Robo-mowers a go-go!

Yesterday whilst walking through Lincoln’s Inn Fields on the way back from a lunchtime shopping trip I spotted on the grass (or what’s left of it), a strange and small-wheeled device tearing up and down. “What the?” I thought to myself.

After a minute of two of head-scratching, a stranger joined us and we both tried to work out what the hell it was. Was it some sort of TV comedy show stunt? Mobile advertising? Or an alien sussing out the area for a possible UFO landing in Holborn?

After five minutes we came to the conclusion it was a robotic lawnmower. It must have computed that we were interested in it as the thing stopped going up and down in straight lines and made a beeline for us. It stopped just in front of where we were standing then span around a couple of times. We were then waiting for it to say (in a 1970’s comedic robot voice) something like “You have 20 seconds to comply” or “Smile you’re on Candid Camera” but it just flashed a couple of lights on its body in recognition (above) then resumed doing what it was doing. Very odd!

As soon as we get a lawn mowing schedule from the gardener we’ll post it up as it makes interesting viewing on a lunch hour. Perhaps the operative can teach it to do some tricks too (fetch a ball, roll on its back or chase squirrels). P

Have a monster of a festive season!

Firstly apologies for the non-appearance the past few months, life just got in the way. Secondly here’s news of an excellent free event called Frankensteinia on Wednesday 23rd January from 1-2pm at Shoe Lane Library, Hill House, 1 Little New Street, London EC4 3JR. It’s from Lester Hillman who has given some very informative talks in the library in the past and I’m sure this one will be no different! A finally from all us here at LIYL, we wish you all a great festive season and a happy new year!

Lunch in the fast lane

Yesterday I fancied a plate of greasy spoon fare as I wasn’t going to be eating until late in the evening. The first place I thought of was an old favourite, Ferrari’s which is next to Smithfield Meat Market. Don’t go if you fancy a friendly chat with the waiting staff but if it’s some cheap filling food (with a Chinese bias) you’re after at any hour of the day you’ll be at the right place! Sweet and sour pork noodles and a cup of tea for £6 was my choice but vegetarian options are also available. P

Ferrari’s Snack Bar, 8 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9JR Open (nearly) all hours

Seen down Farringdon way…

Spotted today on the way to get a saw (or two) in Farringdon Road. Is the Royal Anti-Grab device available commercially? P

Who, me stressed?

Here’s a nice way to destress towards the end of the week without resorting to the bottle opener. Taking place at Shoe Lane Library just off Fleet Street EC4A 3JR fortnightly, Dragon Cafe in the City have a variety of things to take your mind off your worries. I didn’t realise I was stressed until I asked the man doing the 15 minute massage to “hurry it up a bit as I have to get back to work”. Sometimes we can’t see these things but Dragon Cafe in the City can and try to do something about it! P

Thou art Bow Street

Walking down an alley around the corner from Bow Street this afternoon I saw this A4 poster tacked onto a side of a wall. It’s from the London Art Mafia: “For those who look 〰come and find us〰around the city”. More info here. P #Londonartmafia

Time travelling on a Saturday afternoon

Today I visited the new look London Mithraeum at 12 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AA. It’s a three floor affair that is well worth spending half an hour of your time at.

If you love Roman artefacts, audio of Joanna Lumley explaining the Mithras cult and varying light levels, a bit of mist and weird chanting at 7 metres down, you’ll be in heaven! It’s a million times better than when it was perched outdoors at Temple Court as this new display gives the remains some context. Book your visit in advance or just turn up and take the risk, it’s well worth it and what’s more it’s free! P

(Hopefully not) armagideon time

Seen this lunchtime in Lincolns Inn Fields while rushing back to work. Please tell me it’s not true. P

It arrived through the post

Following on to our last post (no pun intended) here’s a wonderful book on the late great W. Reginald Bray (1879-1939) called “The Englishman who posted himself and other curious Objects” by John Tingey. It’s currently out of print but is available on Amazon for a nice price.

Before Christmas I knew nothing of the man (who resided at one time not 15 minutes walk from where I now live) who challenged the great british postal system and an early pioneer of mail art (not that the term or concept existed at the time).

The book is a lovely read if you want to get to know all about Reginald’s postal exploits and see some of the excellent artefacts (crocheted envelopes, starched shirt collars and a postcard with an address written in sealing wax amongst other oddities) that went through the postal system and also some of the autographed postcards he collected (he was known as “The Autograph King. Unchallenged”). What I love is that the original postbox outside his house in Devonshire Rd, Forest Hill where he used to post some of his artefacts still stands (and still in use).

As an ex-postman and a lover of graphic art this book is well up my street and one well worth investigating! More on W. Reginald Bray here. P (Pic below: examples of some mail art from my own collection but sadly none from the great man himself.)

Please Mr Postman

Being an ex-postman and a lover of all things letter and stamp related, I couldn’t help but be drawn to a lovely story on the BBC website (here) about one of the earliest purveyors of mail art who lived not a million miles from where I reside.In the early days of the General Post Office the rules of what actually could be sent by the postal service were flexible to say the least and were tested by a few people. One of the best known was W Reginald Bray from “Devonshire Road, Kent” an accountant by day but in his spare time made it his job to challenge the postal system to the max. Some of his proudest moments included posting himself (on not one but three occasions), sending a potato with the recipient’s address cut into the skin (with stamp affixed) and even his Irish Terrier Bob wasn’t spared a trip through the post. He was an keen autograph collector too, sending out thousands of requests by postcard to all sorts from Pericles Diamandi, The Human Calculator, Ken “Snake-Hips” Johnson, the Jazz band leader who died at Cafe De Paris during the Blitz in March 1941 and the English Clown Whimsical Walker. They must have loved Reggie Bray at the local post office.

Sadly the delivery office in Devonshire Road where he would have carted his strange postings to (that must have delighted the postmaster and workers there) has now been turned into flats (above).

On the road are still a couple of the old Penfold style postboxes and amazingly enough the one outside number 135 where he lived for 10 years is still there and it would be lovely to think that the Post Office have left it there as a tribute to the great mail artist. If you’re ever in the area do stick something in that postbox and you’ll be secure in the knowledge that something far more bizarre has possibly been popped in there! P #SE23localhistory #Wreginaldbray #Mailart

More on W Reginald Bray with lots of pictures of his postcards and other wonderful curios here and what looks like a great book about him called The Englishman Who Posted Himself and Other Curious Objects by John Tingey (and cheap as chips on Amazon by the way). Also thanks very much to John for supplying the press cutting about the potato (where you can make out the bottom line of the address as Forest Hill). #Foresthillpostedpotato

By the way as it’s that time of year Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year to all from London In Your Lunch Hour!