Colin J. Anderson

Recording my life in diaries and photographs, from heady days as a student in London in the 1970’s via a career in housing, energy & climate change to a pensioner on a low income today. I am lucky to have a gained a great deal of knowledge, experience and insight – and I like to share!

Morning Thoughts From A Devon Sitting Room

Dreaming of a Town for Humans!

Monday, 28th. September 2026

I am feeling in a reflective mood this morning. After the events of last week I feel I want to reduce my dependence on personal technology. We are all dependent upon technology to bring potable water and energy to our homes and to take away waste water and sewage. Which is fine. But I would like to reduce my dependence upon personal technology, which brings broadband into my home and takes away large sums of cash. Yes, I can watch films and TV programmes with high quality picture and sound, listen to high resolution music and podcasts and keep my website up-to-date. But the technology is expensive and does not work as well as it should. Furthermore, it fools us into thinking we can afford things that really we cannot.
(more…)

Newton Abbot

Newton Abbot in Old Pictures No.6: Demolition of the Royal Mail Sorting Office, 2005

19 Sep 2026

Newton Abbot July 2005 and the ‘modern’ sorting office is demolished to make way for Asda. Progress?
read more…
LSE Diary, Music

My Groovy 45’s No.5: Stagger Lee by Wilson Pickett

Stagger Lee by Wilson Pickett: this should be a movie: a man takes another man’s stetson hat and is shot dead. True story from 1895 and a great song recorded so many times by artists from Taj Mahal to Neil Diamond. I own 5 versions that I know of!
read more…
1976: Homeless in London, LSE Diary

Told my story in court; sympathetic Judge wanted action; brief optimism

16 Sep 2026

Homeless in London part 5: 26th. April 1976. Today I felt temporary relief as I was finally able to tell my story to a judge, who made a clear decision to find our landlord and bring her before the court. However, things did not go entirely according to plan.
read more…

1976: Homeless in London, LSE Diary

Five days of hell: no home, no possessions, courts, police, heavies at the door – and a car chase

16 Sep 2026

Homeless in London part 4: 24th. April 1976. Five days without a change of clothes, roaming the street for much of the day, visiting umpteen people and organisations that seemed powerless to help – and a car chase around Stoke Newington. Being homeless is painful, tiring, squalid and I felt very much alone.
read more…
Food & drink

I need to consider buying an espresso machine: would I buy Sage again?

5 Jul 2026

I am not enjoying my morning cappuccino as much as I used to, which is a shame as it is one of the few luxuries I continue to enjoy in retirement. The problem is not my tastebuds but my espresso machine, which should have lasted longer than it has. A great deal longer.
read more…
Travel

Caracas: 38 years ago

5 Jul 2026

A few photos from a visit to Caracas in June 1988 – a city and a people that my partner and I loved from almost the moment we arrived, despite troubles at the border. I hope as many people as possible find their loved-ones in the devastation of the June 2026 earthquakes.
read more…

50 YEARS OF PHOTOS

No.15: Moulin Rouge!

October 1990: A quiet afternoon on the Moulin Rouge set @ Hollywood. Rena feet-up on a bench outside! Picture taken with Canon 450D & scanned in RAW/HDR.

50 Years of Photos

So who is Colin Anderson?

A Devonian with stories to tell and a love of history, science, philosophy, environment, & entertainment.

An increasing number of people I know are either down the rabbit hole or caught in its event horizon, which I find distressing. I prefer the real world and, like a frantic sponge, I cannot help but soak up knowledge, insight & quality.

Which I like to share…

About me

My LSE Diary posts – reflecting life as a student in the 1970’s. I was at the Joint School of Geography – King’s College & the London School of Economics.

Not only that but also 30 years living in London – life on a south London council estate… and more!

LSE Diary

London

Recent music posts

Everything from saving energy to gardening, interior design to lighting. I love my home. Sometimes I will feature previous homes, including my 10th. floor flat in a south London council block. You will find useful tips and advice. I love my home!

Home & Garden