I'm a terrible blogger. This post has long been languishing in the drafts folder (partly due to ongoing problems with Typepad) and I almost pressed the delete button. But this is where I record my comings and goings so, as they say, better late than never.
At the end of November last year the Boy and I spent a few days in the capital. It was wonderful, as always, and I'm rather hoping this has become an annual event.
The weather was kind, there were no strikes to disrupt travel and I managed to not fall down any steps.
We packed in as much as possible, including what appear to have become regular happenings when in London - kicking off with cocktails and lunch in Dishoom at Kings Cross, enjoying champagne, people watching and night-time panoramic views at the Sky Garden, spending several hours browsing, munching, stocking up at Borough Market.
So, the highlights.
The hotel, L'Oscar, in Holborn, was sumptuous with a colour scheme seemingly inspired by the contents of a tin of Quality Street. Our rooms were spacious with quirky decorative touches and the extremely comfortable beds ginormous.
Visiting the Natural History Museum to view entries and winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, for the second year running. Once again, it didn't disappoint. We lingered afterwards in Hintze Hall to view Hope the blue whale's skeleton.
Breakfasting on vegan apple crumble and limitless custard at Borough Market. First in the queue. On reflection, I don't think they'd actually opened. I kid you not, there is no better start to the day.
Immersing in the Lucian Freud New Perspectives exhibition at the National Gallery. Sixty five paintings, mostly portraits (some of the canvases are huge), were displayed and spanned a lifetime's work. His portrait of the Queen (photographs forbidden) isn't, perhaps, the most flattering but, as she is rumoured to have remarked on seeing it, at least he didn't paint her nude. I loved this exhibition.
Meeting the charismatic Hodge at Southwark Cathedral. Of course, I cried.
Watching Matilda the musical. This turned out to be memorable for all the wrong reasons - muffled dialogue, props malfunctioning, clunky acting which at times verged on poor panto. Maybe it was just an under par performance but we exited at half time and compensated with an evening stroll round Seven Dials and Covent Garden in the company of tubs of delicious ice cream (spiced chocolate gingerbread for me) before walking to Trafalgar Square for a night-time viewing of the new installation on the 4th plinth.
Exploring a woven forest and other weavings that might (or might not) be suggestive of body parts at the Tate Modern. In the 1960s and 70s, Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz created huge pieces from woven fibres which were suspended from the ceiling and which became known as the Abakans. Many of these feature in the exhibition and photographs can only hint at their scale and intensity. Truly impactful.
Scoffing lots of delicious food but the standout was a vegan lunch at Pied a Terre, courtesy of the Girlie. There were many courses and I devoured the lot. Both the Boy and I recognised a fellow diner at the other table (we were seated in a small room) and eventually twigged that we'd seen him on the telly in this, alongside Raymond Blanc. Turned out he's also the owner of Pied a Terre. We chatted. We hugged. We'll be back.
The radishes were served in plant pots and had to be 'harvested'. The soil, by the way, was edible.
Buying Christmas gifts. And books, spices, Turkish delight and a festive necklace pour moi. Because why not?