Marathon – Park – Balcony - Aahhhh....

Yesterday we took a little trip to Canary Wharf to watch the marathon, cheer on some (mental) friends who were taking part and support someone running for a friend’s social enterprise, the DoNation by wearing some fetching t-shirts.

There were some interesting outfits on show in amongst all the black leggings/ vest combos.

Cops and robbers seemed to be a popular theme.

As did outfits that, seriously, cannot have been comfortable to run in.  We saw rhinos, Mr Men and a BUS, but I was particularly taken by this Rubik’s cube ensemble.

And, erm….yep, all for a good cause….

We were stood at a prime spot, where the runners have to double-back on themselves but wound up watching the Mile 18 side most, as opposed to the Mile 15 side, and not entirely because of the added drama of the St John’s Ambulance stand.  Honest!

There was a great steel band keeping the mood positive and happy and this fabulous sculpture, I think it's called the Traffic Light Tree.  I last saw a picture of it on a noticeboard when I was temping at a government agency, tagged as 'TfL's answer to traffic congestion'...

It was such a lovely day we decided to head away from the crowds to the park, exhausted after all that watching to lie on the Common and relax in some dappled shade.  

I also had a crash course in the complexities of board slides, following on from last week’s lesson on kick-flips.  I’m still not sure I can tell the difference as they go too quickly, but I can identify the general area of ‘trickery’.  If none of the above is making sense you are clearly not involved, nor have you ever been involved, with a skateboarder.

We had a lovely dinner at the Fish Club on Clapham High Street, which is a very cool, relaxed and small little restaurant selling fresh fish in a number of ways.  I particularly like the potted crab…mmmm…  Then we watched Submarine.  If you haven’t seen it then you MUST.  It’s lovely, very British and awkward, but lovely.  The idea of a teenager seeing their entire existence as a series of film scenes rang some bells…

The last stop of the day was Sam's balcony (the subject of much painting, carrying and planting of plants, arrangement of astro turf and agonising over deck chairs vs hammock discussions) for a cup of tea as the sun set.  If the weather carries on like this for the rest of the year I figure this picture may be repeated most evenings.  It pretty much kicks my ‘Juliet’ balcony into touch.  Bah.

Day out in Brixton

Now,  ‘day out’ and ‘Brixton’ are not normally words you would see in the same sentence, or uttered by me, I admit but it turns out that it is more than possible to have a lovely day out in the Sarf London heartland…especially since a few people in the last week (random - I suspect a Brixton conspiracy) told me about the Brixton Village Market and I discovered that The Ritzy sells beer.

  

Saturday was a beautiful sunny day so I met the lovely Sacha for a wander round Brixton Village Market, coffee and a lovely Anzac biscuit (for which I must find a recipe) and we sat outside, inside to enjoy our beverages.  I like the concept of a sheltered outdoors area.  It’s like an acknowledgement that the British weather is not necessarily great the majority if the year but that we’re a hardy bunch who like to sit outside.  Sort of like a helping hand for our health in its continuing war with our wishes, which often put it in jeopardy.

 Also, there was....bunting!! Who could ask for more than bunting, snacks and bright surroundings?

I liiiiiiiike this arrangement.  Sort of rubbish but cool, bright and makes me smile, which pretty much sums up my favourite aesthetics.

After coffee we explored a bit and saw Florence Welch, from Florence and the Machine in a teensy tiny vintage shop, which was rather exciting.  Turns out we have similar tastes in vintage knick knacks also, which is nice.  I haven’t got a picture though as that would be a bit weird and stalkerish.

I did get a picture of these giant snails though, yours for only £3.50 each.  They were, no joke, as big as my hand, maybe even bigger.  I would have put my hand in for scale but they were a bit gross and we were already making a bit of a fuss and I didn't want to risk offending the shop owner.  I'm assuming, since these were at a food stall/ shop, that you're supposed to eat them?

The lovely weather was fading just a little bit so we decided to head to the Ritzy, where we were met by our handsome significant men-folk, and watch the world go by with a cold beer or four.  Although it is a lovely spot, it is on a massive cross-road so not really an ‘al fresco’ spot.  We therefore sat inside, near the doors, for the best of both worlds.

The Ritzy had the most beautiful flower arrangements on the tables, which were themselves fabulously shabby-chic.  I'm definitely going back to watch a film there. 

This was followed by a few quick games of pool.  They were quick because the men-folk were playing, Sacha and I would have gotten far more value for money out of each £1, but there you go.  Thems the breaks (boom, boom). 

Fourth Plinthism Sunday Viewing

On Sunday I found myself, my favourite wandering companion and my hangover in Trafalgar Square admiring the new fourth plinth installation - a giant replica of Horatio Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory.  In a bottle.  By Yinka Shonibare.

The material used for the sails is especially beautiful African type fabrics, which are a bit difficult to see here as the angle is awkward and the sky was so beautifully bright it's made the photos go weird....

Lovely though, eh?

It was also a good opportunity to check out the Olympic count down clock, albeit with added paint-bomage after the Cuts protest the day before (wrecking, kettling, outrage etc).  It's a shame that a few idiots feel the need to wreck everything in their path and completely sideline any legitimate protest that goes on.

I for one though will not have my Olympic spirit dampened.  I am VERY excited about it all and am currently working out what tickets to register for.  I'm thinking opening and closing ceremonies, some athletics and maybe some sort of water sport....and definitely a large amount of sneaky at work iplayer-in-the-corner-of-my-screen watching.

The most exciting thing about Sunday was the lack of coat required.  Yes, I was a bit chilly, but I'm British damnit, I refuse to give in!  (I did refuse a 99+flake though.  It's not quite that warm yet.)

