100 Days to Go

Today marks 100 days until the Olympics. How many of you will be coming to London for the event? Do you have tickets? How many of you who live in London are staying in town?

Huggers set new world record

Another reason London is the best city in the world. Hugging couples have set a new world record at St Pancras Station. I popped along last night to see how the hugging couples were faring. With a little over 8 hours under their belts at that stage and still full of enthusiasm that they would go the marathon distance and pass the 24 hrs 34 minutes of the previous record. I've just checked their progress all those taking place at the time I photographed them were all still there a few minutes ago. Yahoo!

Lego Xmas

Ok it's now close enough to Xmas that I am now going to bring Xmas images. This year it began in October! Way to early for me. The giant Xmas tree in St Pancras Station is entirely made of lego. One way of being green I guess. It's a hit with the tourists as they arrive on the eurostar.

Eavesdropping

In busy railway stations everyday activities and dramas are occurring. Do you ever wonder where everyone is going or what is happening in their lives? "Audio Obscura" by Lavinia Greenlaw takes you to the edge of this space.

Like camera obscura (defined as a darkened enclosure in which outside images are projected) audio obscura places you to an audio equivilant. Snatches of a conversation, thoughts heard out loud, sometimes dark dramas are played out. Put on the headphones and wander around the station and you will be drawn into another world.

On at St Pancras International Station until October 23.

Passengers

Always someone arriving, always someone leaving, always someone running. The passengers for the trains.

A Victorian Beauty

The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel will open its doors to the public 5 May 2011.
Originally the Midland Grand Hotel opened by Queen Victoria 5 May 1873, this stunning Gothic building was nearly demolished several times.
Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman led a protest in the 1960's to save the building. A statue of him stands in the Eurostar rail station next door.

Following a £150 million refurbish it has now been beautifully restored to its Victorian glamour. This is one of the smaller staircases. The grand staircase is regarded as the most majestic in England.
I'll bring you more in the weeks to come.

Countdown to the Games

The first of many sets of the Olympic rings was unveiled at St Pancras rail station the other day.
Just 508 days until the 2012 games begin in London.

Thanks to the games many of London's buildings and parks are getting a make over. Expect London to be in her finest gowns next year.

Travel Chaos

Airports have thousands camping on the floors, trains have been cancelled. All in all travelling at the moment is not a heap of fun.
Yesterday the queue for the eurostar stretched from inside the station along Euston Road, past the British library and down the side street. About 6,000 people, with a wait of 5-6 hours.

According to the papers, tempers were frayed and eurostar staff where surly and rude.

Not so. They were doing a sterling job trying to deal with a difficult situation. Handing out drinks and croissants, all with a smile. Directing people to the end of the mile long queue.

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Not so. They were doing a sterling job trying to deal with a difficult situation. Handing out drinks and croissants, all with a smile. Directing people to the end of the mile long queue.

A perfect opportunity for comedian buskers I thought. Where were they?

Allsorts

Captured this giant liquorice allsort on a charity run at st Pancras station. Raising funds for Harry's million.

The Poet

Detail of Betjeman statue at St Pancras Station.

Waiting for a Train

It's impossible to miss the 9 metre high statue, by Paul Day, of the kissing couple at St Pancras Station. However there is more to see if you get up close.
A couple of years after its installation a frieze was added around the bottom. This is part of that frieze.
Meet there next time and take a good look at it.

Champagne while Waiting

The champagne bar at St Pancras station claims to be the longest champagne bar in th world. Still a great place to wait for or say goodbye to friends arriving or leaving on the eurostar. In winter the seats are heated so very cosy too.

Ping Pong

We've had pianos around the city to bring out the musician in us all. Now we have Ping to bring out the sports person in us all.

The program launched at St Pancras last night plans to place 100 tables around the city, complete with balls and bats.

Various pop-up tables will offer lessons, celebrity games and even a passport to be stamped each time you find a new table.

Go for it!

Santa's Sleigh

Alternative transport at St Pancras

Snowman in the Making

From now until 24 December catch an ice-sculpture at St Pancras station. You may even get to see it being made, like this snowman being carved out of giant blocks of ice. Created using a chainsaw, sander and giant chisel.
Every couple of days a new sculpture will appear. You even get to have a say in what you'd like to see. The peoples choice will appear Monday 21 December.

Toes

The detail of a statue on the new St Pancras church. New, as in built in the early 1800's. A wee design flaw exists in these figures. They were made a bit too high, so had to be squeezed in a bit in the middle to fit. feet are ok though.

Am away for a few days so wont be doing my usual visiting.