It’s that time again, enjoy!
1. Sometimes it’s not such a good idea to be at the top of the tallest building in Western Europe, view or not. Somewhat appropriate that it’s called the Shard though, no?:
2. From one moment captured in time to the next, did you know that Leica cameras are 100 years old this year? Designed in 1914 by German Oskar Barnack, mass production was delayed by the outbreak of WW1 until 1925, but they went on to be used by photographers the world over to take many iconic photographs, including this one:
3. Sometimes great feats of engineering can be bad for your health though. One Victorian connoisseur of such a feat ended up the victim of the invention he was so closely examining – an automaton striking the church bell (and coincidentally him) in a church in Glogau, in Germany:
4. Speaking of striking things in Germany, did you hear about the 86 year old lady that managed to hit 11 parked cars on her way out of a multistorey carpark in Erfurt? Unfortunately for those trying to rescue the damaged cars, height restrictions in the carpark meant that the tow trucks had to wait outside while they moved each vehicle out by hand. After causing €60,000 worth of damage, history does not relate whether or not she still has her licence (although you’d like to hope not!)
5. And finally, speaking of rubbing up against each other, did you know that there’s a concept in France, every May, of Neighbour’s Day? Theoretically it’s meant to help make peace with those living close to you, but the reality is that life in a Parisian block of flats can mean letters from solicitors complaining about you walking on the wooden floors in your stilettos, or having complaints pour in, in nicely handwritten notes, about how noisy your dog is. I have no idea what they mean, I mean it’s not as if I can hear next door’s children rampaging around (in little wooden clogs, I’m sure) at ungodly hours of a weekend, nor the barking of guy downstairs’ dog as he spots the woman across the road’s Westie (lunch possibly?). Nope, not a clue…
Linking up with my fellow Randomeers:
Great random! That photo of the shard it stunning!
I think I might have been behind that elderly womans London version today in a multi-storey, she was driving a Nissan Micra like it was a tank!
Another fabulous random post-Ive never lived in a flat or unit so I haven't got any experience of how annoying it must be to have noisy neighbours but I expect it would drive me mad !
My 90 year old mil still drives, but with much better accuracy than that German lady. She also tends to arrive at our house complaining if someone was in front of her doing 35mph on the A361 the whole drive.
Loving the link from item to item.
I must live under a mushroom. I have never heard of a Leica camera. I guess it is a good one.
Hugs Kay
We have the "Fête des voisins" in Switzerland (Neighbours' day). It was a couple of weeks ago. It turns into a huge street party: folks in our apartment block take tables, chairs, food and wine into the lobby — or outside if the weather is fair — and make new friends. In Switzerland, famed for unfriendly neighbours and laundry-room feuds, this is surprisingly liberating and fun, and all who take part speak about it weeks afterwards. But, despite always saying "we should do this more often", we only ever do this once a year, on the 'official' day! JJ
You still wear the crown as the queen of the randomeers
Love these! I have to say, we live in a house but our neighbors are so close that we can hear everything!!! We could use a day to make peace and apologize too.
Hmmm. We had a quiet neighbor move out next door. And five college boys move in…and when their friends come over, there are 10 cars parked on the street. Grrrr.
Hehe, I could do with a neighbours day. I've been contemplating putting a brochure for a marriage counsellor and a divorce lawyer through my neighbours' mail slot with a note "pick one, for the sake of your neighbours if not for yourselves"