Harry Potter weather

This summer has been unusually warm and dry. The effect can be seen all over our parks and open spaces which have turned a crisp yellow instead of their usual bright green. I took this photo just before a summer storm last week (our first in a long time), literally minutes before the skies opened. It reminded me of the opening scene from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Fast-food reflections

There's so much happening in this photo, I don't know if it's interesting or just plain ugly! It's a quick snap of a Burger King restaurant facade in Peckham, South London. I don't usually do reflections, but I was crawling past as a car passenger at the time and was so bored I took photos of absolutely everything. If you enlarge it, you can see me taking the photo - I'm in the little silver car on the very left.

You can see more pictures of Peckham here and you can read about our roadtrip ordeal that made this photographic burst possible here.

Man in bookshop

A man looking through books at Eleftheroudakis bookshop in Athens. I love the unusual curved display.

Thames transport

I took this photo of a commuter boat approaching Greenwich Pier just before 9 PM today. You can see the Doclands in the distance, as well as the domed exit of the Greenwich foot tunnel.

The tide was out at the time, exposing the Thames foreshore, the closest thing we've got to a city beach.

Athens by night

Tonight I met up for drinks with a friend in the centre of Athens. I had my little camera with me and took some photos to show you what the city looks like after dark. You may have to click on the photos to see them properly.


Shops in the centre stay open from 9 AM to 9 PM. I took this photo at 9:16 PM, just as Ermou street, one of the main shopping areas, was starting to quieten down. The lit-up building in the distance is the Parliament.


Shop windows are brightly lit and imaginatively decorated.


In between the cement and the traffic, it is possible to catch glimpses of the Acropolis.


Monastiraki is a popular destination for diners looking for a cheap and filling meal. The weather is very mild at the moment, so many people choose to dine al fresco. Greeks tend to have dinner late, so although it was almost 10 PM when I took this photo, all the tavernas were packed.


No need to worry if you're too late for the shops. Street kiosks sell everything from travel guides to loo roll.


We had a drink at this little bar. It wasn't very busy as it's mid-week and we were a little early. It was more lively when we left just before midnight.


Rows of taxis are waiting for customers at Syntagma Square.


I opted to take the metro, so walked through the square to the metro station. Can you make out the couple kissing by the fountain? Sooo cute!


It seems that lots of other people had the same idea, as the platform was pretty crowded, considering it was past midnight.

Dancing in the streets

Easter is the busiest time of year on Greek motorways, as many people travel significant distances to spend the holiday with their families and friends. Smaller roads tend to get clogged up with local shoppers and through traffic, so traffic police often have to intervene to keep cars moving smoothly and safely.

These traffic policemen were tasked with controlling the flow of cars at a busy junction outside the town of Lamia in central Greece. I snapped this photo from inside a car with a dusty windscreen - I guess you could say I used a filter. Although the colours aren't quite right, I like it because their movements almost look choreographed.

I felt very sorry for them as it was really hot that day. We were barely comfortable sitting in our car with the windows down, whereas they had to stand in the hot afternoon sun, wave their arms and blow their whistles. It's not a job I'd ever want to do!

Rush hour London

I took this photo while standing on a railway platform situated over New Cross Road in south east London.

It is a true snapshot, in the sense that I took it very quickly, using my pocket camera. I had to hold it as steady as possible and stretch my arms over the bridge wall to get a clear shot. I pressed the magic button and ran to board my train. You can't get snappier than that!

I thought it'd be interesting to show you what traffic looks like during the evening rush hour.

Doing the weekly shop

Supermarkets are busy places on a Sunday afternoon. I took this photo at our local Tesco.