Sunday 30 November 2014

No 30: And suddenly it was Christmas

All of a sudden, just like that... it's the festive season. Having spent a good deal of November in the USA (where it definitely wasn't Christmas until thanksgiving is over) the transition on arriving back in London was quite dramatic. Which is how I like it.

I was walking along Wandsworth Common on Sunday and happen across a Christmas market. It was a relatively small affair, but there were a couple of gems. The first being a stall run by the Dee Light Bakery full of their tasty Christmas treats. It's a local place, not far from my home in Tooting Bec and is a great example of local business done right.

The little plum iced puddingy thingys were amazing. See below for an extreme close up.

Dee Light Bakery, London, 30th November 2014
Of equally tasty delight were the folks on the Honey Stall. Led by Emily Abbott, they make honey sourced from hives situated in South London. They had several types, from various parts of South London. I tried them all and as much as I wanted to love my own local area the most, it was the Bermondsey based Honey that tasted the best.

Emily and the honey people, London, 30th November 2014


Friday 28 November 2014

No 29: Weekend Wanderer

Today's picture is more a representation of the weekend than the day itself. It's been a bit weird. Every time I thought I couldn't be surprised... I got surprised. Every time I bemoaned the normalcy of life... something abnormal popped up.

Such was the case on Sunday Morning while I was looking for something relatively normal to take a picture of. I was trying to find some left overs from saturday night - a beer can or glass left out on the street. Perhaps an empty box of fried chicken bones. Surprisingly (for South London) I couldn't find any. And then this gentleman cycled along.

travelling in style. Wandworth Roundabout, Nov 30th 2014

I asked him where he was going... he said he was traveling the 4 corners of London - Wimbledon, Wembley, Wapping & Wandsworth. Clearly he was doing the double-u tour. I asked him why and he said 'for fun!'. And then cycled off.

Monday 24 November 2014

No 24: Step Count

The problem with holidays is that they can have a detrimental effect on your health. I gained 2kg while I was away. Whilst this isn't as bad as I expected, I'm now over 100kg, so its time to get to work on getting my weight back down to a reasonable amount. Perhaps that should be my next challenge? lose weight every day for 30 days? I need to be below 95kg. Ideal would be 92kg.

Anyway, I'm going to start by getting more walking done. Since I started my new job I've been sitting on my big butt for most of the day and not making it up in the evenings. To illustrate this, here's my step count for the day. 3000 steps short of my daily goal. And this is with me making an effort! Pathetic! Drastic action is needed!

Fitbit step count for 24th Nov 2014.

Sunday 23 November 2014

No 23: The Godfather



Today was the christening of my Goddaughter - Amelie-Rose Gale. I've never been a Godfather before and I'm honoured to be chosen. The Vicar asked the Godparents to write some words of wisdom that can be referred back to in times of trouble later in life. We read them during the service, so to go with my picture, here's mine. Unfortunately my fancy camera ran out of batteries before the ceremony, so I only have a pic taken with my phone... of the church. If the parents give me permission I'll add a picture of the young lady herself.
Sunday 23rd November, 2014
London, UK

Dearest Amelie

When I was young, my dad would sit me down and teach me about the world. At the time, most of what he said to me sounded like nonsense, and I would simply nod my head with a smile and say ‘sure thing dad’…

But, as I grew older - and especially once I has started work - I began to find myself in similar situations to the ones he told me about and I could begin to understand where he was coming from. Now I look back and I’m glad he took the time to pass on his knowledge.

So this me attempting to do the same thing for you. Some of the things I’ve written here may not make sense at first, but come back to this letter from time to time and hopefully, one day, something here will help you when you are in a bind.

1. Learn to recognise ignorance in others quickly. It will save you a lot of wasted energy.
2. You can’t fix the world on your own.
3. Don’t be afraid to admit you've made a mistake. It’s not a crime to change your mind.
4. How you look and who you are not the same thing, but expect people to think that they are. With this knowledge you will be stronger than them.
5. If you can’t decide, go with your gut instinct.
6. You are more capable than you think you are.
7. Always look twice and and when you do, look for longer. Things are rarely as they seem on first glance.
8. Think for yourself. Make sure that the decisions you make are your own.
9. If you are not the smartest person in the room, make sure you know who is.
10. Be humble, be gracious, be polite and always be yourself.

