Anna Aden Writes

It was rainy day and I was taking a walk over my favourite bridge, Waterloo Bridge, and I decided to pop into Somerset House. It's quite interesting because I don't think I've ever been into Somerset House, though I gone by numerous times. During the summer, when I was a student, I used to use the Kings College Library which is next door. And I've often peeped in through the gates during London Fashion Week, as it's a popular venue for fashion shows. It's feels like a place and I only had a few minutes to spare so I didn't see much. But I didn't manage to go and see the famous Nelson Stairs which goes the Navy Board Rooms.  So I guess if you are fan of Navel Times wars, it's definitely one for you. I think the Navy Board Rooms are by appointment  only, I wasn't bothered because I was having a wander around. I walked to the top of the stairs and railings are quite wonky and there is strange vibe so it felt a bit scary, with that said, p...

I know communications has moved on and now everyone just uses text messages, emails and DMs or social media but The Postal Museum was a gem I found tucked in the depths of Clerkenwell (a London District), one day as I was going to Gails an artisan bakery.  It was free entry and had lots of activities for children and adults. The battered green post box on the left hand-side is the first ever, the next was a special edition for Queen Victoria and then gold one for some celebration. Not sure what, it was probably the Olympics or something. Though small the had plenty of display, like old carriages, and tales of highway robbers and a few fire arms on display. This was the motorbikes for the telegram boys, no need for that with email now. Old fashioned telephones and there was a telephone box as well. You can see a few around central London, but mostly for tourists. A few display of war time letters, they were very poignant, and a few sad, others happy. This was ...

Modern Gallery make you think of the world as it is today. I just wandered around the exhibitions in the Tate modern and  seemed focused on oppression of humanity - focusing on the poverty, wars, sexuality, violence, conflict, the underdog and gritty. This was a picture that captured my imagination because it looked so modern. This is a painting by German artist Christian Schad  called Agosta, the Pigeon-Chested Man, and Rasha, the Black Dove 1929 is a large portrait-orientated oil painting of two funfair performers.  https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/schad-agosta-the-pigeon-chested-man-and-rasha-the-black-dove-l02264  So in typically America-speak when I saw my people, I had to stop and take a picture, therefore homegirl, Rasha, the black dove is headlining my blog. In those days, I guess the only work she could get was as side-freak show but she is very beautiful, modernly so. It also made me think of what happened to all the black people or people of colo...

I arrived at Waterloo in the rain and took a picture of the Royal Festival Hall at the South Bank Centre. Actually, I'm still not sure if these two are separate entities in the same block. I've been here for a few concerts, which are normally reasonably priced compared to the O2 in Greenwich. Normally a good place to check for events once in a while. I didn't go down to the harbour level where they have a skateboarding area - or an area high jacked years ago by skateboarders. This the bust of Nelson Mandela outside the entrance, or should I say one of the entrances of the hall. After going inside, I then decided to walk over the footbridge to Charring Cross and to Trafalgar Square. I was pointless saving that for another blog post. So in the rain,  I walked over the footbridge taking pictures. As you can see the weather is pretty grim  with dark clouds in the air. Not a big deal since I was wearing my new purple rain coat. It's about a five minutes ...

This is mostly filled with pictures more than anything, but not enough to do the park justice.  Regent's Park is one of the parks, I visit once in a while. There was a time when I used to walk there on early Saturday mornings. It's huge and I have a feeling most users tend to keep to one area of the park. I haven't really got much to say other it's a very nice park, with lots of open spaces.  There tends to be lots of activities in the summer with an open air theatre, summer food fair, charity races and other events. At times they even had exhibitions or installations around the park.   I tend to stick to Avenue Gardens which is south if I have my bearings right, I rarely go beyond that bit. However there is also a boating lake and shamefully, I've probably only been to Queen Mary's garden a couple of times but again it depends on your preference/area. However you can walk towards the London Zoo, though it is probably nearer another entrance. An...

I know it's not on my list but its still in London. From the top left handsome, the first picture is right hand side of the entrance which is further along. The second picture is the entrance's iron case gates, the next is the back view of the library. This next series was inside the courtyard. Starting from the upper lefthandside and moving clockwise, that is an iron statue of something or the other - not sure what. Next is the main entrance, I didn't go in because bags aren't allowed. I know for the reading rooms you can only carry clear plastic bags that are provided - I'm not sure if this is still the case. The next is the courtyard and there are lots of spaces to sit down. After that is another statue of a famous person. Not sure who. They have lots of exhibitions and events. They also need to be sent a copy of each book so they can archive a copy, or something. It's called a legal deposit which I need to find out more about so I add my pile of wo...