Santas work incredibly hard (without access to Amazon Prime) to deliver gifts for Xmas day.  Before this monumental logistical feat begins, Santas of all shapes and sizes, wearing their beer goggles with pride, descend on the streets of major cities across the world to jingle their bells, sing Xmas songs, drink cans of warm beer and share bottles of prosecco, taking part in the biggest unofficial, uncommerical, nonsensical Santa Crawl across the streets.

SantaCon London started from Leake Street, a tunnel underneath Waterloo Station, where graffiti and street art is welcomed with open arms.  There’s a couple of bars and restaurants hidden amongst the arches. Santas check out the Facebook page 24 hrs before the parade begins to find out where to meet.  

Whilst entirely unofficial, the London cohort seemed pretty organised with a sound system in a wheelie bin, confetti guns, gift giving for children and a Samba band.  There’s a few rules; everyone’s called Santa, Santas wear a full costume, no public urination, spread joy - not litter and leave no trace.  

Big Up all the Santas.  I quite like the unofficial nature of this event - am going to nominate my’elf’ as the ‘Unofficial Santas Photographer’!  In the spirit of Christmas and sharing  - here’s the Daily Mail article.  Merry Christmas.  Words and photos my own.  SarahHedges.London 

In Greek mythology, Poseidon created Paxos by striking Corfu with his trident, so that he and his wife Amphitrite, ‘the goddess of the sea’ could have some peace and quiet.  The Ionian island of Paxos is only 8 kilometres long and 3 kilometres wide, so relaxing… it’s horizontal.   Here’s my top 10 tips in pics:

Top Paxos Tip #10:  Not only a great island for sailing, it’s a great place to hang out your laundry too.  T-shirt, ‘my own’.  Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III  Lens: Canon 24-105 mm.

Top Paxos Tip #9: Head, ‘off-piste’ on a hike.  It’s a great island to explore on foot.  Just follow your feet.  Socks, ‘my own’ Yayoi Toesama.  Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III  Lens: Canon 24-105 mm.  There’s loads of great walks to discover, along old trails, under ancient olive groves and through sleepy hamlets.  

Top Paxos Tip #8: Get the inside scoop.  Enjoy an ice-cream whilst walking along the harbourfront in the capital, ‘Gaios’.  Sit in the town square with the locals and sip a super strength Greek coffee at Galieris Kitchen Bar.  Greek coffee is served with foam on the top ‘kaimaki’ and the grounds at the bottom. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III  Lens: Canon 24-105 mm. 

Top Paxos Tip #7:  Take a wonder around the port and buy the home made Paxiot olive oil from Babis Lekkas in Gaios.   Did you know, olive oil should be kept out of sunlight and never stored in the fridge?  Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III  Lens: Canon 24-105 mm. 

Top Paxos Tip #6: marvel at the archtastic branding and directional signage leading you to one of the islands most iconic natural sights…. the, ‘Tripitos Arch’.  Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III  Lens: Canon 24-105 mm.  

Take a walk on the wild side up and over the, ‘Tripitos Arch’.  Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III  Lens: Canon 24-105 mm.  

Top Paxos Tip #5: for traditional greek food including freshly stuffed lemons, head to dinner at Taverna Nionios in Lakka.  This delightful taverna has been in the family since 1945!  We love this place, the lovely Giannis Petrou will take you on a journey through all the delicious dishes on the menu cooked by their talented Chef Kosmopoulos Panos.   Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III  Lens:  Canon 24-105 mm.    

Top Paxos Tip #4: Visit the even tinier island of Anti-Paxos by boat.  With two of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen.  Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III  Lens: Canon 24-105 mm.  

The beaches of Anti-Paxos could be from a bond movie.  The sea is crystal clear and the most beautiful ionion turquoise blue.  Camera: Canon EOS 600D  Lens: Canon 10-22 mm.

Top Paxos Tip #3: Take a cat nap. Make a donation to PAWS ‘Paxos Animal Welfare Society’.  Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III  Lens: Canon 24-105 mm.   

Top Paxos Tip #2:  Watch a sunrise or a sunset.  One of the best places to watch the sunset is from Erimitis Beach.  Enjoy a rum and chilli cocktail from Erimitus Bar and Restaurant.  Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III  Lens: Canon 24-105 mm.  

Top Paxos Tip #1:  One of our favourites places on the planet is  Ben’s Bar  Monodendri Beach for the original, ‘Relaxos in Paxos’ experience.   A picture perfect pebbly beach with crystal clear waters and kickass cocktails!  To relaxos further into a horizontal like state, you can book a massage under an olive tree.  We ate our way through the week with, ‘to dine for’ lunches at Efi’s seaside restaurant. I’d never tasted freshly filleted anchovies like this before - another level!   I hope this dish made it onto the menu - not just any fried cheese… this is a pan seared saganaki, toasted with sesame seeds, topped with sticky roasted figs and drizzled with honey!  Thankfully holiday calories don’t count.  Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

Please don’t share this blog with anyone, let’s just keep Paxos as our little secret…shhh.

The day after the Kings Coronation, we made it to the penultimate day of ‘Beyond the Streets London’ curated by Roger Gastman noted graffiti historian in conjunction with a team of guest curators at the Saatchi Gallery in SW3.  A celebration of graffiti, street art, hip hop, underground art and culture plus a few other bits and pieces thrown in.  Featuring 100’s of global artists and cultural icons whose work began on the streets and wrapped around subways evolving into renowned artists today.   I entered my early teenage years listening to hip hop; from Grandmaster Flash to Run DMC, Afrika Bambaataa, Salt and Pepper, Young MC, Rob Base, The Jungle Brothers and De La Soul…  these were the parties and soundtracks of my youth that set me on the most eclectic journey with music that I’m still enjoying today.  It wasn’t just the music, it was the graffiti, the breakdancing, and the laid back style of tracksuits, trainers and bucket Kangol hats.  A creative and rebellious time appreciated by the rule breakers and the mark makers.  That spirit was personified with the painting of trains, the clothes worn and the music played and still provides creative inspiration to so many to this very day.  

Congratulations to the 100’s of artists taking part in Beyond the Streets London including those featured above; Henry Chalfant,  Mode 2, Katsu, Gordon Matt-Clark, Beastie Boys, Craig Stecyk, Timothy Curtis, Jenny Holzer, Goldie MBE, Martha Cooper, Kenny Scharf,   Futura2000 and Felipe Pantone.  Great big shout out to Clive aka CK1 of a kind gonna blow your goddamn mind for our tickets and to Stevo, Gen, Aurora, Wozza and Gem.