Early October in Hyde Park....And British Summertime Ends

Above is once again my most recent video taken on a visit to Hyde Park earlier

this month, although the video cuts out after a couple of minutes being that

the photo card I used ran out of recording space.

What's odd though is that the Lumix Panasonic camera that I've used these last

few years, always had a video camera facility but I never took advantage of it

until this year. And clearly the quality and sharpness is a great improvement

compared to some older videos I made on my phone. Of course this short video

above was all done impromptu and hand held unlike the videos of 'The Mill Hill

Village Pond' and the 'Brent River' where every scene was pre-planned along with

the use of a camera tripod...in true David Lean style!

It's just a shame that in 2021, our second year of Covid, that I haven't been very creative

on this blog, preferring to play it cautious by avoiding crowd gatherings outdoors.

We can only hope that once we get through this approaching Winter that things might

improve next year.

And so with the official change of season this weekend we traditionally 

light the blog's fireplace.

Below: The Serpentine Hyde Park

Speaker's Corner Hyde Park

On Sunday I took a stroll down to Hyde Park and Speaker's Corner on a busy London

day that saw the return of our annual London Marathon where huge crowds turned

out to support the runners.

Of course Speaker's Corner was a bit of a no go area during the days of our lockdowns.

But I was pleased to see that things have quietened down and are back to normal.

But it's clear to see the changes at Speaker's Corner compared to the days I first visited

there when I first moved to London. There were some real characters. Speakers that

would command huge crowds, unlike today. And they would happily joust with all the

hecklers.

I remember how American tourists would regularly be shocked and outraged by

all the antics that took place there, while at the same time enjoying every minute of

what could only be described as pure theatre. And when you arrived there and saw all the

groups of clowns and hecklers, you knew that you were in for a good time. And it was a time

when all subjects and talking points were covered. But today Speaker's Corner seems to be

about one thing only, and that is the clash of East and Western religious ideologies.

Unfortunately a huge downpour of rain brought my filming there to an end so I moved

on down for another visit to The Serpentine for more picture taking.

The Marble Arch Mound.....An Expensive Catastrophe

It's not often that a new London attraction fails on such a large scale as we've seen

over this Summer with the installation of The Marble Arch Mound.

When I first saw Westminster Council's images of what the Mound was going to look like

earlier this year, I was reasonably interested but curious. I imagined that it would look

something like Glastonbury Tor covered by an enchanted Forest. But sadly it just

turned out to be a mess with barely anything growing on it. After all the hill is just a facade

supported by a mountain of scaffolding, covered by a thin grass matting clinging to the

structure.

When the Mound opened in July it looked quite poorly with barely anything growing on it.

Complaints were made and refunds were given out, forcing the site to be closed down and

reopen in September and allowing all entry at no cost.

Of course my only incentive to climb to the top of the Mound was to see the views and

get a few new and different views of the area around Marble Arch.

Apparently the Deputy Leader of Westminster Council who took charge and spearheaded

the whole project, recently resigned after it was revealed that the total costs of the Mound had

escalated to almost £6 million pounds.

The Mound will close in January 2022.

Above:  From the top of the Mound overlooking Hyde Park.

Below: Overlooking the Marble Arch from halfway up the stairs. And behind the

Arch is The Hard Rock Hotel which once used to be The Cumberland Hotel.

EDGWARE ROAD

Above:  From the top of the Mound looking up the Edgware Road towards Praed Street

and Marylebone. All familiar territory to me as it was Marylebone that was my first

address and workplace when I first moved to London.

The road on the left is Hyde Park Place which leads up to Lancaster Gate and Notting Hill.

On the far side of the Mound the grass is still looking patchy.

Above is the viewing platform at the top of the Mound. And you do imagine that some of the

surrounding buildings are getting even more superior aerial views of our capital.

Looking towards Park Lane

Above and below is a light installation by Anthony James called 'Lightfield.' It can be

viewed at ground level once you come down the stairs from the top viewing platform.

The display consists of sixteen LED cubes. And as you look into them you get a false

sense of infinity.

Above and more below of Hyde Park

THE MARBLE ARCH

Above is the Selfridges Department Store which first opened in March 1909.

On arriving at Selfridges I noticed a bit of a commotion where several photographers

had gathered and were snapping away at catwalk models that had come outside for

a breather. Apparently there was a fashion show taking place at the Old Selfridges Hotel.

And it was all part of London Fashion Week.

Above:  Oxford Street.

Below: Marble Arch Tube Station.