Even if you live on the spot in London you can be forgiven for not realising that yesterday was the National Waiters’ Race. I didn’t. But I just happened to be passing by, since it was local, and I had a camera with me.
The event, organised by the Institute of Hospitality, is the London Hospitality Festive, a sports day to benefit of catering staff throughout the industry. It’s also National Waiters’ Day in honour of a waiter near you.
This year the event took place at King’s House Sports Ground in west London. Normally, something like this wouldn’t have been high on my list, but I wandered in and was fortunate to stumble upon the Biggleses of the Royal Air Force Club, dressed in their best uniforms and ready for takeoff, raring to take on the Red Barons.
The Tray Busters
The sortie faced by this squadron, the Tray Busters, was to complete the course without spilling a drop of water from the bottle. I chatted to Rahman and Emmanuel after they clinched their first heat. The flying helmets and goggles had set the scene for the tussle with the Red Barons, the HIT team from Hospitality Industry Training.
Just a bit of fun and an opportunity to snap a couple of pictures.
Hi Mike, your post sure illustrates the value of always having a camera with you. I find that some of my best pictures are captured when I did not intend to do photography. My wife has finally stopped complaining about me taking a camera into places like restaurants.
I have to say that I think you did a brilliant choice with the S1 and the 24-105 “kit” lens – not just because I just took delivery of the same pair. I am out right now testing the 24-105 to be sure I got a good copy. I must say that the weight of the 24-105 is quite comfortable compared to my Leica SL 24-90 which was a stunning lens but the extra weight for a days outing was too much for me.
Your first picture is great and I love the colours in the red team image.
I have around 100 Biggles books on my shelf so the title naturally piqued my interest!
Love the lads getting into their flying helmets, and its great that the teams were happy to pose for you, Mike. Looks like a fun event.
And it shows why we should always carry a camera with us. ..
Jason
I did wonder whether anyone would remember Biggles, but I’m gratified to learn that you are a fan. I confess I haven’t read much from Capt.W.E.Johns since I were a lad (as we used to say in Lancashire) but you prove that he still has fans. I think I will add a link in the story.
He has many fans, Mike. The books are very collectible, the early John Hamilton-published editions from the early 1930’s fetch thousands of pounds if in good condition. Even a few of the latter books from the 1970’s are expensive and tough to find, especially the posthumously published ones that often only had one print run.
Mine is more of an “I have most titles” rather than “I have all 1st editions with dust jackets” collection, but nonetheless i am very pleased with what i have and monetarily its probably worth quite a bit. But its not about that for me, i’d never sell them anyway. I started with the ones my dad had and passed on to me, and built it from there. I’ve also added most of the Gimlet series for good measure.
Biggles books, motorcycles and camera’s. Those are my addictions.
Jason.
This looks like fun.
Images are nice out of the panny.
I cannot get exited about the SL2 though Mike, I don’t need more mp in my images, the ones out of my Df look mighty fine to me and I’m not about to cover the side of my house in a print – well not yet anyway as the accountant might get upset. 😂
Well, the S1 is a lovely camera if you can get over the size and weight. Even so, it actually feels lighter than the SL and handles better. Very subjective, though. For the price and considering the benefits of the 24MP sensor, it makes a lot of sense.
Thanks for sharing Mike
I really like the first image of the series and the S1 seems to work wonder. When will you post your Mallorca images?
Jean
Mallorca was mainly Q2 and I am saving them to illustrate the Q2 update which o am writing at the moment.