I hope something here will help you one day…

Lots of Love

your Godfather,

Denis-Jose


Church of the Holy Cross, Greenford, London UK. 23rd Nov 2014




Saturday 22 November 2014

No 22: Up in the air

It's Saturday morning suddenly and I've lost half the night in flight back to the UK. Work up to a blue world after 3 hours of poor sleep.

This is the best picture I could manage out of the cabin window. I think we are somewhere over northern europe at the time I took it...

Somewhere over the Atlantic. 22nd Nov 2014

Friday 21 November 2014

No 21: phở the last time

I've been a regular visitor to the Washington DC area for the last 19 years. In fact, this was my 19th visit, so I guess it's become an annual event. And so as I come to the last day of my 2 weeks holiday I find myself craving to eat phở.

On a much earlier visit - way back in 90s - I was introduced to Vietnamese phở by my friend Russ. phở is a massive bowl of beef broth soup with noodles, meat, bean shoots, chillies and other herbal adornments. It's very popular in this part of the states too, much more so than in the UK - there seems to be a phở joint at every strip mall and shopping center in Fairfax county at least. So whenever I'm here I make a point of eating phở and it always turns out to be on my last day. I guess that makes it tradition now.


Vietnamese phở, Eden Center, Falls Church, Virginia. Nov 21st 2014
This time round we went to a place in the Eden center (can not remember the name now). The second picture is the equally amazing fried chicken wings that I had as a starter.

Spicy Fried Chicken Wings, Eden Center, Falls Church, Virginia. Nov 21st 2014
 Why hasn't this cuisine taken off in Europe to the same extent? this is the perfect lunch as far as I'm concerned...

Thursday 20 November 2014

No 20: In the event of emergency...

When the apocalypse comes - as it surely will - I know where I'm heading. Straight over to Tagg's house. No one else I know is so effortlessly self-sufficient. Brewing, distilling, hunting, woodworking and other wizardry (including weather forecasting).

We spent the evening over at Tagg's home, which has to be the best place for surviving anything that is likely to befall mankind. At the very least there will be an endless supply of excellently home brewed beers, liquors and spirits.

I could only ever dream of being that good at taking care of myself. I can cook, and tend a mean vegetable garden, but if it involves using power tools or getting up very early in the morning and waiting around patiently... forget it. I guess my job will be making hot sauce & ice cream.

So here's to you Tagg... and my Friday morning hangover.


Tagg Tim, pouring me a glass of his home brewed Belgian style wheat beer, Nov 20th 2014

Wednesday 19 November 2014

No 19: Standing in the crotch of genius

My favorite monument in the USA (and possibly the world) is the Albert Einstein Memorial. It's... just wonderful. Supposedly it's made from penny's collected from American school kids, but I've never been able to verify that. However, I can confirm that if you stand in the right spot, look at him and speak, the local acoustics bounce the sound back at you. Albert speaks!

If I'm ever in DC on a touristy visit, I always make some time for Albert. It's comforting to stand in the crotch of genius!

Albert Einstein Memorial, Washington DC, Nov 19th 2014
Later in the evening I attended 'Kostume Karaoke'. I think the name says it all, so I won't go into details, other than I performed my usual rendition of 'Delilah' by Tom Jones. 

The event took place at a pub in the 8th street district of Washington DC called Little Miss Whiskey’s. It's a bit of a dive, but it had one of the best illuminated beer signs I've seen... in the toilet.


Approved by Billy Dee Williams! Little Miss Whiskey’s, Washington DC Nov 19th 2014

Tuesday 18 November 2014

No 18: Road and Space

Quite a large portion of the day was spent considering, musing and discussing the technology behind batteries and electric cars. It was driven by a message on my laptop about the battery and quickly moved onto the subject of my host's Tesla S.