Trip to the Beach

Once again we boarded the (packed) Friday evening train to the Isle of Wight for a weekend out of the city and by the beach.  We ate fish and chips, threw rocks at the sea and visited a local competition that seemed mostly to involve daffodils of various varieties and random crafts but also had kids poems and cakes.  Lovely.

First stop was Freshwater, near Yarmouth.

This small hut is right by the pier, selling beverages and snacks to those of us who were too polite to stuff their faces at lunch.  This is soon to be developed into some sort of modern shopping centre and accommodation for holiday makers, which seems a shame as it's lovely how it is but that's progress I suppose.

Skipping stones...

Staring out to sea - check, hands in pockets - check, nonchalant stance - check...

The sun was so bright that my iPhone camera couldn't cope and made it look like some sort of dark alternate reality.  It was THAT sunny.

On Sunday after a lovely roast lunch and apple crumble we drove (not me obviously, I spent the trip rubbernecking the countryside and cliff top views) down the coast to Ventnor and had a wander along the sea front.

I have a minor obsession with beach huts and one day, one will be mine...  Not this one though, I want one of the ones that comes in a row, with electrics for the kettle to make tea.  The older I get, the more I see tea making facilities as a necessity, not an optional extra.  I'll sit outside in a deck chair, with my wind breaker, which my parents would NEVER buy and be utterly British, sitting on the beach in ALL weathers, albeit in a 1950s sort of way.

The bandstand.  How Victorian seaside this this?! It's my perfect idea of the seaside, quaint and unspoilt.

A little bit of glitz at the Gaiety amusement arcade, again very retro, I approve.

We attempted to find some interesting rock pools to poke about in but had to settle for some whelks on a rock.  We later thought we spotted some teenage boys looking through rock pools and were quite jealous...until we realised they were just bending down to light their cigarettes.  Hmmm....

The Spyglass Inn, truly, amazingly tacky but with spectacular views from the outside seating.  Having a coke and a bag of crisps huddled outside a pub after being on the beach took me back to my childhood.  

The weekend wouldn't be complete without some sort of travel issues though.  This time they blamed the moon.  It was close, the tides were weird and the ferry was late.  The man who asked if they would be holding the train (for 30mins) in order to allow us to connect gets a gold star for sheer audacity.

Video Girl

Ok...so not a video like that, clearly.  But I did spend 10 minutes on Sunday afternoon being filmed as a 'cool east London type' (not my description - I can hear you sniggering at the back there) for Ivan's new film.  You can see some of his other fabulous stuff here.

Luckily there aren't any pictures of me (other than the film - doh!) as I looked like I'd been run over by a truck after a civilised dinner party at mine rolled into a night of cocktails and dancing at the Redchurch.  That place is lethal.

Pre-filming, on location....  A backstreet off Brick Lane, next to a garage, some graffiti and a bin.  I expect Julia Roberts started off in exactly the same way, no?

Whilst waiting for my close up I noticed a tiny, tiny little door on the wall.  I love the Alice in Wonderland element to this and am reliably informed that there are lots in east London, some with mice/ rats.  I will post more if and when I find them.

In other news I have this last week discovered HP (Brown) Sauce.  Having for years spurned it due to the slightly off putting colour and lack of description (I will NOT east something if I don't know what it is) I was finally coaxed into it and it's actually very nice.  I also discovered from someone who's eaten there that they even have it at the White House.  True.  Fact.

I'm off to the Isle of Wight again this weekend and I am really, really looking forward to some proper seaside time.  I love living in London but being landlocked (the Thames does NOT count) all the time sometimes feels quite claustrophobic so a bit of wide open space will be a fabulous antidote.

Pancake Day

I love pancake day.  Seriously, it's the second best national celebration of the year (second to fireworks night, obvs).  None of the pressure of Christmas or the commercialism of Easter...although I'm sure it won't be too long before 'Happy Pancake Day' cards start circulating...and decent snacks involved.  What more could you want?

I even invested in a new pan to cook the things in.  It's mind boggling the array of frying pans available in Sainsbury's btw.  As with most things these days I find myself thinking, 'who needs this much choice??!!'  Or maybe muttering it under my breath, I did get some funny looks standing helplessly in front of the pans with a look of anguish smacked across my Chevy Chase.

Pancake cheffery.  It's not a real pancake unless it's been flipped, donchaknow.  x

Nu Yoik

Whilst in New York I...fell a little bit in love with Brooklyn - Bedford Ave and Brooklyn Bowl especially - stood atop the extremely high Rockefeller Building to view Manhattan and learnt to play beer pong - final score: Women 2 - Men 1 (losers).  I also took the tour of Liberty and Ellis Islands, which I'd recommend as it was actually brilliant, even my museum averse companion thought so.

More importantly though - look!  Can you guess what this is?

Yup, this is the piano from the film Big.  Or at least that's what the nice people at FAO Schwarz say, I have subsequently been informed that this isn't true but I'm choosing to believe the toy shop people - I mean, who lies to kids?  These extraordinarily happy, clappy people demonstrated how to play it in VERY American fashion...think cheerleaders on crack and you get some way towards their excitement at being giant piano playing/ dancing professionals.  Seriously, I have never seen such a surreal rendition of chopsticks.

Also on the weird but wonderful scale - Giant Pez!!

With my hand, for scale, obvs.

Located at the amazing Economy Candy.  Wall-to-wall sweets, chocolate etc.  We bought lots of sweets, which were subsequently confiscated by the evil security trolls at the base of the Statue of Liberty, because Chupa Chups are a security threat, as are bear sweets, whilst bubble gum is clearly tantamount to a WMD.  Or at least that's what I inferred from their behaviour.