Urban roses

Recently I've come round to liking roses after years of not enjoying their blousy looks. And I've come to really appreciate them in our urban landscape as a counterfoil to the stark buildings they often grow beside.

To me their English cottage garden prettiness is further accentuated in this environment. I certainly notice them more here and they call out and make their presence known.

I used to think they were at odds with their surroundings but now I like the juxtaposition. Actually I'm beginning to appreciate these blocks of 60s and 70s flats too - the under-designed ones I mean; the brutalist designs of Denys Lasdun and the like are easy to appreciate.

Mind you I draw the line at fake leaded windows on the flats behind - you can just see one here. D'you think there are beams and horse brasses inside?

Definitely a step too far for me, but maybe that's just a matter of time too. My tastes evolve all time and my world's a much more interesting place for it so maybe I'll be lining up the horse brasses in a few years. Hope not...