A Monday walk into work

A beautiful Monday morning this morning. Springtime in London hits hard! Took my time coming in and took a few snaps for your perusal!








I liked how the over exposed sky turned out? seems like a polaroid half way thru developing or something?

By Kings Mall in Hammersmith every Thursday there is a market. Looks like these guys have got here a little early, this man was setting up some leather belts.

And here though they look delicious, it was a bit early for me to be eating olives.

plynth out city

I know I have been useless about the morning photo a day. but they havent been very good.
heres my one from today.

And yesterday


But that is not the best thing about this post. No. I have saved that until last!
As you all know Anthony Gormly had the brainwave of making people art, but its not until today that you can enter! so please, enter now and become the fourth plynth in Trafelgar Sq.!

Getting to work in the Springtime

Thats right! I said spring time, when these little beauties arrive I think its the very begining of the herald of spring. Which made me think that I will try and take a photo everyday of my way to work. I am meant to be biking tomorrow so it will be of different london locations. it might be too borring to make it to the site, or I may have to start another blog for it, but at the moment, just this one for now!
Above is Pimlico and below is ravenscourt park.

Raclette!

Know it sounds funny
But I just cant stand the pain
Girl Im leaving you tomorrow
Seems to me girl
You know Ive done all I can
You see I begged, stole
And I borrowed
Ooh, thats why Im Cheesy

Cheesy like sunday moooooorrrrrrrrrrning

Delicious Drop of Goodness

Had a nice weekend, all in all and especially enjoyed watching a bit of tv with L. sharing a bottle of "The Crossings"

We watched masterchef, being human (spoilers!) and the dark knight.

a click and this smile is yours

Well, a collector of smiles.

I trawl this web of ours like a relentless fishing vessel, bringing up the choicest cuts of information for you, and lay them out on my hastily made sales counter. Here are my wares now, just a click away.
Do not think about SFW (of course it is) or how much energy is required of the universe to transport you from this site to that. Just apply weight to your pointing finger. There are no muscles in your fingers. A simple tensing of the tendon will push you towards a smile and a feeling of happiness within your own belly. No matter how big or flabby, or hairy, or toned that belly is. No matter if you don't have the cash for food, this will fill you with a priceless meal of some not insignificant worth. This link below is one that will take you to something that will make you think- i wish i came up with that! I wish I was more creative! Wait, I could still do this!

CLICK ME

the blurring of the line between criminal and creative photography

Personally I don’t mind too much.
Western society does need to be aware of the possibility of bombs in public places. So if the police take down your name and details for taking photos then I think it’s a small price to pay to ensure that they have records of who did what. But if it comes to more than that, if they are intending to hold people with nothing stronger than suspicion, then I do have a problem. Especially as the gvt can hold you with out charging you.
So for this part of the civil rights issue that I defend and publicize and may attend this flash (heh) mob protest. The plan is to turn up to New Scotland Yard this coming Monday 11am and take photos the day this ambiguous law is passed. The law basically says

you are within your rights to take a photograph anywhere that is public property. Unless a policeman says you are not allowed, and then you are not.

On the same issue, Conservative MP Dr Rachael Joyce is on my side in this, but misses the point somewhat. She is annoyed that under the same law, PCSO’s have stopped her and a friend while taking photos outside Harrow Bus Station. She says

we were clearly not terrorists

as if there is a standard template of people who constitute terrorists. She seems to be saying that the police are wasting their time taking down the name of these particular individuals based on their physical- which must also incorporate their genetic- attributes.

Bob Marleys Birthday

Its Bob Marleys birthday . 64 you know. And its not that old. I will be 64 in 2039 which I personally find intimidating, motivating and inevitable. OF course I am so rock n roll I may not last the night!

So here is one of my favorite songs that I think rings true in this day of uncertainess and living with the wages of greed. I am going home to blast a bit of Bob Marley before I go out. All this “doobie doobie do” is motivating as well. Ride Natty Ride. *(my hair is free from nattyness, lets be clear)

'Cause now the fire is out of control,
Panic in the city, wicked weeping for their gold!
Everywhere this fire is burning,
Destroying and melting their gold,
Destroying and wasting their souls.

Go ride, Natty, ride!
Go deh, Dready! Go deh!

