11:33 PM

#MUM: born in Mombasa - in The Colony and Protectorate of Kenya - she has always held a British Passport and that has complicated the idea of immigrants for me. At 81, she’s up and down the stairs all the time, does her own shopping via the buses, and gets a bit lonely if she doesn’t see her grandchild regularly. I’ve considered leaving the country because of Brexit, but I’m in a fighting mood and I’m not leaving her. #mother #family #portrait #leica #twickenham

8:51 AM

#THAMES: love a foggy morning, especially when I have a camera handy. ‘Hamme’ in older English means ‘bend in the river’ and this is quite the right-hander here on the way to the station. Good morning. #richmond #visitrichmond #river #foggy #london

11:23 PM

#RIVERSIDE: walking the dog offers unlimited opportunities to meet new dogs and their staff. This nice lady - whose name I forgot to ask - was staff to Luther here, a seven-year-old #GermanShepherd, and b-o-y do I love those dogs and if I had the time to look after one as they deserved, I would be all over it. This lady does 3-4 hours walks with Luther, who is as friendly as you get, but hates squirrels and mice, hence his jaws are a bit boarded-up until they reach #PetershamMeadows a few more yards away and Luther can run like the wind. #alsatian #dogsofinstagram #richmond #visitrichmond

7:04 PM

#RICHMONDHILL: a memorial bench reads, ‘“A good spot for a fine pint.” As enjoyed by Edward (Steve) Gunningham. Who would have enjoyed the view, were it not for that tree!’ Below: the view. #memorialbench #visitrichmond #richmond

Richmond Council asked everyone if they thought that the public loos here ought to be redeveloped into a cafe (with loos) and the answer was a resounding yes. Work has already started and there’s a big fence around this now.

The proposed layout of the new reconfigured block is here (pdf).

Expected opening Summer 2020. I look forward to it. Will make that corner a tad busier.

10:28 PM

#BOOKSHOP: Tony hasn’t been around in a long time, he’s getting on and comes in maybe once a week. He’s really a dealer in rare books with the luxury of an office that also has a bookshop in the front taking up a tiny bit of space. But I’ve roamed his shelves since I was 11 years old and all my #Thelwell books are from here. If I had the money, I’d buy his place, keep his name above the door and run my office from his. I’m not sure that places like his were ever widespread but I feel lucky to have had a bookshop as a neighbour. Further down the street is the fellow who designed and still makes the original #Stormtrooper helmets. George Lucas hates him. But more on my other neighbours another time. If you’re passing by Tony’s place and he’s in, stop by. You won’t get the chance again, most likely. #books #bookseller #neighbours #twickenham

1:36 PM

#MUM: her bedroom is a perfect greenhouse with its huge window facing the sun, she’s even growing ginger in a pot. As an aside, previous tenants next door were growing marijuana, which was discovered after the fire brigade put a fire out in their indoor greenhouse one night. #horticulturetherapy #portrait

1:25 PM

#TWICKENHAM: bumped into my longest-standing neighbour, Jessica, en route to my mum’s after the rugby. Realized I’d never taken her picture. She was born in her parents’ flat around the corner and apart from the year she was married, never been away from this little patch in sixty-nine years. At this moment I was stopping her from picking up some turmeric and salt from the shops. #twickenhamgreen #neighbours #leica #portrait

5:14 PM

#VINYL: #FemaleFriday begins with the voice of #MariamWallentin in the #AndersJormin band, followed some modern classics from @st_vincent, @savagesband @batforlashes, @avamusic and two absolute belters from @amy_winehouse_official_ and #BillieHoliday #vinyllovers #friday

9:36 AM

#ROUNDHOUSE: @garynuman working as hard as ever 40 years down the line. Great sound. And still making great new music. #numanoids