Putney Bridge station on the District Line and down the narrow and threatening footpath onto the River. The bridge takes the line down to suburban Wimbledon. This is also the station for Fulham FC's ground at Craven Cottage. Ironically Fulham Broadway Station is for Chelsea FC but London is full of contradictions and this is just one of them.
Some sculptures in a little park next to the River which but these days Fulham are doing well again so you there's no time to hang about or you'll miss the kick off still they are playing at Loftus Road at the moment so you've probably missed it anyway.
A big red bus goes over Putney Bridge. And yes I did wait for it.
More new flats in Putney itself which is rumoured to be great for pubs but can the tube take the strain of all these new residents ?
A remote looking stretch of river but the path is far too narrow making it just intimidating enough to spoil it.
Just a boathouse but no ordinary boathouse. It marks the start of the annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities when the banks are lined with pissed students. Perhaps the universities and the football club could help pay to have the embankment widened but someone would have to form a committee.
Fulham Football Club's ground rather delicately named Craven Cottage though originally the club was started by a group of church goers.
A rather arty shot of a floodlight pylon.
Football grounds are always eerie when there is no game on and this shot attermpts to bring this across. There are some rather nice townhouses to the left which accounts for the planning problems.
Back onto the path and you can see how threatening it is - nothing serious but enough to stop you enjoying it.
But not too intimidating to stop you enjoying this sculpture.
Looking back you can just see the floodlights on the left.
We could be by the seaside but instead we are about 30 minutes from Piccadilly Circus.
The rope bridge at Hammersmith.
Interestingly ducks and swans seem to be able to coexist together in this little piece of water.
The view back to the bridge with The Oxford and Cambridge on the left marking the half way point of the boat race.
A poster advertising Sting's new album in an attermpt seduce the record buying public heading into London to part with their hard earned cash.
Two shots of the Hammersmith Flyover. Which takes traffic from The West and Heathrow into Central London or rather the Earls Court one-way systerm.
A subway and because the road is busy we are going to have to risk it.
Hammersmith Broadway looking up The Shepherds Bush Road. Note the definite article there is not correct English but local slang.
The George pub. and to the right the Hammersmith and City Line tube station. The District and Piccadilly line stations are in the middle of the broadway. Also on the right is the office of one of my former companies who have moved on to better things since I left.
Time to catch the tube back into Central London
And here's the brand new station paid for by the office development I expect. Yes the area has gone upmarket since I left. The main attraction is the cheap prices and the tube to Heathrow as well as relatively easy access to the motorway systerm.
An English pub that reflects the recent improvement in the area around London's Victoria Station which used to be known for seedy hotels and best selling authors and cabinet ministers carrying GBP 2000 in plain brown envelopes. In his summing up the judge pointed out that Lord Archer of Grandchester had a "lovely" wife but The City were not convinced an the term "An Archer" entered the language to mean GBP 2000 alongside tenner (GBP 10), ton (GBP 100), pony (no idea), grand (GBP 1000)etc. etc,
I have zoomed in on the sign which depicts England's patron saint, the one on the white horse with the halo in case you wondered who goes by the name of St. George. As a guide if a pub has the postfix "Tavern" it usually means it is seriously rough and should be avoided but this one is fine reflecting the improvement to the area in the area. The pub offers the usual London pub fare - Steak Pies and Australian bar staff and the beer is a bit pricey. The Shakespeare in front of the mainline station is worth checking out and conveniently the lesbian couples drink pints so you don't make the mistake of chatting them up though I have to say part of me still wanted to. There must be some new etiquette in this area. Please don't send letters.
The area features the first indoor terrasss I have seen in my travels showing that London can still adapt ideas from abroad and add charcteristic British inventiveness to overcome local problems. The design allows the sun to shine through the high glass roof so that drinkers and diners can enjoy the terrass experience in the dry and relative warmth and those heaters you get in Greek taverners actually work here. Come out of the mainline station and turn left.