Tell you what: now the people gather on the beach
And the leader try to make a speech,
But the Dreadies understanding that it's too late:
Fire is burning;
Man, pull your own weight!
Fire is burning;
Man, pull your own weight!

Slim Jim's Liquor Store

Went to this lovely bar on upper street last week. "Slim Jims Liquor Store" good music, good atmosphere, I dont think there was a place for loads of people so it was more of a place for 1 or 2 at a time! worth it though if you are around upper street soon.

I really just wanted to post these photos hahaha

indulgent youtube nostalgia for Waitangi day

So its Waitangi Day, and although it has finished in NZ I thought I would include a whole bunch of NZ utube goodness.


this is my family btw






British people look out for Phillip Scofield in his NZ personality.


This is awful. Only for NZers 30+ high on nostalgia

My Furry Friends.

1 in Five people in Britain took yesterday off due to adverse weather. You are reading the blog on one of those one in fivers.
The snow is melting away, which if you are a Londoner you will know that means pain. Tubes cant handle being wet either. The fall is worse on ice, than it is on snow.



This is a picture of the park down the road from work. nice isnt it? I spent an hour in the snow taking snaps this morning and the sun rose. it was nice!
I made two friends. One is a robin.


and the other is a squirel

the egg layers and the spawned

You guys know what a Tuatara is right? These awesome little fellas are making news all over NZ at the moment.
Apparently one that is 111 years old just had babys!. And its not just going on in the zoo's but eggs have been found in the wild, for the first time in 70 years!


This rather clumisly brings me to another piece of news that caught my eye this morning, that the FDA is lifting its ban on stem cell research applied to humans. The embryonic stem cell can adapt to change into any kind of cell in the human body, which is an amazing thing when you think about it. Geron (an american company) has had its plans to test on patients with injured spinal cords due to injury. Its worked on the rats! But previously where the Bush administration has condemned the practice, the FDA has stood firm, now there is a more liberal administration the FDA has allowed what may turn out to be another historic milestone in American history. The FDA have denied that this white house shift has anything to do with anything, but well, its a coincidence and a half!

Conversely, you can isolate your own amniotic cells at home with any placenta you may have hanging around. This way you can beat any monopoly Geron may have in the future.

Crush and Lovely- 50 people one question

Fifty People, One Question: Brooklyn from Crush & Lovely on Vimeo.

Just found this. Its very nicely shot and quite inspirational. By crush and lovely apprently there is going to be a london one coming up soon, so check them out at a later date. You know these are one of those ideas you just want to steal for yourself!

Cross Continent Biking fun, the breakfast club and a restaurant in the trees

Thanks to L. for this heads up but PoPW has just heard about a new and exciting development appearing on the back of the Olympics. No I am as scared as the next person at how cringeworthy the “we will rock you” dancers trading off with “the Saturdays” version of “God Save the Queen”- and I am annoyed at each weekend disruption being essential engineering works due to a last ditch attempt at stop gapping problems on tube lines … but I am pleased as punch at the idea of a cycle route between Paris and London!


It seems almost the entire 211 mile journey will miss out roads entirely from St Paul’s Cathedral to Notre Dame, utilising disused rail lines. How fantastic is that!

A Church in West Sussex is claiming the representation of a dying Christ is scarring children. Imagine. Its like the church censoring itself. Maybe they should have chosen a less sinister emblem then, like some broken loaves, or Christ with fish hooks in peoples mouths, or a net of people slung on his back as the fisher of men... But seriously there is something to think about with the changing face of the church in todays society




Hmmm, I don’t really get it other than it looks amazing, is a tree house restaurant and they found the builders from the yellow pages? Hmmm, that’s it isn’t it. But hey, nothing like a bit of hype and what a great idea to get funding from the yellow pages, that you would use any way. Other than just asking your mates I suppose. Its a fun website though, click through that link to see treehouse getting made, then go outside and make one.

