On approach

When I fly I always book a window seat. I just love to try and pick out recognisable features on the land far below. There is something strangely satisfying about knowing that you made your way on foot along the features you can see from above, that it took you hours and hours but that in a plane you pass over it in an instant. The photos below are from a flight into London City Airport, down the Essex coast, up the Thames Estuary and then a loop around London Bridge and landing on the easterly runway (there is only one runway of course, but when there is an easterly wind you approach from the west, which requires a dramatic approach over the City and Canary Wharf). I think this was trip for work, travelling home from Glasgow. It was a magnificent day for flying, smooth as can be and with amazing visibility. I'm aware that not everyone likes flying, nor have much time for people like me who get on planes, but I make no apologies for it these days. Time in America recently has steeled me to our future - do what you want, it doesn't matter. You and I are but drops in the ocean compared to the excesses of the USA and other places, the way I see it there is absolutely zero chance that the excessive consumption there will ever change, even in the face of ever-increasing natural distasters like Hurrican Ian that just this weekend flattened a large swathe of Florida. They are not going to wake up. I'm well aware this is pure whataboutery, but we live our lives here so differently it is almost scandalous. We can all do better, but at the same time you need to enjoy it while you still can.

A coastal wind farm

Walton on the Naze

Greenwich and the Isle of Dogs

London Bridge

Canary Wharf