Poles, and lots of em.....

On the South Bank of the Thames out to the Erith marshes, lots of Poles. Heres some of them.

The Tiergarten park in Berlin has a collection of antique streetlamps from around the world, both gas and electric.

Since most items of street furniture are of a utilitarian nature, authorities generally keep them up-to-date and replace them regularly (usually to conform to regulations, safety codes, etc.). Because of this, old, outdated, obsolete, or even non-functional street furniture can be rare sights and hold a special fascination and inspire nostalgia for many people.

Instagram setting. OFF.

Thats it. Last instagrammy picture. Ive started to see the world through a blueish, purpleish vignetted filter.

This duck was massive.

Duck Pancakes

• 4 duck breasts, about 175g/6oz each, skin removed
• ½ tsp Chinese five spice
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 100ml/3½fl oz hoisin sauce
• 8-10 ready-made Chinese-style pancakes (or mini flour torillas), warmed
• 1 bunch spring onions, cut into matchsticks
• ½ cucumber, halved, seeds removed and cut into matchsticks

• 4 duck breasts, about 175g/6oz each, skin removed
• ½ tsp Chinese five spice
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 100ml/3½fl oz hoisin sauce
• 8-10 ready-made Chinese-style pancakes (or mini flour torillas), warmed
• 1 bunch spring onions, cut into matchsticks
• ½ cucumber, halved, seeds removed and cut into matchsticks

Preparation method

1. Cut the duck into thin strips and toss in the five spice and pepper. Heat the sesame oil in a frying pan or wok and add the duck. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until cooked through, then add the hoisin sauce. Continue to cook for about 1 minute, until the duck is thickly coated with the sauce.
   
2. Transfer the duck to a warmed dish, arrange the spring onions and cucumber in a bowl, unwrap the warmed pancakes and allow everyone to dig in and help themselves. The pancakes should be topped with some duck, spring onions and cucumber, then rolled up to resemble the Chinese classic.
   

Match ball

Beaten, used and abused. As any match ball should be.

The “Tango España” ball designed for Spain 1982 was the first to be made of a mix of real leather and synthetic material. It had a polyurethane coating to provide a more efficient water repellent. It also curled like a dream. Classic.

Watch the birdy

Loads of birds around today. Tons of em. Heres one atop a landfill mound of londons finest contaminated soil.

Seem to be living in a cross processed instagramed world at the moment. Thats another up there. Starting to become a little tired of it now though.

Apple named Instagram as app of the year for 2011 saying the app makes it "near-impossible to take a bad shot." Hmm. More like near impossible to take a photo that doesnt look cross processed.

Work.

Last day up the big building today. Now onto the far more complicated little brother next door.

In London's largest ever concrete pour - 5,500 cubic metres was poured over 36 hours.

Sign of the times

Recently closed business.

Premises handed back. 38 People made redundant.

No time to tart it up in PP.

No time to use the new ND filter yet either.

Below. BBC unemployment tracker. A newer and far snazzier version of the method from when I was a kid. A newsreader (seem to remember it was always the ginger guy who does the royal reporting now) would list the days closures before giving you the new national unemployment figure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10604117

Enjoy.