Ok, so it’s the weekend coming up. And I have already given you a list of free things!
But heres a couple more. Tonight the National Portrait Gallery scratches your Bulgarian Folk Music itch…

Music from the court of the Holy Roman Emperor - Maximilian I - and new pieces based on traditional English and Bulgarian folk music. Supported by the Arts Council's Escalator Scheme

And Epping Forrest Lakes are Frozen! So head down and walk around this winter wonderland. Singing loudly "theres only onnnnnnnne Denis Bergkamp"

(Cough)

But heres a story from last year that I have only just discovered, but a fantastic one so worth reliving. Apparently for fun some guy (Darren Hoyt) goes and checks out his pool filters for fun. Even brings along his girlfriend. After three days of rain he takes her down the back to check out whats down there. And as he puts it

a turtle, exhausted and barely able to stay afloat any longer, supporting a frog on its back while a spider clung to the frog’s head to avoid drowning.

This inspired a tattoo amongst other things (see his update).



Excellent use of resources. I thought the frog might turn into that fox and eat the spider, but no- they all just- apparently reluctantly went off on their separate missions. Reminds me of the end of Breakfast Club.

Londons Not as Expensive as they tell you!

In face of the cold and gloomy front that full my mornings in the form of news reports and papers I feel fantastic about this year. And to celebrate the fact that we are all alive and even if we want to tighten our belts a little we can still enjoy ourselves I am bringing yet another list to you.

This time of things to do that wont require you to bring out the hammer to the piggy bank.

For those of you not in London, (or who commute daily!) I will try and do all that’s on the list and bring you back my findings! I do this for you.

Danny Wallace creates a podcast and signs copies of the Yes Man at the Apple Store tomorrow night. Should be ok, hes pretty funny!

The Natural History Museum is holding Londons first Ice Sculpting Festival this weekend. You can even learn how to do it in Free Masterclasses. If once there you are wanting to spend money, there is an ice rink, a Darwin Exhibition and the Wildlife Photographers exhibition on show next to the amazing, outstanding and free permanent exhibits. Don’t forget the lichen exhibit, its just as important as the dinosaurs.

Light Graffiti
Here are a bunch of flickrites who are going to meet up on the 17th of Jan to take night photos of light. This looks fun.


Shameless Photoclub Plug although in exactly the same place but in two weeks after and at the completely unsociable hour of morning time, the first actual meeting of photoclub, Borough Market 31st Jan 09:00.

£5 Films at Vue Cinemas.
You have to order before 16:00 on the chosen day of viewing, so it really is for those last minute choices, and with Che part one on and My Bloody Valentines 3D coming up, it’s a good offer. Actually Its one of my new year resolutions is to see more film. And with this year being the year of 3D, I couldn’t be more excited. 3d film in Real D and sky TV going 3D 2009 it might be worth sending two and a half grand to japan to get the sort of telly you need, to project the polarized view. I am into it I think, but will just go to the pub to watch the 3d games!


Of Course 5 pound films are not as good as free film.


Free photographic portrait exhibition at the NPG

Ok that should do you for a fortnight of getting out and about for less than a tenner. I think the much have purchase is a hip flask so you can get rid of all that left over whisky for a winter warmer.

Sharing the tree dressing people, sharing the tree

Deck the halls my friends

101th entry- Good idea for next year- or two

Hello small but loyal readership!

Before you is the 101st post on this site. I am strangely proud of this. There you go. I wasnt going to drink tonight, but if I do I shall dedicate it to you. and the entry. hmmm it better be good then.

And it won't be full of links, and photos or videos. No. Not the lazy posting tricks of looking back on 2008 and giving awards for best film or singles. no. Oh No.

Instead I shall share with you my genius, like its a secret shared. In fact, I will give you two.

First;

I was reading the guardian insert this morning, and there was one article per month that stood out. And its really interesting. Its a good way to look back on the year. Anyway next year i will do that. Well this year really starting with Dec. So from Dec-Dec. So this time next year- you know knocking wood we are both still here {knock knock}- you can look back and see how it all worked out. If this credit crunch falters out, how arsenal won the league against all odds, and how in one year one simple idea transformed a mild mannered presentation supervisor into a London phenomenon. Phenomenon
Oh sorry. I said I wouldnt do that.

