Never before have I been more excited on my journey throughout the great and good of London’s River Crossings. Out of all the bridges, tunnels and ferries, this was the one I was most looking forward to. Albert Bridge is pretty, ludicrously so and has survived soldiers marching to war, the 1960’s and even incontinent dogs. However, the ravages of the Chelsea Tractor are no guarantee to the survival of this crossing. Today in London, it is the weakest of all the road bridges and is the only bridge in the Capital, along with Twickenham that has no bus riding over it. Still being close to Battersea that does not matter and even more importantly, this is one beautiful crossing.
In fact, let me be blunt. My photos do absolutely no justice to Albert ridge. A cold night, a low battery and a lack of sleep, do not make for good photos. Get a tripod, take a long time and soak up the atmosphere. This is the first time that I will recommend a romantic walk or a moment together. Do it here! For day or night, this part of the River is beautiful, on either side of the water. If there is one thing to state about the Victorians, they took ‘pretty’ to the next level.
Opened in 1872, from the beginning it was more an ornament than a practical crossing, never generating enough from tolls to cover its costs. Today, to overcome the inbuilt defects, a support has been placed in the middle of the bridge as well as the severe restrictions on the traffic that can cross the bridge. It is inevitable that eventually this will become a pedestrian/cycle bridge. Take advantage of it while you can, but most importantly enjoy this fine old structure across the river, one of the oldest surviving structures over the river…
Getting there and Away:
Bus route 170 drops you off right on the North Bank, next to the old toll booths:
Otherwise, it is a few minutes walk from Battersea bridge and bus routes 19, 49, 319, 345, N19 and the N31.
One more thing out of interest. To date, this is the only bridge is London that I have seen, with its own phone booth. It is quite clear that Alert Bridge is the biggest delight so far…
I know I have pretty much followed the CWP Blog this week, and that is simply as I wanted to get the maximum exposure for the videos and articles that have been coming out recently. Needless to say, tomorrow shall be two very different blogs.
Or it could be four. I am not too sure. Anyways, it has been a little while since my last contribution to VlogsUp and so it is time for another and also I wanted to do a reply to Barry so I rolled both into one vlog. Enjoy!
Jay and Kay are back in an all new adventure, that was actually filmed in March. Only a seven month delay, but like a baby, there is something beautiful growing inside the womb of my computer. Honest.
Feeling S.A.D. now that the clocks have gone back? Well do not worry, help is at hand! There are many ways that you can beat the disorder that strikes the while of the UK from now until March when all will be well again!
So here are my top ten tips for keeping your sanity for the next five months:
Or any other fatty food. It is winter, it is allowed as our bodies NEED the fat. But make sure that if you are going to eat big, then eat well, for example, plov instead of a cream bun.
5) Use a big fat light bulb in your room to make you ‘feel’ in the summer mood.
Alternatively, try to get out in your lunch break. The effort you make will make you feel far happier.
6) Take drugs.
All kinds. Booze, ‘illegal’ ones, anything. But make sure that you are continuously high throughout the winter otherwise you are in for one hell of a comedown. Of course, I must add that if you choose this route, then remember that you will not be able to drive legally.
7) Leave the country.
But go somewhere sunny, otherwise it defeats the purpose.
Sex.
This really should have been number one, but CWP is more important to me.
9) Shout
When was the last time you truly opened your mouth and swore at someone?
10) Be happy.
Smile. It will make you happy. And more attractive too!
Going to the cinema on your own is, well, weird. But it is something that I do regularly. I like all types of films and most of my friends just scratch their heads in bewilderment. Also, in my late twenties, I am unusual in that I still go to the cinema and not for the occasional flick. Again I was at the flicks tonight, from the suburbs to the centre just quick enough to see the film before heading back. There are good films, bad films and ‘eh films’. Today was okay, not the greatest, but I am still glad I made the effort.
And one thing I always enjoy – the trailers before the main feature!
I have always wanted to say that, and I can! Ha, Caution Wet Paint’s biggest coup to date, being featured on the CNN website, as part of a special report on film festivals in London.
I have been very fortunate as a film maker (and not the most talented one) to have gained a lot of support from people throughout the media world who have helped me to gain exposure, that goes far beyond anything that a small film maker such as myself can expect. Firstly, thank you to all of you. Through some of the darkest days of my own neuroses, you have more than just kept my hopes alive, you have spurred me to continue. I hope that I am a success in what I want to achieve, film wise, and I hope that you amongst many more enjoy what I continue to make. Let me say it one more time. Thank you. I am eternally grateful.
And yes, it is official! Although I do a lot of webisodes, I am in the process of organising a real shoot in HD this winter that will continue the cinematic adventures of Jay and Kay. Hopefully it will be released in early 2009 and the big hope is to get to the next level of film festivals and to continue to promote and make more films.
The UK is a great country. For once I am not being cynical, but actually telling the truth. Go to many other parts of the world and you will find things are just not as nice as over here.
