A cold and damp yet, oddly, humid summer 2015 – with warm splashes of reviving sunshine – enough to invigorate the spirits while drinking a glass of wine in the garden. I’ve been out and about – like a curious cat, investigating and exploring, sniffing out the beauty and the beast in the city.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to record these peripatetic wanderings over the past year but my library of photos have reminded me of the city’s offerings. So here are few of them, somewhat randomly captured, making me aware both of happy days but also that another year has almost passed by. ‘Crumbs!’, as Boris would say. Better get a move on … before the next holiday season strikes!
WINDOWS ON LONDON
LONDON FIELDS
This is quite a new area for me, now full of actors, artists’ ateliers, designers and film people as well as Broadway Market on a Saturday and Columbia Flower market down the road. The lido has been updated, artisan bread shops and Pop-Up cafés under the arches have furnished me with delicious Swedish sourdough bread to take home. And Liverpool Street station is within easy reach from London Fields by train.
We came upon an artist, Simon Pemberton, who has a studio by the Fields. Among other things, he illustrates articles for the FT on Saturday, where we first found him and latterly bought two prints from him. One is entitled ‘Preparation For The Next Life’, the other, ‘Festival of Insignificance’. The indigo colours of both are glowing and were one of the reasons which attracted us to searching him out. Since that time he has won the Editorial Illustration Award 2015 at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
FOXES IN MOORGATE
Foxes prowl around our garden, lounge on the summer house roof in the afternoon sunshine and utter wolverine shrieks at night but the silver foxes of Moorgate are in a class of their own.
and a poppy covered taxi at Ludgate Circus …
INTERESTING BUILDINGS – OUT AND ABOUT …
This was set up by Nicholas Saunders in the late 60s. He wrote a book called ‘Alternative London’, which was published by Wildwood House where I was working – in Floral Street. We were right at the heart of it all.
NEAR TEMPLE TUBE STATION
I don’t know whether this is just damp or my imagination but I see three knights in armour with helmets on horseback – riding through a crowd. This is by the embankment but on the Temple side.
ART, FASHION + DESIGN in BOND STREET W1
The train westwards from Liverpool Street on the Central line lets me hop off in the West End at the top of Bond Street. At the end of the 1960s I did evening classes here at Lucie Clayton – a school for would-be models.
as she comes to life opposite Tiffany’s window.
Art and fashion still making a great mix here but steep rents are squeezing out all but the top names, which is a pity.
Passing by the Royal Academy …
Coming upon fleeing Santas in Jermyn Street …
THE QUEENHITHE MOSAIC
I came upon this by chance, having arrived early for lunch with a friend at an excellent Spanish restaurant – Zorito’s Kitchen – overlooking the river near the Millennium Bridge. They also have a delicatessen with high quality wines.
I spied a small alleyway leading from Upper Thames Street to the river’s edge and came upon this extraordinarily wonderful mosaic, which stretches along its whole length. It was designed by Tessa Hunkin and executed by South Bank Mosaics, with a lot of volunteers to help install it. There is a film on YouTube on how it was made and more about it at Queenhithe Dock Heritage Timeline Mosaic Project. Here are parts of it but it’s worthwhile going to see the whole mosaic. The amount of thought that has gone into it, the design and its execution is so impressive. Why don’t we rate things like this far above the lives of so-called celebrities? The film has had 642 viewings …
I hope I have motivated you to go and see this for yourself! Wonderful surprise for me to just come upon it by chance!
CAFE LIFE
The choice is immense. I have my favourites, such as Waterstones in Piccadilly, who have basement and mezzanine cafés as well as a restaurant/café on the 5th floor. I am particularly drawn to a fruit scone with an Americano, surrounded by a strongly bookish, comforting ambience.
The upstairs café buzz at Zédel appeals for a short visit – my favourite seat is by the till where you can spread out a bit with your bags. And The Nordic Bakery in Golden Square does delicious lunchtime sandwiches – if you are lucky enough to find a table. Maison Bertaux in Soho is a good stopping off point with luscious cakes and downstairs at The Courtauld Institute is welcoming and has good food and original recipes for cakes too. It’s possible to sit outside under a sunshade, but be prepared to share your lavender sponge cake with persistent robber pigeons!
More recently I found Canela, a Portuguese café/restaurant very close to Seven Dials. There’s an atmospheric chandelier to sit under and some enormous faded gilt mirrors to enhance a sense of history and reflection, while enjoying a celebrated Portuguese ‘nata’ with a hot ginger and honey drink in a long glass.
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