The Tesla is a modern technological marvel. It has screens instead of dials. It's silent. It does zero to sixty in under 5 seconds. It's bigger on the inside than on the outside and it can travel through time.

One of those statements is a lie.

Inside dash of Tesla S. November 18th 2014
And just in case the battery runs flat, there's a bike under the front hood. That's not a standard accessory, but a smart one (the owner is a smart guy!)

Under the hood, Tesla S. November 18th 2014

It is simply a spacecraft on wheels!!

Monday 17 November 2014

No 17: Intersteller

What better place to see a big budget blockbuster space movie like Intersteller than the National Air & Space Museum? In addition to a full size 70mm Imax theater it has a real space shuttle, a full scale model of the Ranger landing craft from the movie and an Oculus Rift VR exhibit of the film set.

I'm not sure which I enjoyed more - the VR or the Film. The film is ambitious... but not perhaps a bit longer than it needs to be and my belief wasn't quite suspended. The VR Exhibit was much better than expected, but could definitely have been longer.

So, two pictures today, one of the Ranger from the film and one of my three companions - Ron, Craig & Russ - in the world of VR.

Ranger Landing Craft, Air & Space Museum, Dulles, Virginia. November 17th 2014


The Intersteller Oculus Rift Exhibit Air & Space museum, Dulles, Virginia. Nov 17 2014

Sunday 16 November 2014

No 16: As seen through the lens

An unexpected stumbling block to my 30 day challenge as been, unexpectedly, my camera. More precisely, the lens. About year ago I had an accident with it and horribly scratched it. I didn't realise until now how much that's affected my desire to take photos - the scratches are only apparent at certain focal lengths, so I've been content to live with them. Until now.

After reviewing the hundreds of pictures I've taken this past week, most of them are diminished by the lens blemishes. So much so that I spent the day shopping for a replacement.

I've spent a lot of my day trying different lenses at different camera shops and taking comparative pictures... until I found one. A good one - arguably a better one - at a very good price. 

As a last farewell to a lens that has served me well for 3 years, I'm making it the focus of today's picture (see what I did there?)

Sigma 17mm-70mm lens, retired. Nov 16,  2014

Saturday 15 November 2014

No 15: Bat-Mitzvah

And now we come to the main event. The Bat-Mitsvah! The reason I'm in the USA at the moment is because I made a promise a couple of years ago, that I would attend an all important coming of age ceremony. And you can't make a promise to an 11 year old and break it (and retain any sense of respect or credibility!). And I'm not one to miss a good party either.

A Bat-Mitsvah is the female version of the better known Bar-Mitsvah. Its not as common - traditionally only boys celebrate their coming of age, but, as in all things in the year is 2014, it;s time for a bit of reform.

Unfortunately, getting a picture to represent the day wasn't easy. For one thing no technology is allowed in the temple (even a reform one) and for another, most of the party pictures I have include lots and lots of kids, whose pictures I don't want to post without their parents consent.

So here's me and the girl of the moment - Renee Ritchey - at the handy-dandy photo-booth that provided much mirth at the celebratory party. The Penguin background was chosen by the young lady!

Renee Ritchey & Denis-Jose Francois, Centreville, VA, Nov 15, 2014
 


Thursday 13 November 2014

No 14: Compare the burger (part two)

I love it when a plan comes together. One week later and I had a good opportunity to do my burger comparison (see compare the burger part one for details). I visited Ray’s to the Third, in Arlington, Viriginia (just outside Washington DC) for dinner and had close to the same meal:
  • The ‘Big Punisher’ (Diablo Burger, Pepper Jack Cheese, Charred Jalapeños, Grilled Onions, Pirañha Sauce): $7.99
  • skin-on fries: $3.00
  • Mac n Cheese: $3.00
I skipped the coleslaw this time, but considering this wasn’t a lunch deal I think it's still a fair comparison. Total cost: $13.99 (£8.92). Last weeks price was $18.80 (£12.00)
And needless to say, today’s burger was bigger & better as well as cheaper.

In fact, even with the coleslaw it would have been cheaper (slaw was only an additional $3.00/£1.91)

BTW. don't be fooled by the photo. It's the same size burger. That is a *massive* milk shake jug and those are pretty large chips!!

