she calls my name

 

London, you're a babe.
 

that's how it's done

 

 

bye bye week, HELLO WORLD

two mighty things

the Shard, now the biggest building in London, and little Seraphina Rose, the darlingest baby in London.  I did all the research.

maybe it's because i'm a londoner

well, i'm not a londoner per se but i do enjoy playing make believe on a bi-annual basis.  i've been enjoying the pearly kings, gelupo gelato, the tate, st pauls and more and more and more. 

plus, i've just about got as many days left as i've been here! the joys!!!

no telephone, no reservations, no tables? no matter

for a restaurant with basically only bar seats and essentially no sign, Spuntino is still first class

we treated ourselves to pulled pork sliders (crackling included), fennel salad and a midday bourbon cocktail

yum yum yummy

st john bread & wine

want a killer bacon sandwich?

"best bacon sandwich EVER" says my breakfast companion of this morning's adventure to St John Bread and Wine

not exactly aa gill standard as reviews go but she was reminiscing about it for the rest of the day

cheeky sod

 still thinking about this print by Anna-Faye Gillespie I spied in Beach London this morning...

and if I miss enough then surely I must have it...  right?  right?

reason 134,594 why i love and miss london

a sky orchestra hovered over london this week as part of the lead up to the olympics.

amazing

when I went to London last

a wash

August was by all means manic. Between a very very hectic work schedule and an equally hectic "holiday" that meant juggling the days and managing the hours as they came.

but at least I got this in

who hearts maison martin margiela

somerset house does

Richard Wilson 20:50

Visiting Richard Wilson's room of engine oil in the old Saatchi gallery many years ago was one of the greatest piece of modern art I'd ever seen, still ever seen. I headed into the walkway with no idea what the room was about, only that it was mirrored, to have the attendant freak out at me and tell me not to touch anything. As it was a room FILLED WITH OIL.

I was very happy to see its new home in the Saatchi space off the Kings Road this morning but they currently aren't letting you walk into the wedge. I felt pretty privileged to have been able to experience the piece as it should be, in the middle of a lake that is both totally black and empty but dizzyingly filled with twice the room all at the same time.

A definite must see all the same. And I love that it's ominously housed in Gallery 13.

where you'll find me

praying that the umbrella is not needed much

illustration by Blanca Gomez

my little nook of London

I used to work around the corner from Lamb's Conduit Street in London and nothing makes me happier than the huge growth of independent stores and cafe's and very good restaurants around there.

They're a true community that has become established there and I think the commitment they all have to something they're passionate about is very inspiring.

Monocle did a very nice little video about it a while ago and it features Marc Kennard who I knew well when I was there and gave up his very high paying job for something he just really wanted to do.

If you go to London and you're headed to the British Museum or just find yourself bopping around Holborn, you must visit.

image poached from the Oliver Spencer blog

Hurwunderki

Hurwunderki's retail locations and cafe have me pining to be back in London just so I can move in there.

le swoon

the big smoke

lovely papercut of my heart's home.

the detail is just stunning!

by famille summerbelle. Paris and NYC also available.

Rough Luxe Hotel

Just one of the stunning locations in the Rough Luxe group

butcher

From an old film taken in Borough Market

It came out perfectly creepy as far as I'm concerned.

my old 'hood

South Bank HD from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

when i lived in south london (excuse me, saaahf lahndun) walking down south bank on the weekends was my favourite favourite thing to do.

it's a ritual that i perform every time i go back too.

this video from philip bloom makes me homesick

superstar

i love this picture because at the time i didn't realise her eye was in the little star. she was just really enjoying that parfait.

plus it reminds me of a fun day out in london that was totally unexpected