In Living in London on April 11, 2010 by Michael Tagged: bike, bikers, hats, kensington gardens, London, parade, spring
“I must say: very British, indeed!” as my aunt commented. Yesterday was the date for the annual Tweed Run and we went out to enjoy the nice weather and see the spectacle.
We had some problem figuring out the route they were taking but finally found them riding through Kensington Gardens in front of Royal Albert Hall.
It seems like the tweed thing is a whole tongue-in-cheek movement of endorsing gentleman-ship, gin drinking and pipe smoking manifested in the magazine The Chap.
“The Chap takes a wry look at the modern world through the steamed-up monocle of a more refined age, occasionally getting its sock suspenders into a twist at the unspeakable vulgarity of the twenty-first century.”
The people in tweed looked like they were truly enjoying their ride but so were all the people looking and there was quite a number of people out taking pictures of the spectacle.
In Living in London on March 25, 2010 by Michael Tagged: green, London, parade, st patrick, willesden green
We live in the borough of Brent which is the most ethnic diverse in England and also the place with most Irish people in London. Wednesday last week was the real St. Patrick’s day which meant they put on a parade right down the street from us.
Around 6000 people came out and celebrated everything Green, Guinness and Irish and it was quite a show. It was great to see not just the Irish but everyone celebrating. Like these kids which looks anything but Irish playing the Bodhrán.
I also enjoyed the fact that the lineup before the actual parade was in front of the local mosque. Here with a truck with the title of an Irish rebel song called “Follow me up to Carlow” which is a celebration of an Irish victory over a 3000 men English army.
Peter Marshall the photographer was also in Willesden Green and as a lot more photos from the event.
In Living in London on March 15, 2010 by Michael Tagged: friends, London, parade, st patrick
Spring has arrived in London and so have the green people of the St. Patrick’s Parade.
Yesterday the sun was out and the bagpipers where filling the streets of central London with Irish tunes.
Not all of it was particular Irish. For instance the most cheerful act was Hare Krishna worshippers playing, singing and dancing down the street.
Other than that it was a parade of big hats, green cars and white legs.
Ann had four Maltese friends staying over this weekend and the parade was the Sunday out event before they all went back home.
