Lazy days on local turf

It's been a bit of a strange week.

My clients seem to have all but disappeared, save for the few I did visit, my phone has been suspiciously silent, where is everyone? Perhaps off sunning themselves someplace exotic!

Well really the timing couldn't have been better.

On Monday eve my brother flew into town so it meant we got to spend tons of time together, and for once we didn't bomb around Central London with a crazy itinerary, in fact we spent a lot of time on local turf.

It was lovely to chill and made me appreciate how many great places we have right here on our doorstep.

We walked the riverside to Richmond Upon Thames, and stopped at The Richmond Hill Bakery for a slice of cake 

image credit: Facebook.com

We befriended 'Boris' the pug who was feeling a little sorry for himself, sulking under a table outside.

Wandering down the grassy bank from Richmond Hill we came across The Hollyhock, a sweet little fair trade cafe in Terrace Gardens.

This was a new discovery for me and a lovely place to stop for a coffee.

image credit: growsonyou.com

And no visit to Richmond would be complete for me without a visit to Maison for their French and Swedish style homewares and an amble across the meadow to the shop at Petersham Nurseries!

In the evening we stopped for cocktails at So bar tucked away down a little lane just of Richmond Green.

I'd forgotten how much I like this little bar.

On Wednesday we finally traded suburbia for the city and had breakfast at Paramount on the 32nd floor of Centre point overlooking the whole of the capital.

The views were incredible, like looking down on a toy town, miniature iconic red london buses slowly winding through the streets, teeny tiny people scurrying around like ants.

I took this video from the viewing gallery. . 

I'd like to go back in the evening and see the skyline lit up at night, I bet it looks pretty impressive from up there!

Travel Notes - Isle of Wight

last weekend we took a trip to the Isle of Wight.

 As a child I spent many a long hot Summer holidaying here so it holds many happy memories.

We visited friends who live on the island and timed our stay with the end of Cowes Week, the annual yacht racing event.

The sun shone all weekend!

 Sail boats and blue skies accompanied lunch at 

The Little Gloster, a Scandinavian themed restaurant overlooking the solent in Gurnard.

After heavenly crab cakes washed down with prosecco, we basked in striped deck chairs in the restaurant garden before heading back to Cowes for the finale fireworks.

My parents were also visiting the island at the same time so we spent our last night camping with them.

We sat out by candle light with cheese and wine, watching shooting stars and reminiscing about family holidays many moons ago.

Weekend wanderlust

Yesterday was a good day.

The kind that develops quite spontaneously yet turns out perfectly.

I love that there is always newness to be found in London.

Places you have been meaning to go for ages, places you did not know existed, new openings and pop ups, there is constant opportunity for discovery.

Our morning began with a visit to Chatsworth Road Market over in Hackney which runs every Saturday 11am-4pm

It's a bit on the small side but I enjoyed having a mooch about none the less.

The majority of the stalls are foodie based with a couple of retro/vintage homeware/kitchenalia and clothing stalls thrown in too. 

I probably wouldn't make the pilgrimage from South West to East again for this market but if I was a local I would definitely make this a regular haunt.

Before heading off I sampled a Vietnamese baguette from the Banh Mi 11 stall - delicious!

We got back on the train and decided to hop off next at Highbury & Islington.

Wandering down the high street in the blinding sunshine we popped in and out of gorgeous boutiques, a few of my favourites were-

Little Paris - specialising in vintage reclaimed industrial furniture, curiosities and accessories. 

Be sure to check out the basement crammed with all kinds of treasures and stop to take a sniff at the candle selection - the rhubarb was my favourite!

image credit:www.littleparis.co.uk

Atelier Abigail Ahern- I am a fan of interior designer Abigail's work but this was my first visit to her atelier.

Every which way you turn there is beauty from the convincing selection of faux flowers at the door to the glass mirrors and chandeliers adorning the walls and ceiling.

I spotted this cute little wooden block which I think I may have to go back for if we ever get our pooch!

