Rear Window Special

It's been some time since we had a Rear Window - the occasional series where we get a glimpse of Greenwich the way other people do, but then I guess this one has been a long time coming.

When Rod, our honorary Phantom Brewmaster, sent me the pic above, which he took from his central Greenwich window, I was cheeky enough to ask him to continue taking pics showing us Greenwich through the seasons of one year - 2009 - and hey - that's exactly what he's done...


He gets a fantastic view of the river. I can't remember whether this was Ark Royal or Illustrious but it was mid-late spring, if memory serves, by which point everything was bright green and lush after the February snow.

By the time summer arrived everything was green and bushy - this year, perhaps because of the (very) wet winter, then the cold snap, we got wonderful spring blossom, fast growth and incredible fruit everywhere.

He sent me the above picture of the wonderfully mellow autumn (bet you've forgotten it already...) just before the horrid rainy-stormy-hurricaney bit we've just had (BTW - did anyone take me up on gathering chestnuts in the park?)

We seem to be out the other side of those ghastly storms now, in favour of the last of the Four Seasons of Rod - a bitter winter chill - cold, but let's face it, sort of right for Christmas.

The bare trees and bright mornings, the low sun and the foggy starts (Rod - it's just occurred to me - I bet you get a good view of the Christmas lights - any chance of one more pic, of Greenwich Christmas by night?)


So - what, given the interesting climate-changey weather we're getting these days, does 2010 hold?

Who knows - but we'll always have Greenwich. And for today, Everybody Comes To Rod's...

PS - I'm always interested in poking my spectral nose through the curtains of windows in Greenwich. It doesn't have to be a fabulous view like Rod's - I'm interested in building a picture of what we ordinary Greenwichians see on a day-to-day basis, even if it's only rooftops and bins...

Rear Window (14)

I haven't done a Rear Window for ages, so I'm especially pleased to bring you Hither Queen's bedroom window view, in what, from memory, is in Frobisher Street in Maze Hill.

I love the idea that this has been part-pedestrianised, with little seats and tubs of plants - I'm guessing, though I don't actually know, that this must make the residents feel rather village-y and quaint. It's certainly not the rat-run that most streets in Greenwich tend to be - or at least not unless you count kiddies on skateboards...

At one end is Maze Hill, and above it, the 'monstrous' Seren Park, as Hither Queen calls it (though, hands up, I was expecting far worse, far uglier on that particular development. My only real gripe is that the footpath to the south of Maze Hill Station stays resolutely closed, and I begin to fear that it will now be for the exclusive use or residents, which is a real pain for people with prams or wheelchairs (or Phantoms, who are just lazy) who live on the south side but have to walk all the way round the north to get a few yards away to the south platform.)

At the other end is a charming view of one of the lesser-known Greenwich Almshouses, Hatcliffe.

I'm always interested in nosing through people's windows, seeing Greenwich as other Greenwichians do - I'd love to peer (in a non-creepy way, natch) through yours. Keep sending 'em in...

Rear Window (13) - Wood Wharf

We haven't had a Rear Window post for ages where we get to see what fellow Greenwichians see out of their bedroom windows, but I reckon you'll be pretty green when you see what Kathy does every morning...

I've sort of seen this view - when I posed as someone 'interested in buying a second property' while Wood Wharf was being built. I'm not sure the estate agent totally bought my line - I probably should have worn something a bit more convincing than filthy overalls - but I did manage to have a good peek - and it was a marvellous view, especially from the penthouse on top...

But back to Kathy's window. When she wakes up in the morning, if she looks left, she sees, Deptford Reach and Canary Wharf, with London in the background:

If she looks right, Greenwich looms large:

Here's the daytime view of the Deptford/Canary Wharf vista:

And Island Gardens:

With all that water you wouldn't expect to see a parking lot too. But this is what she woke up to in May when HMS Invincible was moored outside her flat...

I'm always looking for Rear Window subjects. They don't have to be glamorous like Kathy's view. Whether your place looks out over the back of shops, a tyre-replacement workshop or next-door's dustbins, it's all part of what Greenwich is Now. And it's all interesting for a nosy Phantom...

Rear Window (12)

We haven't had a Rear Window for some time (for those of you who have just joined the blog, it's where we get nosy and look at Greenwich from other people's perspectives, AKA their back windows...) - so today I'm delighted to bring to you a bit of a humdinger. This is Benedict's gaff - and just look at the view he gets. It's Greenwich Station, obviously, and if you're planning on getting a train from there this morning, don't forget to give him a cheery wave...

Keep 'em coming, folks.

Rear Window (11)

I rather like starting out a post in August with a snow pic - wonderfully dramatic. Today, Rear Window takes a peek through the nets chez Mr & Mrs DeeBee, who live in one of the streets around the power station. I'm guessing perhaps Hoskins St but can't be sure.