Any way- this idea I speak of is point the second;
I am going to start a photo group! hey! I will advertise on the net- in photo magazine forums, dps, flickr, shop windows and record stores. The advertising will all point to a blog in which this months theme and location will be. Then we all meet at the said location at the golden hour- which is early!!! Or could be the afternoon. So say its Hampstead Heath- with the theme of Close Up. So then you meet at the place, take photos for an hour then head to a pub. Then you talk show photos, drink, and send me your two best photos by that Wednesday. Then I put them up. Obviously I think that you should all put a fiver in and in that month you all vote for the best photo and that person gets it! what do you think?

craft day

Saturday night. Four young people sit around drinking and talking, listening to rock and roll and... making crafts!

heres my first attempt. Its an oystercard holder dont you know. and its rock.

Aids Day Concert

Proud Gallery Camden held Aids Day Staying Alive concert sponsored I think by MTV. Three newish bands played there.

I Blame Coco.
Although there was a feeling that these guys had just been swept together from some music school and moulded around the famous by proxy singer- is her name coco?
The youth surrounding us certainly liked them, and so did I. actually the more I listen to this song the more I really like it.


We Have Band
Its all about three name bands here it seems. These guys were good fun. It wasnt just we were a bit drunk by this time. honest.

The Plath Play

Not enough poetry on this site is there? To be honest I havent really checked into poetry for some years, but the upcoming opening of the Plath Play "Three Women" has reminded me. This is the first airing of this in the UK for thirty years or something, and though you dont expect it to be "Mama Mia" its surely a good night out.

Herr God, Herr Lucifer
Beware
Beware.

Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air.

Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath

Each virile bachelor dreads paralysis,
The old maid in the gable cries all day:
Never try to trick me with a kiss.
...
Sooner or later something goes amiss;
The singing birds pack up and fly away;
So never try to trick me with a kiss:
The dying man will scoff and scorn at this.

Never Try To Trick Me With A Kiss by Sylvia Plath

xmas hits work

yuletide mother fuckers!

Crystal

Had to mention this place. Coming home from Dylan Moran and I was H*U*N*G*R*Y. Now it must be mentioned I live above a perfectly good Kebab shop, but when needs must, its down the road and around the corner for me to Crystal Kebabs.
Now not only do they over do the delicous bread, vege and meat stews and delicious lamicuns but they also drop in a couple of free rice puddings.

I know.

Free. Rice. Pudding.

Art Alert

Extended but absolutely going to end this weekend is a third form science project gone horribly wrong! Its going to be a long wait, you have to shed your own boots in favor of theirs and its south of the river but... it looks ace!



Roger Hiorns presents Seizure his most ambitious transformation yet to create a crystalic wonderland from a former dull old estate house.

To quote

British artist Roger Hiorns makes exceptional use of unlikely materials: detergent, disinfectant, perfume, fire and copper sulphate crystals. Transforming steel poles, car engines and cardboard architectural models into crystalline forms, Hiorns effects surprising, physical and aesthetic transformations on found objects.

Weekend Round up: Tinselworms, Pies and Pandas

Monday already! How to buffer myself from work/play? BLOG!
Yes its a bit early, but I bet there are people out there who want to know what I have done this weekend... surely?

Went for dinner at the old HK Diner, it had good write ups, and all in all not dissapointing, L's hot pot (pork Belly) was the best, then F's prawns was second, my duck was the worst but still quite tasty! Then we went to Bill Bailey


Which was ace, he was less absurd than I expected. And you could tell he was on the back of his American tour. But his best joke was distintly English, (Spoiler alert not too high though./.._) and the joke was about him cringing from the future about how embarrasing the olympic ceremony is going to be! haha, true bro...


Saturday and we tried some pies. Now as I am sure you know the UK is sadly lacking in decent pies, so when I see them I am always torn between running in fear, or running for the promise of savory goodness withing those thin pastry walls. So when at Broadway Market on a freezing Saturday I saw them- I went for it!

"Thanks, can I have a chilli steak pie and a steak and cheese please>?"





Now they had take away pies, that you could bring home- and they cost about £3.50 each. (NZ-ers will balk!) and to make matters worse- they microwave them! bah. But on a chilly day, it was a delicous, home made filling filled tasty treat.

And then Sunday we took a walk in Crouch End, where we found an excellent print shop, which just shows where our aspirations lie because we so wanted to bring home art. haha. This was one of my faves.