And it was gooooood.


Big Punisher Burger at 'Ray's to the Third', Arlington, Washington DC. Nov 14th, 2014

Wednesday 12 November 2014

No 13: Down below the towers

I realised today that I’d as much time on the subway this week as i had walking above ground. At least, it felt like that. Every subway journey I'd taken had been long, slow and fairly uncomfortable. The NYC subway is old and run down and definitely in need of a scrub. But its indispensable too. Without it, the city wouldn't function at all.

Today’s picture is on the platform of Utica Avenue in Brooklyn, near where I’ve been staying all week. It looks like nearly every other station in NYC: Dark, grimy and often feeling deserted - even when it's busy.


Utica Avenue Station, Brooklyn, NY. Nov 13th 2014

Tuesday 11 November 2014

No 12: Down in the park

I haven’t spent all my time marveling at the glass and steel capitalism porn and I wanted today's picture to reflect that. So I set out to see a different side of the city.

When I was a teenager I wanted to be the best rapper in the world. In actual fact I was convinced I already was, but due to a being born in the wrong part of the world I could only watch from afar... and learn.

Now obviously, back in the 80s there was no Internet. No easy way to see pictures and learn the history of the culture that I so desperately wanted to be part of. The only thing I had was the music - the lyrics of the rap songs I listened to non-stop - or what I saw in the movies. And, the New York of the 80s as depicted in the movies was definitely not a nice place. In reality it probably wasn’t either. I’ve always wondered which was more real - life or fiction?

So I spent this morning on the subway traversing New York and I visited the Bronx. For added atmosphere I made sure I was listening to the music of my youth. It looked - and felt - exactly like I imaged.


But I didn’t take any photos there. I’ll be honest and say that I didn’t feel comfortable pulling out a $2000 camera while walking through one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. I guess the adult version of me is very far removed from the street-tough wannabe of my youth.

Later on in the afternoon, I returned to Manhattan and took a long walk through central park - another venue from the imagination of my youth. I was surprised by the tranquility of the park and its beauty.

Today’s picture is taken from the middle of the park near the central reservoir. I chose it because it’s in direct contrast to all the previous shots of the city I'd taken. Everything felt older, more worn, a little slower and more laid back. In fact the picture could have been taken any time in the last 50 years.



Central Park Reservoir & West Side, NY. Nov 12th 2014

No 11: Missing

I was in New York two weeks before 9/11. In fact, on that occasion I had breakfast at a small place somewhere beneath the towers, precisely at the time the first plane hit 14 days later. I’ve been back to NYC since then, but never returned to ground zero, until today.

If you've been there before that day, the sense of there being something missing - the gap, for want of a better term - is overwhelming. If you hadn't, I suspect it would still feels very odd. In a city where everything is packed as tightly as possible, there’s a massive space where the twin towers used to be.
 

The memorial is elegant and dignified. Two giant fountain pools sitting in the footprint of the two towers, surrounded by the names of all the people who died. Beneath is a museum exhibit outlining the events of the day and the aftermath.

Strangely, not as depressing as I expected*. The memorial illustrates the strength of human character in the face of terror and our ability, as a species, to help one another and put our lives at risks for the sake of others. Not depressing, but very, very sad.


The Freedom Plaza South Tower Memorial, 11th November, 2014
So, what better New York way to cheer up than with Pizza? Not just any pizza. no no. A walk across the Brooklyn bridge to Grimaldi’s - the place where Frank Sinatra used to get his pizzas… shipped to him in Las Vegas. Now, I don’t know if they reheat well, but I can vouch for one thing - they sure are goooooood.


Large Pizza with italian sausage, pepperoni & extra cheese, Grimaldi's, Brooklyn, NY. 11th Nov 2013
*note. in case you are wondering, the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC is the most depressing place I have ever been.

Sunday 9 November 2014

No 10: In amongst the towers

Whether you are looking up, or looking down - Manhattan is impressive. I spent the day walking the streets of midtown, mostly looking up at the buildings. It’s hard not to. 

