2012: Week 4

2012: Week 4, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

In a week when London was blanketed with snow-- thus exponentially increasing the photo opportunities-- I went with this one instead. While the snow was beautiful, I thought this photo would be what I would want to remember for the week. It was, after all, my younger son's first protest march. May it be the first of many.

Lewisham Hospital, our local hospital, is facing the dismantling of its services due to the failure of a neighbouring (not even its own) health service. The plans, which are currently under review by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, would involve the closure of Lewisham's A & E departments and a reorganisation of its maternity ward, as well as the reorganisation of many other departments.

On a beautiful Saturday morning, my son, my friend, her son and another friend took part in the march, along with about 25,000 other people. I don't know if it will change Jeremy Hunt's mind (the cynic in me says no) but I feel better having made my outrage known in a very public way.

2013: Week 3

2013: Week 3, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Have you heard? It snowed in London (and elsewhere) this weekend. (Sarcasm hard to transmit electronically.)

In any case, we hit the slopes of Greenwich Park early on Saturday morning. Later, the hill in the background was heaving with sledders of all shapes and sizes. We like to get there early in the day when we have the place nearly to ourselves.

I took this picture on Saturday morning, and snow continued throughout that day and again on Sunday. London truly became a winter wonderland. But the sun is out now on Monday, so it won't last.

2013: Week 2

2013: Week 2, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Just in time for the winter snowstorm, we went off to Canary Wharf in week 2 for its annual Ice Sculpting Festival. There were some amazing ice sculptures, including a King Kong on a Big Ben, which we thought was quite inspired.

My son and I also had a go at doing our own ice sculpting. It was-- no big surprise here-- very difficult to do. Luckily, all of the hard work on our polar bear had already been done. We only had to do some minor work on it. Too bad it was so ephemeral, but at least I got to take a picture of it.

2013: Week 1

2013: Week 1, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

We're lucky enough to live in Greenwich. Home of the Meridian Line, the one of the locations of the Les Mis movie and the Thames. When the tide is low, we like to go out and see what treasures we can find on the foreshore. Luckily, we've done it a few times with people who know what they're doing, so sometimes we think we know what we're looking at.

This may or may not (we think may) be a roof tile from Henry VIII's Palace of Palcentia (or Pleasure Palace). When they demolished it, they threw all of the rubbish and rubble into the River Thames. As it was so huge, you can still find roof tiles pretty easily. The hole in the top is where they attached it to the roof.

I could be completely wrong, but that's what I like to think we found on our Sunday walk in Week 1 of 2013. My husband (pictured) was the one who scored it for me. Thanks.

End of the 2012 52 Weeks Project with Video

This is the Guardian video of its 52 Weeks Photo project. Watch it!

Regular readers of this blog will know that I participated in the Guardian's 52 Weeks Photo project this year. I loved it. It was a great and easy way to record 2012.

I'm chuffed to say that three of my photos were included in the video roundup.
• The boys walking in Blackheath under some Olympic bunting from Week 27 appears at 1:25. Click on this sentence to see the original post here.
• A bike messenger carrying his bike over his head amid the crowds watching the Olympic victory parade from Week 37 appears at 1:34. Click on this sentence to see the original post here.
• My 12.12.12 picture of Big Ben from the train from Week 50 appears at 2:11.  Click on this sentence to see the original post here.

Enjoy.