Mitch Mitchell RIP

So its a bit late, but its one of those things that needs to be blogged about.
One of the best drummers ever, the connection between jazz and rock, and how to be everywhere on the skins without overbearing the guitar.
Mr Mitch Mitchell

Its neate ayhe Aunt?

Adam Neate is turning London into an art gallery on Friday. A quick check into the auctions and one of his pics reached over 40k so even though he is going for a *ahem "Warholian" technique of not actually touching canvas there might be an investment to be made from walking around the streets of London at midnight scoping for free art.

“I’m interested in that Warhol idea of the brand as assisted readymade. Apart from creating the master image in stencil, I haven’t had to touch these works at any point in their production, even the signature is rubber-stamped – and although they’re multiples, each one is compositionally unique.”

Now although I am sure that this is not the reason why he is doing it, but I am sure I wont be the only night prowler!

My lunchbox gets all the girls to the yard

How awesome is my home made cottage pie lunch box? Oooooohhhhh yeah...

pimp my loaf

Annoyed at myself for losing stuff, there was nothing to do on Sunday but to break bread...
L made some (!) bread! it is delicous, with basil and stuff! but although she looked at it wearily saying "thats a lot of mix" she loaded up the oven, and made 6 loaves! I know! Like jesus! only hot.

Remedy for a Chilly Thursday

I sat there wondering if there is really any point being there if I couldnt record it somehow for the blog. I mean sure I have a photo from the phone, but that lacks definition and obviously- movement and sound.

I thought of reviewers of the past and how they would rely on words and choice phrases to evoke the mood and setting of the night, but I think I can almost feel your eyes glaze over as my sentences grow...

But it was an old fasioned gig last night at the Old Queens Head. It was a lounge, with a glitterball; old leather couches; lushly upholsted lounging chairs and tables set up with plenty of room so you could sit and watch the band. It certainly is my new favourite venue. Even apart from the fact this was free it seemed to me had a real community feel to it, and I really enjoyed being able to sit back and listen to some live music! Each band had at least one amazing song, and although there was a screechy (and female singer) theme that ran between each band had stand out performances.

Here is my briefest take on the night
Young Paul
I mean they said it themselves when they said it was karaoke... Why is the mac the only thing I can hear? it's a common problem that the mac goes straight through the PA but the guitar just through the amp. At times I couldnt tell if it was plugged in. And I mean nice shirt and all but to me (and I know I am just being picky) wear your stage clothes all night, dont put the shirt on after soundcheck in front of everyone- wheres the magic? Stand out song was the one about the major chords.

Palpitations
Slightly wonky aethestic with guitarist and singer were glammed up and the rhytm section thought they didnt need to bother. However they held the band together with great restraint. Stand out song- the last one no doubt. I dont think its on their myspace? surely its a single. I was actually blown away by it (but I am a sucker for spectoresque intros)

The DeBrettes
"enjoy the show" she said, and I did- she was everywhere, however like a dog on a lead could only stretch as far as the lead would so we were safe, but I did think she shocked a rather sophisticated couple when she was on the table. Stand out song Rage was released at the start of Oct and produced by Gordon Raphael (BTW)

Chapter 24 rounded off the evening with surf guitar led choppy eccentric rhythms that would change without warning. I thought the singer was really cool for some strange sophisticate reason. Oh and young paul should note that the drummer wore his top hat all evening. oh and the girls were going to go until they turned the sign on- great little prop as with the teapot.

Hey and the website for the old queens head (which is really rather good) was apparently created by delete so if you want some, come and get it!

William Blakes Grave

You know how it is, you get use to a place and then from out of nowhere peers something you have never seen? well we were heading to brick lane on Sunday, the clouds split just enough to leave dappled light on one of the best poet/engraver's in the world's grave...

oh- cool new artist

With his Victorian etchings with a penchant for duplicity the dark fantasy art of Dan Hillier lept out at me in the up market. Check him out!

nude

ok, well so without turning this in to a coffee blog, had great coffee at this place in brick lane yesterday. Nude. Which no one was nude so apart from that let down had a great flat white just over the road from the upstart market on Hanbury street. Hey its good!

More Human than Human

Had a lovely breakfast with L. today (there was no milk at home!)

