The tongue of land where Bow Creek reaches the Thames is being covered inexorably by a tall dense development called Goodluck Hope. Building works over the last couple of years have made hiking down to Trinity Buoy Wharf a misery, but also promised opening up a new riverside vista, and now here it is! This first brief stretch can be accessed by walking up some steps past a strange ocean-liner-shaped open space, then creeping past the door of the development's private amenity bolthole (called the 1595 Club). The path emerges near the Thames Clippers jetty, immediately opposite the Dome, entering a cobbly viewing deck behind insubstantial shiny railings. But it doesn't yet connect up past the buildings to either side so there's no real point in bothering to visit, other than to startle the residents in the swimming pool behind the green glazed tiles who'll suddenly start wondering which oik is intruding the privacy of their morning splash.
Tuesday - Lea Bridge Road
If you've ever wondered where London's best dry cleaners is, it's here at number 349 Lea Bridge Road in Leyton. That at least is Spot-Off's self-proclaimed accolade, although judging by the code-free telephone number on the shopfront that may be a seriously outdated claim. The lettering hints at something even older because this is Bottleneck, a curvaceous typeface first released by Letraset in 1972 and somehow reminiscent of bellbottoms and platform heels. Even the combination of red and off-green feels ridiculously evocative. Residents of E10 will already be aware that Spot-Off do same day cleaning, but may be less familiar with their willingness to engage in Repairs and Alteartion. I'm pleased to note that the owners have spelt Alterations correctly on the board behind the counter, above the giant tumble driers, should you ever feel the need to drop off some curtains.
Wednesday - Bus Stop M
That is a very bright blue. The cycle superhighway opposite Bow Church has had an overnight makeover and this dazzling hue is what a freshly-coloured strip of tarmac looks like. It's been a couple of years since a local tearaway abandoned a burning car astride this bus stop bypass, searing away the road surface, and only now have operatives turned up to make good the damage done. It looks oddly pristine at present, although a few months of dirt, litter and undrained rainwater should help to tone it down. Also I should advise anyone attempting to take a similar photo to check behind them before crouching down, lest the unexpected approach of a wheeled commuter or delivery biker create unexpected friction.
Thursday - Canary Wharf
Further evidence that Crossrail may be nearing completion comes from the pedestrian approaches to Canary Wharf station where purple roundels on poles have just been erected. Most of the other purple roundels along the new railway remain covered over - Custom House excepted - but this trio have been plonked in unashamedly in their naked state. One's at the main entrance below the hexagonal walkway, one's at the quiet end behind KPMG and this one's on the walkway through to West India Quay. Access to Crossrail from the poorer parts of Poplar beyond the DLR remains appalling, with a new bridge across the North Quay development site still years from completion. But bankers, hotel guests and penthouse owners spotting the new purple roundels now know where to head to descend into the bowels of the earth and catch a train, whenever that may be.
Friday - Walthamstow Wetlands
This unusual photograph was taken from above while looking down on the cafe at the heart of the Engine House at the Walthamstow Wetlands. This is the ideal spot to stop off for a hot beverage if visiting the reservoirs, indeed the only place, and prides itself in serving "signature drinks". I skipped the hand-roasted coffee and plumped for a speciality tea, but only because someone else was having one too otherwise I would have walked on. The teabag looked expensive but when I asked for milk the server chose to pour in far more than necessary and the resulting brew proved weak and tepid. I took a photo and tweeted it to celebrate my anniversary of being on Twitter, 15 years to the day since tweeting "Having a nice cup of tea", except this one sadly wasn't.
Saturday - Westferry Road
I think this yellow sign is indicative of the lack of effort put in by those who post information at the capital's bus stops. The screaming error is the apostrophe in the word roadworks, which I fear is unforgiveable, but I'm also unimpressed by the way the title has crashed into the red exclamation mark in the top right hand corner. As usual no attempt has been made to give the duration of the disruption nor to state the location of the nearest alternative boarding point, advising only that you head to "the next or previous available bus stop". I bet this is one of those generic posters the signage team whip out of the back of the van thinking "That'll do", in which case one day it might make an appearance in your neck of the woods and then you can baulk at the appallingness of the apostrophe too.
