I happen to know that subsidence is a bit of a problem in Hammersmith, probably to do with the geology of a riverside area. But the instability of the terrain is spectacularly evident in the cemetary behind Charing Cross Hospital. Look at the skewiffity:

There are kissing crosses, tumbled obelisks, undulating grave plots and rickety crosses. This is a freeze-frame still from an earthquake disaster film. And it must be a nightmare for gravediggers, what with the peril of drowning in the quicksand under 6ft.

But somehow there is something wonderfully poetic here. The Edwardian pertness of the writing contrasts with the chaotic dilapidation.

Perhaps someday the council will get round to doing something to level things out. What am I talking about, this isn’t the 19th century where gravediggers would polish their spades at the end of the day. Perhaps this is really what that underlying contrast signifies – the old world of grandiose, sublimely egotistical monuments and the modern world of council budgeting and… well… wonkiness. Anyway, I am glad for a bit of preserved decline: rectilinearity is as boring as school assembly.

I was doing some last minute Christmas shopping yesterday on Chiswick high road. There are quite a few greengrocers stalls which, for the festive season, sell the usual range of Christmas greenery: christmas trees, wreaths, poincettias, and the like. They all sell exactly the same gear. I imagine that’s because they all are supplied by the same company.

Naturally the bawling grocers appeal to the punters’ Christmas spirit to part with their cash. One stall had enormous sacks of spuds with placard announcing: “Christmas day, boxing day, new year’s eve: Sorted!”. I quite liked that.

One stall was selling cyclamens, which are one of my favourite flowers it so happens. However, I think this particular trader hadn’t really grasped the whole seasonal marketing strategy thing…

Merry Christmas everyone!