Hammersmith Tube Station is an unlikely place for a peaceful and pleasant dining experience, but Antonias really captures something with its hideaway position and fabulous service. Lunch is great as well with a choice of al dante pasta and tasty toppings. So if yr hungry around there> snubb Mcdonalds with its 5am start (!) and disregard pret, head to something human!

PS photos from the iphone- not too shabby with a small size hey?

Ringing the Changes

Washing down the Front of the Tate, originally uploaded by turoasaur.

Its a sad day as the art is washed away, to swirl into storm drains, filtered down to be one day drunk by someone... hmmm not too bad I suppose!

Wash em down!

all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine

OK so its Jewellery time! Having just returned from Murano I am amped to make things. Oh here is an ace shop that I got my mum a necklace from, and thought you might like to have a look as well...

But I have just received 50 microscope slides, that I intend to make into brooches. I still need a few items (solder iron, clamp, pictures!) but the slides themselves are a step in the right direction. Looking on the net everyone uses stained glass foiled tape to hold the two slides together before you solder- but where am I meant to get that from? Obviously the "misc..." shops in seven sisters road will probably hold them! I am hoping they have solder irons!!

Rhyming slang learn during the weekend: Bag= bag of sand- Grand. £1000.

I am still looking for somewhere with a kiln to let me make glass bricks!

John Soames Rocks!

cleptomaniac, originally uploaded by gfitz36.

So ma has arrived, we have crossed off a few things from the list, old hallows, tate, trafelgar square, jewell tower, westminster abbey etc. But it was John Soames Museum that really blew my mind, so great to walk around the house to see what those fancy houses look like inside, and then the sheer volume of his collection is overwhelming. But for me the jewel is the collection of the hogarth "A rakes progress".
oh and the sweet t towel for a fiver. watch out people xmas presents coming yr way!


Havent seen Bex yet, but you know itsgoing to happen

Blogs around the world

Loving Blogs around the world at the moment, the puddlelicious crew has grown today. if you feel like reaching around this dark internet for a spark of inspiration, check some out now!_ oh wait, read me first- read me first-/oo\

Anyhoo.
I have been thinking. Lots of things really, and I know I dont usually rant here but do you know what? Posts have been pretty thin on the ground, and if I expect people to read me (I dont actually but you know what I mean) then I have to write something.


Now, like a lot of people, I want to get me an iphone. this is mainly because of the maps function, I just get a kick out of seeing -electronically- where i am- which would probably be a pub, and I could look out the window, but I will be showing everyone where we are on the phone... (I know how lucky my friends are!)... So you can then choose to see the restaurants around you- but (obviously) only the ones that have signed up and become iphone ap. 101 savy. Which is ok at the moment, but as the money begins to come in for this, it will soon only be the places that are chosen to be sponsored by which ever app it is.
Which brings me to my point. We are living in the wild west of the internet, but the later stages of the pioneering spirit. Very soon, our choices of what we want to view- or what we can view, will be limited by our providers in much the same way. I actually think that we will have to pay for the sort of things that we now just bump into, like peoples blogs- or user generated content. so a nominal fee for the huge products- but a larger fee for wanting to view content made from independant users.

the end, in short is nigh.

On the upside, I have sunburnt shoulders for the first time all year. Its September people!

This week sees the return of Bex- and the intial arrival of my mother!

and its a short week.

London in a List

Following my brothers advice I have made the following list of things to do in London with my mother. Note the hand to tick off tick boxes.

September Events
A list of events
Open Days
Jane Austen Festival
Thames Festival
Tattoo Convention

OCT Events
1066 Festival

Stores of Interest
 hampstead shop
cheese shop
 Cheese Shop
 http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/Vinopolis.aspx
 Covent Garden Cask Whisky Shop
 Vintage store

Historical Buildings
 Awesome old church
 Globe theatre
 Tower of http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/admissionsprices/toweroflondonadmission.aspx
Old Bailey http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/
 Westminster Abbey
 Dr Johnsons house
 Oldest Church fabric in London
 Old Jewish House

Sunday 7 September: 12 noon - 5pm
Sunday 14 September: 12 noon - 5pm
for the Brick Lane Festival
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September: 10am - 6pm

