Thames Vitality

Here’s another interesting boat that I’ve noticed moored outside my flat a few times. It’s the Thames Vitality, one of two oxygenation barges built for Thames Water by McTay Marine. The Thames’s oxygen levels can plummet after heavy rain when storm pipes overflow and these boats are used to replenish oxygen levels in the river. This process helps to

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MTB 102

Living on The River I see lots of interesting boats pass my window but today was the first warship. It must have been on it’s way to Henley on Thames for the Traditional Boat Festival this weekend. Motor torpedo boat MTB 102 is a pretty little boat with an interesting history. MTB 102 was launched in 1937 and was the

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Westbound commute 1

The public transport options for getting to work are so bad the pushbike is really the best option. I’m trying to find the best route. This wasn’t too bad although the traffic is pretty nasty in the Farringdon St/Fleet St/Strand area and the shortcut from Clerkenwell Rd to Farringdon Rd didn’t really work because of all

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Coal Holes

From the Wiki: A coal hole is a hatch in the pavement (sidewalk, in US usage) above an underground coal bunker. They are sometimes found outside houses that existed during the period when coal was widely used for domestic heating from the early 19th century to the middle 20th century. In Britain they became largely

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The Tweed Run

Today was a glorious day for the London Tweed Run. What is the Tweed Run, you ask? According to the website, it is a Metropolitan bicycle ride with a bit of style. Which means proper attire is expected. Tweed suits, plus fours, bowties, cycling capes, and jaunty flat caps are all encouraged The first really

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Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid

I went to my first football match tonight. Miguel managed to get some tickets to the Champions League match between Chelsea and Club Atlético de Madrid at Stamford Bridge. It was a lot of fun! Things didn’t go too well for Atletico, though. Despite some determined singing from the Spanish fans Chelsea cruised to a

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Anniversary

Yesterday was our 7th wedding anniversary and to celebrate we went to the Criterion Restaurant for an early dinner before seeing The 39 Steps at the Criterion Theatre. Opened in 1873, the restaurant is an amazing building. A long shoebox shaped hall that stretches back from Piccadilly Circus. Marble pillars flank huge mirrors that reflect

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