One of the great things about New York is that at every turn there is something famous. Even if you’ve never been here - which I have, several times - there are lots of recognisable names: The United nNations, The Guggenheim museum, The World Trade Center, Madison Square Gardens, Times Square, Madison Avenue, Central Park, The Brooklyn Bridge… and on and on.


NW Corner of Bryant Park, 6th Ave & 42 Street, Nov 10th 2014

No 9: There's always a bigger fish

I’ve always been fascinated by cities. All aspects of them - from the nerdy complexity of their transport systems and supply chains, to the intricacies of their social structures and how the geography of a place can define it's culture.

As a Londoner, there are very few cities in the world which fill me with a greater sense of awe than my home town. London is, after all, one of the greatest cities in the world and was, for hundreds of years, the largest, densest city on earth.

But New York… It leaves my mouth hanging open at the sheer scale of everything. Each time I come here I'm reminded - to quote an unpopular movie - "there's always a bigger fish". Bigger, taller, faster, busier, noisier, dirtier. It's even awake longer, 24 hours a day. As I wander the streets looking up, down and side ways, unable to take it all in I realise that only New York and Tokyo have this effect on me. I feel like a little fish in a small pond.

Today’s picture is of lower Manhattan as seen from the Empire State Building. The Empire State isn’t the tallest building in New York any more, but it’s still the most magnificent and since the fall of the twin towers, probably the most iconic (although fans of the Chrysler Building might contest that!)


Lower Manhattan, view from the Empire State Building, Sunday 9th November 2014
The second picture, is the opposite view, looking north towards central park (You can just about see the aforementioned Chrysler Building on the far right side of the image)


Midtown Manhattan, view from the Empire State Building, Sunday 9th November 2014

Saturday 8 November 2014

No 8: Travel Land

There's a place we all go from time to time. It's both everywhere and nowhere at the same time. But even though it doesn't really fall under any particular sovereignty, it's not a no-man's land or a free for all or even a free state. In fact it probably has stricter rules and swifter justice than anywhere else:

  • You can't enter without permission. 
  • You can't leave without permission. 
  • You have to carry identification at all times
  • You have to keep all your belongings with you at all times.
  • Do not joke with officials - Security is no laughing matter.

Welcome to Travel Land! Enjoy your stay! (You could be here a while)


Somewhere in Travel Land, Nov 8th, 2014

Thursday 6 November 2014

No 7: Compare the Burger (part 1)

With my trip to the USA imminent I thought I'd chronicle my lunch (and thus my first food pic of this challenge). Once a week a bunch of us walk to the Chicago Rib Shack, which is relatively newly opened in Clapham North. That's about a 25 minute walk each way, so the heavy lunch is justified I feel.

In the pic you can see the £8 Lunch Special - Burger, Fries & coleslaw, with additional Mac & Cheese (£4) on the side. Total cost, £12.

It should be relatively easy to comparison shop once I'm in the USA. I'm expecting to get more & better for less... but we shall see.

Lunch Special plus side at Chicago Rib Shack, Clapham North, 07 Nov 2014

Upddate:

To answer a few questions, asked via facebook. Yes, I ate it all. it's really not that much. And yes, it was good. Burgers are very subjective things, but I like the ones they serve here.




No 6: Thought of the day

And there are days where you are just left with wise words. The 'Though of the Day' board at Tooting Bec and other Northern Line tube stops has become a 'thing' for local residents. Some days, it hits the nail on the head.


Thought of the day, Tooting Bec, 06 Nov 2014

No 5: Magnetron

Magnetron with chaos defrost
I got a new microwave. Actually, I got a Magnetron. That's the Dutch word for Microwave, and with the added 'chaos defrost' mode makes it sound way more sci-fi!

I never thought a household gadget could be so important. Not having one for 3 months has changed the way I cook and eat but not in the way you think.

See, I love cooking large amounts and freezing the extra. But with an electric hob in our new flat and no Magnatron, reheating frozen food is a real pain in the backside. So I've been cooking different meals and ordering more delivery and take out meals because I don't have the time to cook anything decent.