Museums and Galleries
 Clock making museum
 Egypt museum
 Toy Museum
 Foundling Museum
 weird silent museum
 National History Museum
 Museum of London
 John Sloane museum
 Tate Modern and Britain
 National Gallery
 operating theatre
 Charles Dickens Museum
 Keats House
Markets
 Broadway market
 Camden Market
 Portobello Road Market
 Spitalfields Market
 Borough Market
 Greenwich Market
 Leadenhall Market
 Columbian Road Flower Market

Places of Interest
 Arsenal stadium
 Chelsea Physic Garden
 Kew Gardens
 walks
 singalonga sound of music/ rocky horror
 lochs by boat


Food of interest
 salt beef bagel from Curtain Road or Brick Lane
 Indian food from Tooting
 Chinese
 Steak from either broadway market or Gaucho Grill
 French Restaurant
 Turkish from Hackney, Green Lanes or Gallipoli
 Thai from Isarn












Pubs and Drinking
learn how to make a martini £18 http://www.christophersgrill.com/news.html
Old Gin Bars
In Soho, the Argyll Arms (18 Argyll Street, W1; 020 7734 6117) boasts Victorian etched mirrors, snob screens and mahogany; the original layout is intact too – a corridor leads to the large back saloon past three small snug bars. For knockout Victoriana, the Albert (52 Victoria Street, SW1; 020 7222 5577) is a fabulous confection of hand-cut glass, carved dark wood and old gaslight fittings, built in the 1860s to honour the empress’s departed prince.
The City is where many old-timers of the London pub world are still standing. For example, the Viaduct Tavern (126 Newgate Street, EC1; 020 7600 1863), an 1869 pub, is just across the road from the Old Bailey. Up in north London is the Island Queen (87 Noel Road, N1; 020 7704 7631). Swathed in wood and etched glass, it celebrates nautical glory with a wave-damaged wooden figurehead, palm leaves and prints of ships; a vast island bar presides over the middle of the lofty single room.
Best of the lot, though, is the Prince Alfred (5a Formosa Street, W9; 020 7286 3287). The beautiful old tiling and exquisitely curved frosted glass frontage barely prepare you for the architectural delights within: a complex series of snugs with a fabulously ornate half-moon dark-wood bar as centrepiece. The snugs (free to hire!) once kept the proles apart from the toffs, and stand now as fascinating testimony to the British class system.
On Carting Lane, a gloomy side street off the Strand between the Savoy and the ShellMex building, you can find London’s last remaining sewer-powered gas lamp, still giving out its queasy yellow glow around the clock, thanks to a hollow iron column that allows sewer vapours to travel to its flame. Lit by the capital’s slurry since the 1880s, this Patent Sewer Ventilating Lamp represents Victorian ingenuity at its best.

Bar Polski (11 Little Turnstile, WC1; 020 7831 9679)
N1 real ale casks
Charles Lamb
Tequila Club



Day Trips from London Ideas
Brighton
Cambridge
Oxford
Stonehenge
Avesbury
St Albans
Leeds Castle
Arundel Castle

just bear it in mind

status report

We have a vegetarian mouse! he only likes to dig in our little (inside) garden and nibble on our baby tomato plant! He ignored the chocolate or other goodies around, and digs a small maze below the ground. I think its cute. I am also going to use it to kill him, my plan is to put some peanut butter and tomato plant on a mousetrap hidden in a paper bag and slightly submerged with the mouth of the bag opened invitingly.

Then in the morning I can pick up the bag with the poor little mousey inside and throw him in the rubbish with no ceremony.

A state of war has been declared.

dumpr.net

Museum by dumpr.net

Shock! Half past July and still no entry?

Rain and Crowd, originally uploaded by turoasaur.

I joined up to Expat today (check them out by clicking the logo on the left).

Now although I am loathe to use the term expat or O.E but this site is fantastic for the casual blog stalker. Its USP is you can ask questions of the blogger about the places you may want to move to or visit etc. I think this is awesome!

Anyway, mid July what have I done? This photo is at Wimbledon Tennis ground on the mens final. as these menacing clouds took over the skies, the crowd ran in almost manic fashion! it was quite amusing. I like the drama of those black clouds!

only in Dubai

Not that I have been there, but now I really want to go!! Oh yeah!

check out this vid of a design to use a sky scraper to generate electricity, and look as trippy as you like!