There’s a new Banksy gone up on Newman Street (just around the corner from our flat).

So, on Sunday I was lying on the couch reading when I heard this commotion from Oxford Street. I jumped up and went out onto the balcony - just in time to see the Olympic Flame go past! It was driven past on an open top bus, held upright by this girl in a track-suit.

I heard the sound of sirens, so went to our balcony to see what was happening. There were fire trucks and police and a bank of red buses queued up. It all seemed to be centered a couple of blocks from our apartment. Helen and I walked down the street and I snapped a couple of pictures.

What could be better? Stretching out in the beer garden of the Edinboro Castle in Cambden on a nice sunny day. Burgers and beer and friends. Helen even tried to keep me cool by spilling beer on my lap!

A huge elephant striding towards Piccadilly Circus, while a giant girl reclines in a deck chair in St James’ Park.

Helen’s mother and aunt had just arrived in London so we took them for a walk. We were lucky enough to bump into the biggest piece of free theatre London has ever seen - the Sultan’s Elephant! The elephant was absolutely awesome, surrounded by a human tsunami as it stomped it’s way down Piccadilly. It was brought to life by an army of puppeteers who had complete control over it’s ears, trunk and legs.

We walked down to St James’ Park, where another part of the production was unfolding. There was a giant girl, blinking and yawning, before reclining in her deck chair. She was obviously tired after her flight. The barrel rocket is half her size, so she must have been flying economy! Apparently this production was last performed in Nantes in 2005. I’ve put more photos on Flickr.

Shoot Shoreditch is a kind of treasure hunt - you’re given clues to places, people and things around Shoreditch in London. Your target is then shot… with a camera, and you are off, racing against time to solve the next clue. Which is why Helen, Phil, Karen and I found ourselves traipsing around Shoreditch, phoning friends with internet access, ducking into internet cafes for a quick google and madly photographing everything of interest that was bracketed in the camera lens. We of the “Fat Wombat” team were determined to put in a good showing - unfortunately technology let us down in the end.

It took about 5 hours (with a 1/2 hour break for a hearty pub lunch), but we had visited the various locations on the “treasure map”. Our digital cameras were heavy with the images of Shoreditch. Our answer sheet had every clue answered (or at least guessed at). We were ready to consolidate the images, hand in the memory stick for judging, and sit back for a quiet beer while we waited to be given our prize. I had my notebook out… the camera was plugged in… and I managed to dump down 3 photos before the camera died! Curses! We ended up handing in the memory stick anyway, and at least a few of our photos made it onto the competition website.

Last night Helen and I, along with our friends Ben and Kate went to see Shunt’s production - Amato Saltone. It was very entertaining — and I love the space that it was showing in! I’d heard that Shunt had made so much money from a previous production, that they’d been able to buy the space they were performing in - the vaults in London Bridge.