And finally, sterilizing jars for hot sauce is Waaaaaay easier in a microwave.

So there, I've justified the purchase for all the cooking snobs. Magnetron Wins!


Wednesday 5 November 2014

No 4: I believe in Lionel


Who was Lionel? And what happened to him? These were the questions asked at a piece of culinary theatre I went to last night. A hidden, secret garden, filled with wondrous joys and tastes. But I can't say more than that, otherwise it wouldn't be a secret. But maybe a picture says it all?

"I believe in Lionel"


Monday 3 November 2014

No 3: Pipeline


Seems that no matter what job I do, regardless of the company, I'm likely going to spend a certain amount of time each day in a meeting. And for the past 2 years - at 3 different companies - they've nearly always been pipeline meetings.

In my industry - TV & Film VFX/CG - the term pipeline is used to refer to the way we transport data from department (or discipline) to another. Raw stuff comes in at one end - Film footage, photos, 3d Models and other data.... it travels through the company via artists, technicians, producers and a myriad of software... and TV & Film comes out the other end, all shiny and polished and ready to enjoy.

If only it were that simple....

Pipeline meeting, JF Animation, Brixton, London, Nov 03 2014

Sunday 2 November 2014

No 2: Picture in Picture

Odd day. Whilst trying to communicate with friends on multiple continents - USA, India & Japan - I became slightly confused about the time. This was caused by two things.

1) My over-reliance on Google for all things. turns out that the Google-brain is not infallible and my calendar was wrong about the time in Japan.

2) European daylight savings time changed last week but in the USA it didn't happen until today... and Japan doesn't do the one hour back thing at all.

All this and it was belting it down with rain all morning. so my breakfast plans where nearly ruined. Let's not even talk about going to the Gym at 7.30am.

So I thought to myself, how about a picture of a clock reflected in a puddle? To represent a confusion about time and a generally wet day. Simple, huh?

No. The only thing simple about that idea was me. Each time I went out to take the picture I left the SD card from my camera behind. By the time I got it together to bring it with me... well it was too dark to take the picture. So what you have below is a photo-shopped version of what happened. Why photo-shopped? Because I also couldn't take the picture I wanted with my phone and Canon at the right moment in the right light.


No 2: Picture in picture
Bah Humbug!

Saturday 1 November 2014

No 1: The View


So it's time for another challenge. This time I'm going to create an image that represents my day, every day, for the month of November 2014. 'Create' means I can photograph, manipulate, draw, or sketch. Or even do something fully CG. The point is that it needs to be created by me and should in some way reflect the day that I've had (or am having at the time), be it literally, figuratively of emotionally. I don't need to write about the pictures, but I probably will, to help put them in context.

That said, I decided to start off with the view from my childhood bedroom in queens park park, West London. I went to visit my mum this afternoon, as I usually do on a Saturday afternoon and with it being an unusually clear, sunny day for the beginning of November it struck me as a good place to start. The picture below is actually very high resolution. You can see the full res version here. (it's nearly 100mb, you've been warned).

The view... from Queens Park Court, W10, November 1st 2014



I grew up up from the age of 10 to my early 20s looking at this view every morning and evening. It's my view of London and whilst this picture isn't bad it doesn't really do it justice as there is much more than what you see here on either side.

The flat is on the 4th floor. Not particularly high, but the land dips away and there are no obstructions for a good distance, so you end up with a spectacular, panoramic view London. When we first moved in, in 1980, you could see every landmark building in the capitol. Since then, there's been lots and lots of construction, so some of them are lost - St Paul's Cathedral and the Old Bailey for instance - but then again, there's lots of new ones too. The Shard, Canary Wharf, and most recently the Gherkin.

And the view is seasonal. In a few days time it'll be lit up with fireworks for Guy Fawkes night. In winter it looks great on those rare occasions when London is covered in snow. In summer its sea of green and sunlight reflecting off the glass.

Whenever I travel anywhere, whenever I need to think about a new endeavour, whenever I am looking back at events nostalgically, I find myself returning to look at this view of London.