But, there are two very good reasons why I do slate the UK frequently. Firstly, the sheer amount of tax that I pay gives me that right. If I was not contributing, then I would shut up. But hell, I am forced to cough up a large proportion of my pay packet, so you bet I will complain. Secondly, the absolute muppets that lead this country are just asking for it.
This is one thing I appreciate about Britain. The ability to treat politicians with the contempt that they deserve. The fact that politics is openly known as a filthy trade and that all politicians, whatever their political hue are a bunch of wankers. When someone canvasses at your door step for a particular persuasion, they are treated with the respect that is normally meted out to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Elections in this country are a tame, six week affair and even then, we just switch off.
Now contrast this with America – the land of the free. These guys actually believe that their politicians are close to immortality, such are the rallies and gatherings staged in front of the cameras. It would not be so bad, but we, outside the USA have continuous coverage of these gut retching events. It is the American’s business, not mine if McCain or Obama win. I do not pay their taxes so I do not care. Life pretty much goes on the same for us, no matter who rules the White House.
In the UK, our healthy disregard for the political process is probably a class thing Politicians have traditionally been viewed as part of the aristocracy, the elite. That is what happens when you have a monarchy; you cannot get to the top of the grease pole and so from the outset, you know that it is a fixed system. In America, there is the belief that ordinary people can get to the top and become President. Ha! I am no big fan either way for the Royals, but having one less politician has its advantages. Yes, I am mildly in favour of the monarchy, in that it is preferable to having some grinning baby kisser trying to get me to put an ‘X’ in the box every few years.
Can you really imagine the flag waving and hoopla cheering behind Cameron or Brown? Please! I think it would be a choice between cringing or outbursts of laughter. Compare political conferences in the UK with the rallies in America. And the laughable thing is that the Americans also have a Vice President to care about. Whether or not we have a Deputy is up to the whim of the PM and thankfully, it is a spot that is not always filled.
Oh well, thankfully, this farcical process will be over in a few weeks and the news will be filled with something equally irrelevant but far more interesting than the pies that a particular candidate eats or the funny pictures of each guy.
Sending copies of 'Jay and Kay Save the World' to film festivals is a long and bewildering process. You need to be focused on the task at hand (hell for someone like me who enjoys the thrill of procrastination) as well as military precision in order to fulfill the requirements for each festival. Some festivals are part of a central submission syste […]
Sex.
Politicians, the US Presidential Election and how sad it all is.
October 22, 2008 · Leave a Comment
The UK is a great country. For once I am not being cynical, but actually telling the truth. Go to many other parts of the world and you will find things are just not as nice as over here.
But, there are two very good reasons why I do slate the UK frequently. Firstly, the sheer amount of tax that I pay gives me that right. If I was not contributing, then I would shut up. But hell, I am forced to cough up a large proportion of my pay packet, so you bet I will complain. Secondly, the absolute muppets that lead this country are just asking for it.
This is one thing I appreciate about Britain. The ability to treat politicians with the contempt that they deserve. The fact that politics is openly known as a filthy trade and that all politicians, whatever their political hue are a bunch of wankers. When someone canvasses at your door step for a particular persuasion, they are treated with the respect that is normally meted out to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Elections in this country are a tame, six week affair and even then, we just switch off.
Now contrast this with America – the land of the free. These guys actually believe that their politicians are close to immortality, such are the rallies and gatherings staged in front of the cameras. It would not be so bad, but we, outside the USA have continuous coverage of these gut retching events. It is the American’s business, not mine if McCain or Obama win. I do not pay their taxes so I do not care. Life pretty much goes on the same for us, no matter who rules the White House.
In the UK, our healthy disregard for the political process is probably a class thing Politicians have traditionally been viewed as part of the aristocracy, the elite. That is what happens when you have a monarchy; you cannot get to the top of the grease pole and so from the outset, you know that it is a fixed system. In America, there is the belief that ordinary people can get to the top and become President. Ha! I am no big fan either way for the Royals, but having one less politician has its advantages. Yes, I am mildly in favour of the monarchy, in that it is preferable to having some grinning baby kisser trying to get me to put an ‘X’ in the box every few years.
Can you really imagine the flag waving and hoopla cheering behind Cameron or Brown? Please! I think it would be a choice between cringing or outbursts of laughter. Compare political conferences in the UK with the rallies in America. And the laughable thing is that the Americans also have a Vice President to care about. Whether or not we have a Deputy is up to the whim of the PM and thankfully, it is a spot that is not always filled.
Oh well, thankfully, this farcical process will be over in a few weeks and the news will be filled with something equally irrelevant but far more interesting than the pies that a particular candidate eats or the funny pictures of each guy.
Categories: life · political
Tagged: 08, america, british, brown, cameron, commentary, election, grease, house, kingdom, mccain, obama, parliament, pole, politics, president, presidential, queen, states, uk, united, us, usa, wankers, white