Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
It's drizzling. It's foggy. Dawn is still about twenty minutes away. It's Tuesday, 2 June 2009 (yes, just hours ago) and I'm wondering why I have a camera bag slung over my shoulder.
Then, bingo, I see something that validates my decision to carry a camera, even when the weather's lousy and the light is unfriendly. There, outside the Langham Hotel, is a black London cab. On both sides of the cab, there are Union Jacks fluttering in the crisp winter breeze.
They're tricky shots to take, because the pre-dawn light is grey and weak, while the flags are flanked by the lights of the Langham porch. I take a couple of shots before moving round to the other side, after I see a huge bolster taking up the entire back window. Naturally, the bolster has the British colours on it as well.
Then I hear a voice behind me. It is the cab's owner, telling me that the Langham is celebrating a British Day today, to coincide with renovations and upgrades to their London hotel. While we talk about the cabs and their history, I notice (naturally) that his tie has the Union Jack emblazoned on it too. Then he shows me his braces as well - and I have to get a shot, despite the poor light outside.
Brian Hickey and Steve Olsen run a Melbourne company called London Taxi Wedding Services and this is the pride of their fleet. It's been a few moons since I sat in a traditional black London cab and I have to choose between a) a quick spin around the block or b) spending the next five minutes taking some shots.
The photographer side of my brain wins over the childlike part of my brain. But hey, it's a close call.
For the home of ABC Wednesday, go to Mrs Nesbitt's Place.
