An English summer

Summer. The tell-tale petunias, geraniums and what-nots spilling out of their baskets at every street corner, public house and building. Summer brings the crowds out onto the streets, into parks and public spaces in London. It also brings in a rush of tourists who seem to have a whale of a time.  
Is it fun for the residents too, having their city invaded by multitudes each summer? Do they wish for a quiet, sunny corner to catch a nap, read a book, sip some wine and just day-dream?

Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace
History, geography & all the rest

Admiralty Arch, soon to be hotel
History, geography & all the rest

Arches as seen from Trafalgar Square

A London pub on the riverside in Southwark
History, geography & all the rest

Sunshine, Hyde Park & the distant London skyline
History, geography & all the rest

Even the trees seem to reach out &
soak up some sunshine

Ah! Good old London Eye. For that 360 deg view of the city
History, geography & all the rest

Summer sky

Used only to the many moods of Indian summers, I landed in the midst of a beautiful English summer. 

Colours of the earth & sky

July 2015, 9PM, Oxford, England, UK

Scattered clouds floating in a crimson sky. Daylight stretching beyond the notions of (Indian) propriety. Beer(s) under the shade of old trees in farmhouse pubs. Walking back home in companionable silence. In the air remained the promise of a similar summer day, the next day & many days afterwards. 

Of 'backsides'

As an Indian, I guess I ought not give a second thought to the usage of 'backside' in everday language without blinking an eye. Let me explain... here, in Mumbai, where I have currently live, 'backside' is used thus:

• The cafe is located on the backside of that building
• You will find the ph no on the backside of the book
• You have to search for it on the backside of the shelf

So on and so forth...

In many of the cities in India that I have lived in or travelled to, I have heard the usage of 'backside' in a similar fashion but not as commonly as in Mumbai.

Even though am no expert in the language, I doubt that the usage is incorrect but it's informal meaning is so commonly known & used that one would hesitate to refer to buildings, books, roads etc as having 'backsides' (i.e. instead of back entrances or behind...).

back·side: noun 1.the rear or back part or view of an object, person, scene, etc.; that part which is opposite the front. 2. (informal) rump; buttocks. (source: www.dictionary.com)

Whatever the reason might be, it does seem that 'backside' has caught the fancy of the locals and is here to stay... offering many amused moments to those who first stumble upon it.