It's a job! Somebody has to do it!

When I started doing Men and Women at Work most Thursdays, I was looking for ordinary people doing ordinary jobs. It didn't occur to me the variety of both ordinary jobs and unusual jobs that ordinary people do. In another couple of weeks I will run out of picturesque jobs in British royal or historical (or both) locations.

We did not see the official changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace when a whole platoon exchange duties, but as individual guards change shift it is almost better.



Palace Guards at Buckingham Palace and at St. James Palace, London--men at work.

What K would you do if you'd just been to Scotland? ABC Wednesday

The obvious K for someone recently visitor to Scotland--the KILT.

ABC Wednesday can be found here.

And for the answer to the question--I don't know.

You've seen these before

In every collection of pictures of London you have seen the Houses of Parliament there nexst to the River Thames.

Westminster Abbey nearby.

Big Ben

When you visit London, be sure to include a day that is not on the weekend. Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, and some other sites are closed on Sunday. If you do not plan carefully, you will find yourself settling for the magnificent exterior views as we did.

But that's good, too. And a good excuse to come back again some day.

Architecture is always good for Geometry Monday.

Sunday's Psalm--26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Praise the Lord,

 my soul!

Blessed he who keeps faith forever,

secures justice for the oppressed,

gives food to the hungry.



The LORD sets captives free.
Praise the Lord, my soul!

The LORD gives sight to the blind.

The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;

the LORD loves the just.


The LORD protects strangers.

Praise the Lord,
my soul!

The fatherless and the widow he sustains,

but the way of the wicked he thwarts.

The LORD shall reign forever;

your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.

Praise the Lord, my soul!

from Psalm 146

photos from Scotland

A Weekend London Reflection

Such a London reflections for Jame's Weekend Reflections at Newtown Daily Photo.

Eye Eye III

Skywatch from the London Eye. Visit other Skywatch posts from around the world here.

That is Charing Cross Station. The design is supposed to look like a train emerging from a subway tunnel. What do you think?

Turning now a bit to the west, that street leads up to Picadilly Circus. Yes. You probably recognize Westminster Abbey at the left.

Ah, more familiar sights--the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

My sense of direction is a bit confused now--I think we have swung back toward the north a bit, and yes, that is Buckingham Palace beyond St. James Park.

Swinging further east, some more of metropolitan London along the Thames. I don't see St. Paul's Cathedral which should be the next bit to the right (east)--that must have been when I had to sit down because the altitude was getting to me.

It's a job!

Street performers

on the Embankment

south of the Thames in London
go to great lengths to display their varied and considerable talents.

I promised to show them for Men Working Thursday.

...and he doesn't even have to share the change.

Eye Eye II

Here are promised pictures ON the London Eye. They will give you a concept of how large this not-quite-a-ferris-wheel is. It takes half an hour to make the full trip, and the cars hold about 25 people.

Okay, that's the closest this post is going to come to a view from the Eye. The Eye itself is the subject here.

It almost looks like we are right out there in the open. The cars are enclosed all the way around by glass, and even I only had to sit down in the center and close my eyes once.

Okay, here's another almost view FROM the Eye. I will post views from the Eye--they are incredible. Maybe later as Eye Eye III, or maybe as certain sights from the site. I haven't decided yet.

ABC Wednesday--J is for Juggler

Two jugglers among the street performers on the Embankment in London.

I will feature more street performers for Thursday's Men (and Women) Working, because it is their kind of work.

ABC Wednesday can be found here--in its seventh season.

Reconstructing my address book

Among the things lost in our burglary was my desktop computer. On it resided my e-mail address book. I doubt that anyone is getting e-mail messages from our burglar--of course, if you are, let me know as the sheriff might find the source interesting--but you are not getting any e-mail from me either. And you won't, because the address list is gone.

So if you should be in my address book, please e-mail me so I can add your address.

The LinkedWithin "You might also like..." links are always a bit weird on posts like this one. I wish they could be turned off on an individual basis.

Eye Eye I

When I was last in London there was no Eye. I had thought since learning of it: how absurd! and was all set to boycott it. I'm glad I didn't.

It was constructed by British Airways for the Millenium, and remains an awesome tourist attraction.  These views are looking AT the London Eye. You can see the circles, arcs, angles and tangents needed to create it for Geometry Monday. Later in the week I will show some pictures ON the Eye. Consider now, though, that each of those compartments will hold approximately 25 people. That will give you a concept of how big this thing is.

I still kind of find it a bit unnerving juxtaposed with historic structures.

Sunday's Psalm--Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

Praise, you servants of the LORD,

praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD

both now and forever.

Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

High above all nations is the LORD;

above the heavens is his glory.

Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high





and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?





Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

He raises up the lowly from the dust;

from the dunghill he lifts up the poor

to seat them with princes,

with the princes of his own people.

Praise the Lord

who lifts up the poor.

from Psalm 113

all photos from Scotland