I love the houses in the two or three streets around here - there's something really idiosyncratic about them that I've not seen anywhere else. At a guess I'd say they're turn of the 20th century or Edwardian - but they could be slightly older or younger. They have some great detail in them - I love the coloured tiles in the doorways and the fact that although they look the same, they are actually most of them slightly different from each other.

The sun coming over the power station was taken in June, when DeeBee sent this to me (I told you I was behind on my mail...) but my favourite shot is this one, taken at night. There's something at once comforting and sinister about that building. What I wouldn't give to have a poke around inside...

Sadly, despite my writing to TfL and having a long conversation on the phone with a helpful man a few months ago, it's not one of the buildings being opened for Open House Day this year. Neither are my other choices. But there are some interesting things coming up and I'll be setting aside Sept 20/21 for a spot of exploring. And there's always next year...

Rear Window (10)

I just love this shot, sent to me by 11 year-old Jake. It is, of course, East Greenwich Pleasaunce, which would make Jake's place somewhere in Chevening or Annandale Roads.

What a fantastic thing to look out on every morning. I remember a few years back when I decided that I really needed to get fit and enthusiastically started a 6.00am exercise regimen in the Pleasaunce. My enthusiasm for the project naturally didn't last very long at all, but one of the only nice things about the whole experience was seeing the park so still and beautiful (and surprisingly populous) at that time of day.

There is something almost magical about the place. Perhaps it's the quirky gravestones; perhaps it's that wonderful combination of the well-loved and the still relatively unknown.

I notice that it's just won a Green Flag award, and rightly so. It's wonderful.

What I really love about this picture is the use of the window as a frame for the subject - with photography like that, I do hope you entered the FoGP's photography competition recently, Jake...

Rear Window (9)

Methers asks if this is 'suitable' for the Rear Window series, since it's from his front window. I reckon any angle's fair game - and if you've got a view like this you need to show it off. Very 'showbiz.' Taken from Dinsdale Road, I believe...

Keep 'em coming, guys - and don't worry if they're not as glamorous as this one. I want to get a picture of what Greenwich looks like wherever you are.

Oh - and please don't be too cross if I haven't dealt with your particular missive yet - I'm getting quite an embarrassing backlog just now, but I do LOVE to hear from you.

Rear Window, Greenwich Style (6)

Today's groovy view is from Greg, who, being a photographer has sent some very funky shots of his back view (ooh-err, missus...)

"It feels like a cheat when I can get home from work and see sunsets like this from my bedroom window. I dont have to camp out waiting for the perfect moment. I can just come home every day and when it looks nice I'll run outside in my trackie bottoms and hoodie, set my tripod up and snap away."

Doesn't take much working out that Greg lives up on Blackheath - though sadly not for much longer. He can't afford to buy here and is going down to Rochester. I visited Rochester a couple of weeks ago and there are some pretty good places to get nice sunsets, Greg, though obviously it's not as cool as Greenwich...

Rear Window, Greenwich Style (5)

The latest in the long-running series where we peek through the net curtains of our neighbours, seeing Greenwich as other people do...

This one's in East Greenwich, sent by DC07703. Dandridge Close is in that little triangle between Woolowich Road and Tunnel Avenue (I think it's the modern buildings with the very cute (and rather unexpected) terracotta roof adornments) and DC07703 has sent back and front views.

DC07703 must have really craned out of the window to get this - the outside of Lewis's Coaches - still clinging on after all these years, despite the encroachments of the new flats on the Jet garage site. I must get onto Lewis's another day. They have to be one of the oldest service businesses still going today.

Talking of those new flats, here they are:

For a while, whenever I went by I couldn't see that anything had been done on these, making me think that maybe the company had gone bust or something, leaving the flats in the worst possible state - ugly AND half-finished, but I noticed last Friday that there was some work going on. I have no idea whether they've sold any of them yet. They want enough for them...

With all that concrete, it's good to know that there's also plenty of green out of DC07703's window...


More nosiness another day...

A Little Ray Of Hope

Not really a "rear window" - though this was taken yesterday by Zappa's son from their place. Just a lovely rainbow to remind us that this bloomin' awful weather won't be with us forever...

Aaahhh...

Rear Window, Greenwich Style (4)

I've been a bit remiss on the old Greenwich-through-other-people's-eyes posts and the photos you're sending me have been, ahem, piling up a bit. Thanks for sending them - I WILL get to you, I promise.

Today's lovely view is from Sian who, since she works from home, has very sensibly put her office somewhere she gets a fabulous view. I'm guessing this is somewhere around Point Hill...

She says "We can see the whole of the city and in the far distance we can spy St Pauls, Tower Bridge and Big Ben." Of course, a view like this has its price - she admits "days working from home are not always very productive...."