

We stayed on Southampton Row near Russell Square when we were in London last week. I saw a lot of people popping in and out and omnibuses but alas no crazy organs.

London is enchanting. I step out upon a tawny coloured magic carpet, it seems, and get carried into beauty without raising a finger. The nights are amazing, with all the white porticoes and broad silent avenues. And people pop in and out, lightly, divertingly like rabbits; and I look down Southampton Row, wet as a seal’s back or red and yellow with sunshine, and watch the omnibus going and coming, and hear the old crazy organs. One of these days I will write about London, and how it takes up the private life and carries it on, without any effort.

Virginia Woolf

The Actors' Church

I always like to stop at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden when I'm in London. It provides an oasis of calm and quiet in that frantic area of the city.  The building was designed in 1631 by Inigo Jones, a significant British architect known for bringing Italian Renaissance architecture to England.  This commission was part of a larger project to create "houses and buildings fitt for the habitacons of Gentlemen and men of ability". The rear entrance is pictured above. The front facade with its columns looks out over the square where street musicians perform.

The day we visited there was a dance class taking place on the altar. Having been raised Catholic I'm always a little bit taken aback by non-religious activity in a place of worship. When I was growing up we had to bow our heads (which had to be covered), genuflect and throw down a quick sign of the cross when passing the altar where Jesus lived in the tabernacle. It's refreshing to see these buildings being used for other things.
The theatrical connection began as early as 1663 with the establishment of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and by the opening of the Covent Garden Theatre in 1723. It is still `The Actors' Church,' the Actors' Church Union has its offices here, and the inner walls and the garden hold memorial plaques to famous personalities in the world of the performing arts. Here are a few:

A bench dedicated to John Thaw aka Inspector Morse

I've included this one because it is also the name of the
young lady (very much alive)who cares for Joyce
when we travel

Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward and many more are also honoured here.

Nag, Nag Where Have You Been?

I've been to London to visit the Queen. Well the first part is true. We took advantage of Air Transat's extra cheapo winter London package (the same one we did 2 years ago) and I thought I'd share a few highlights of my visit with you. If you couldn't care less stop reading at any time.
Surprisingly London was frigid compared to The Great White North but the free
museums and art galleries (courtesy of Tony Blair's Labour Government) are warm. We hit Tate Britain, Tate Modern, The National Portrait Gallery, The British Museum, Dickens House and the Wallace Collection.
The pubs, though not free, are also warm. I loved The Lamb and The Queen's Larder.
And food.... A walk through the Borough Market was a lot of fun. I was tempted to buy bags of produce, cheeses, ciders, etc. but managed to make do with some mulled wine and a bacon, tomato and rocket butty.

We had tapas at Cigala, a fabulous Spanish restaurant. Although the collection at The Wallace is underwhelming the courtyard restaurant is an absolute jewel.
We met some friends at the magnificently restored St. Pancras Station for a drink at the beautiful bar.
We saw Master Class. My first reaction when my friend Barry recommended it to me was "Tyne Daly, are you serious?" but it was excellent and I owe Ms Daly an apology. Her performance as Maria Callas was one of the best I've seen.

On our last night in London we wanted to eat somewhere close to our hotel because my feet were aching so badly that putting one before the other had become a real challenge. Carluccio's is a chain and so I was skeptical but the 4 course special Valentines menu looked interesting so that's where we ended up and it was very good. I will definitely try to recreate the beetroot tortellini with butter sauce and the rolled lamb with Italian cabbage and black olives at home.

I don't know if I'm imagining it but everything seemed less pricey than when I was there two years ago. I had to restrain myself from shopping but Mr. Nag insisted on buying me a jade pendant, a bunch of Neal's Yard products and some Jo Malone cologne (my favorite).
I'm already looking forward to doing the trip again next year. Come with me.

Reflections On Love

This is swinging London circa 1966.

One couple in particular is followed from first glimpse to matrimony. Notable trends and fads of the time are featured. Beatlemania is represented with newsreel-type footage of the Fab Four and many of the shots also feature the Carnaby Street fashions popular at the time. Some scenes give the look of an Avedon Vogue fashion shoot put in motion. The city of London itself is shown to good advantage. This short film is also notable for featuring super groupie/rock star wife, Jenny Boyd (Donovan, Mick Fleetwood) as a young newlywed.

Via 

Map Of South London’s Black Music Landmarks

A map of major black music landmarks in South London — from venues and record shops to street corners and radio stations — has been created for the South London Black Music Archive (SLMBA), which explores the fascinating history and influence of black music south of the river.

Click for larger image

Via Londonist

Tobias Till's London A-Z

London artist Tobias Till has created a box set of 27 limited edition linocuts showing different views of the capital, one for each letter of the alphabet, from the Albert Memorial to London Zoo.

See them at this link

London Alphabet In Google Maps

An alternative London A-Z. Images from Google satellite view showing bits of the capital that look a little like letters of the alphabet.

Go to Londonist to see all the images.

Everything Important About London

London icons from Nick Patchitt of Nick Prints
Londonist

Animals In War Memorial London

This monument is a powerful and moving tribute to all the animals that served, suffered and died alongside the British, Commonwealth and Allied forces in the wars and conflicts of the 20th century.

Link
Via

You've Got to Love London

You've Got to Love London from Alex Silver on Vimeo.

Map of London

I had loads of fun with this wonderful hand drawn map.

The artist, a Londoner with a love of his native city, offers up a huge range of local and personal information in words and symbols. Walter speaks in the dialect of today, focusing on what he deems interesting or mundane.

Magnificent Maps
Via

London Shop Fronts

Lots more at London Shop Fronts
Via

Liberty To Be Sold Off?

"The grand old Wendy house of Regent Street, Liberty, may be up for sale after making over £7 million losses in the past year and a half. Business Week reports that the attractive department store has been approached by potential buyers, with an estimated asking cost of £40 million. If the sale goes through, the firm would continue to operate from the mock-Tudor landmark, renting from the new owners."Londonist

Above is Mr. Nag in one of Liberty's opulent elevators on our recent trip to London. I hope they don't make too many changes.

Design An Alternative London Skyline

Not enough towers in the City for you? Get to play God Mayor with this neat London skyline designer.



Via Londonist