open house London

For those of you who haven't been to London- the Lloyds building has a mostly aluminium alien feel to it, with its exoskeleton type lifts that ferry suits up the sides of its building and the feeling that you really can't just go in and say hello, that stands in the city of London proudly, mostly inaccessible.




Except once a year. When London opens it's doors to the public, who usually queue for streets, and these days with their canons, sonys and ngati Nikon at hand. That was this weekend just passed! hey- who am I not to grab my camera and q with the rest of them!



L. and I were constantly amazed at the history of the place, despite its ultra (80's) modern exterior. The Adam room for instance had been bought in auction and moved twice, (by the same firm- 200 years apart!). A quick note on Lloyds- they underwrite insurance companys, and pay out when they have to pay out huge sums.
They paid out for the Titanic!!

(open this photo large and you should be able to see the entry!- They still operate this loss book, which is still written - currently by this guy!- with a quill!




You have to keep reminding your self that its a place of business, a busy marketing floor with people negotiating insurance prices, and even through the tourist-murmur song you could hear the ghost chatter of a thousand voices ringing through the sound of coins piling up > bullion even!!


Historically- when a ship would sink- they would ring the bell once- (i hope this is right)- and when they found it again, they would ring it twice. Now days this bell is rung mostly as a mark of two minutes silence for a catastrophe. David here rang it for Sept 11th.



It is a lovely building, and its a fantastic time - I guess i wish that I went to more, but if you were to go to one, then it wasnt a bad one to do.

And realise youre living in the golden years

Sitting around drinking wine and listening to music. Pretty much sums up the last 20 years of my fantastic life!

This time around, I was drinking this wine from this shop I visited. It gives free, (yes Londoners- FREE!) wine tasting evenings. The shop keeper was really enthusiastic, and though she needed a bit better help than the actress with one hand in bandage, it was a really fun night with a whole lot of new zealand and australian wine. (pinot, pinot)


And while we sat around and drank this lovely drop- (that score very well on our tasting notes); we also listened to this tasty album.

sometimes even music, is no subsitute for tears

Went to the Lexington On Tuesday night to see our favorite Alabama son, who was in excellent humour and great voice, Mr Dan Sartain. He rocks that old guitar of his, and thrashed his way through his old songs in a rush to get to some new stuff.
Held a request session, which I think is an indication that he is a bit bored with it. Nick Cave does that stuff these days, and then when someone asks for something that havent prepared, he has prepared his one liner "sorry, cant play that... its got too many chords in it". hardy ha ha Mr Cave.

The venue is great, upstairs downstairs, though it took long enough to get through the queue, which I think subtracted from the buzz of the room. Once everyone had formed an orderly queue it was if they could not bring them selves to dance. like those people who survive a plane accident only to suffocate in their seats, waiting for someone else to make the move.
It had a dance floor, and a mezzonene floor for those of us, who perhaps have trouble seeing over others heads.

Beers from cans at 3 quid.

Pretty good night.

get back into blogging tember

How useless have I been? Neglecting you, my three readers? Apologies for sure.

Its all going to change, I need to change my routine, but there is so much coming up! So much more for you to check out when work is slow. but as you know, its all been going on in the last few months, sad things and happy things, but now its back to blogging.
Which is always a worrying thing to say because then if I dont- its the last thing in the blog advertising my own lies!
haha

anyhow, here is Lets Wrestle!
They were good, and despite what I said that night, the album is awesome, so go get it!


There are a lot of things to look forward to, including Dan Sartain this Tuesday, the return of photoclub this Sunday, Tattoo convention the following weekend, Londons film festival and last but not least, a new blog called Steak Club, where we go around to peoples recommendations of the best steaks and eat them!

YES!