Meanwhile, the Wivenhoe locals stumbling across onionbagblog are scratching their heads, pondering what is this online nonsense that has arrived in their lovely community, before staggering across the bar at The Greyhound for another round of Guinness.

Which is pretty much what I have been doing since we moved in here.

Welcome.

“Great Titchfield Street runs from Oxford Street almost right up to the Euston Road. It is a street that has a sense of hustle and bustle.

Developed by the Dukes of Portland, the street actually appears in Rocque’s famous map of London of 1746. The street was always home to London’s fashion and garment industry, but now your more likely to find digital agencies and post-production suites.

The street does however keep it’s tradition and variety of eateries. If you can think of it, you seem to pretty much be able to get it here. Of particular interest is the Scandinavian Kitchen if you’re look for something a bit off-beat.”

“An ancient street in the middle of the City with two very modern additions this week. Houndsditch is so called as it was once a ditch on one side of the London Wall, it grew so full of waste (let’s be nice about it) and dead dogs that it got it’s name.

It’s pretty much like any other City side street, until you reach the Liverpool Street end, where rises the rather ugly Heron Tower. What it lacks in aesthetics, it does make up for in size, being the tallest building in the City and the second in the UK.

At the other end is another new development, St Botolophs, which is nowhere near as tall and also, sadly, rather faceless.

Apparently as you near Bishopsgate there are gaps between the buildings. These are said to be the sites of plague pits.”

“We’re off to the centre of London’s Jewelery trade this week – Hatton Garden. Named after Sir Christopher Hatton (a favourite of Elizabeth I) it has had a connection with Jewelery since medieval times. Today it’s home to the whole gamut of shops from the downright tacky to the strictly A-listers only. In a way it’s this mixture that makes it so fascinating.

From the tree lined up-market end, nearest High Holborn, you walk up a slightly barren part until you get to the wonderful Wren House, a former chapel and school.

The place is usually buzzing on a weekday, particularly at lunchtimes. If you’re into street photography, this is a great place. Don’t forget to pop in for an ale at Ye Olde Mitre as long as you don’t miss the subtle entrance to it!”

“Another week, another bridge. I’m afraid I’m taking you a little further out this week, but I think it’s worth it. Hammersmith Bridge is not only colourful in decor, but also in history.

The current bridge is the second to stand in this location. It was designed by the civil engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette (he who instigated the Woolwich free ferry!) and opened in 1887.

Throughout it’s history it has had structural problems and has been closed frequently for repairs. Nowadays it’s only open to reduced traffic types and pedestrians.

But the problems have not all been down to structural weaknesses. The bridge has been bombed no fewer than three times by the IRA, in 1939, 1996 and finally by the Real IRA in 2000.

There’s a memorial plaque on the handrail that commemorates Lt Charles Campbell Wood, who in 1919, dived from the bridge to rescue a drowning woman. He saved her life, but sadly died later from tetnus.

The bridge is fascinating and full of picture opportunities, although it does wobble quite a bit so wind up those shutter speeds!”

Great Ormond Street, WC1, The Way We See It.

“I really enjoy going to famous London street that for some reason, you probably never visit. Great Ormond Street is one such street. It’s most famous inhabitant is the Children’s Hospital. It was founded in 1852 as the Hospital for Sick Children.

One source of income for the hospital comes from J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. In 1929 he gave the rights to the book to the hospital on condition that they didn’t disclose how much they made from it.

The street it’s in is in two parts, dissected by Lambs’ Conduit Street and the part to the east is a wonderful, if short, stretch of residential properties that take you back into a bit of a different age.”

Wigmore Street, W1, The Way We See It.

This week we’re back in the centre of town for Wigmore Street. It’s a busy street running parallel to Oxford Street and you’d be forgiven for thinking there was little there. But it does have some rather stunning architectural features if you take a little look upwards.

There’s also the very wonderful Wigmore Hall. It was built by C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik, the German piano manufacturer whose showroom was next door between 1899 and 1901.

Other than this nugget of history, number 95 was the original home of The Beatles Apple Corp. It’s busy, hectic and I think there’s a lot to photograph. Enjoy!

Essex Road, N1, The Way We See It.

“One day soon we’ll have a pretty location – but this week we’re off to what should be a nice posh area, but the road is anything but. Essex Road is in Islington, but whereas most of the borough has been gentrified and made beyond the means of most of us mortals, Essex Road still seems to have retained some of the original charm of the area.

Sure the top end near Islington Green has it’s fair share of trendy pubs and the lovely S & M cafe. But the further you get down, the more the shops become local, with fruit and veg and a fishmongers.

However, far and above my favorite inhabitant of Essex Road is at 105. The aptly named Get Stuffed has been in all sorts of trouble in the past over dodgy suppliers, and whatever your feelings are for stuffed animals, it’s a place you find you can’t just pass by without taking a little peek.

Further down there’s the ubiquitous bingo hall. This is a Grade II listed affair in wonderful mock Egyptian Style, formerly the Carlton Cinema. You can’t miss it.

There is also the usual mix of new developments, council flats and a somewhat incongruous semi-circle of Georgian houses. More shops, garages etc finish the road off.

There’s so much to see here, so much of interest that I’m sure you’ll have no problems finding thirty shots, let alone just three.”

Newport Court, WC2, The Way We See It.

Deep breath…

And relax.

Time hopefully to return to some form of normality, and some half-decent pretty pictures.

Cripes.

“More of a challenge for you all this week and to celebrate the Chinese New Year we head to China Town. Newport Court runs from Charing Cross Road to Newport Place and it’s a really nice bustly street full of life.

Naturally the laterns are out for the New Year and if you make it on the 14th you’ll be in for all the fun there. I’m not sure if it’s still there but there was a great shop selling cheap CD’s [Steve's - long since gone...]

There’s not much history as you can imagine from such a small street, but there’s plenty going on to snap, and it’s nearly always full of people.”

Albert Bridge, SW11, The Way We See It.

“Another week, another bridge! This week we’re heading down to Chelsea for the Albert Bridge. This one really does have quite an interesting history to it. It’s one of only two bridges on the Thames in central London not to have been replaced.

That’s not to say that it got off to much of a better start in life. The bridge was upgraded twice in it’s life to make it more sturdy, and as such has become a hybrid of three types of bridge.

What we need to know is that it’s bright and colourful (so as to be noticed by passing river traffic and not bumped into,) and is more so at night when it’s light show comes in to effect. It’s certainly the peacock of Thames bridges.

The bridge is Grade II listed and is in a sorry state of repair structurally. Apparently it’s not all down to road traffic; dogs relieving themselves on the way to nearby Battersea Park have apparently been weakening the timbers with their wee.”

* ouch!