Next, with dogs on our minds we headed to Hampsted, to Dach & Sons

It was truly sweltering so we started with ice cold juleps on the rooftop terrace

then later tucked into delicious dawgs

Our last destination of the day was Hyde Park.

With a drink in hand we caught the sun setting over the Serpentine and then hung around listening to Blur play out over the park.

Just what weekends were made for!

A picture house portrait of London

On Wednesday evening I attended a Q&A screening of Julien Temple's new film 
London: The Modern Babylon 
at the Gate cinema in Notting Hill

It was the first time I had been to this cinema and boy was I pleasantly surprised to find all the glamour and theatrical style of its neighbour The Electric just minutes down the road.

This fast paced, exciting documentary is a portrait of the history of London over the last 100 years.

 Commentary is minimal, leaving vast amounts of archive footage and popular music to tell the time travelling tales of years gone by right up to present day.

There are also interviews with real Londoners, a jolly collection of characters, some familiar faces, others just regular people, all ready to share their stories and raise a smile with the audience.

The film shows the gritty bad times as well as the good, the rough with the smooth, it is interesting to see the seemingly inevitable circle of social unrest rearing its ugly head throughout the decades and the impact that has had on the city, especially after having witnessed the London Riots in my own lifetime.

Temple stated that this film had not only been made for original Londoners but for the many people from all over the globe who have followed the magical magnetism and find themselves now calling London their home.
  The contribution to society from immigrants and bohemians alike has shaped the diverse city we live in today.

London:The Modern Babylon will be screened this weekend on BBC 2 
Saturday at 9.20pm

Recommended!

Travel Notes - Edinburgh

With the Olympics in full swing at home in London I decided it was the ideal time for a bit of escapism and set off to visit my sister up in Edinburgh, the dates coinciding nicely with the start of the annual Fringe Festival.

A short walk from the city centre and we arrived at her apartment, on the ground floor of a row of period terraced houses overlooking the park and Arthurs Seat.

I was so in love with the spiral staircase in the hallway that I braved going down to the spooky dark basement all alone just to get a picture.

The view from the living room wasn't bad either, nicer than your average front garden!

After a catch up dinner overlooking Newhaven harbour with the Scottish sun setting over us, we headed off into town to catch a show

The Curious Couple from Coney were performing at The Voodoo Rooms, this was their first performance at this years Fringe.

Heather Holiday, a pretty little pin up girl/sword swallower and Donny Vomit, 
a blockhead (who F.Y.I is a carnival or sideshow performer who hammers a nail or other implement into his nasal cavity via the nostril!) met in Coney Island and now tour the globe with their freakish mix of circus style cabaret.

Sword swallowing, knife throwing, machete juggling, and an array of gross out tricks, this show was not for the squeamish but entertaining never the less.

The Voodoo Rooms is a breath takingly beautiful venue which complimented the show perfectly! 
It is situated just behind Princes Street.

above images: credit to www.thevoodoorooms.com

The bar alone is worth a visit just to gaze at the incredible ornate ceiling!!

The next day my brother arrived to join us.

We set off for a walk around Hollyrood Park

and wound up at Scotland's oldest pub 
The Sheep Heid Inn which sits nestled in the middle of Duddingston village on the edge of the park by a loch.

image credit :www.sheepheid.co.uk

It is though that the pub is over 600 years old and even has its own skittles alley should you wish to play!

Saturday was spent taking a walk down to Portobello beach while the sun was shining and then off out for dinner at Under the Stairs which I have mentioned previously on my blog ( It's so cute! )

A few new finds from this visit were . . .

Ecco Vino, a lovely little wine bar and restaurant, we popped in for a glass of wine pre dinner, it's pretty small inside but nice and cosy, the charcuterie boards looked very good.

images credit : www.eccovinoedinburgh.com

Bramble a hidden basement cocktail bar, it's a bit of a rabbit warren with candle lit cubby holes and chesterfield armchairs to lounge in, the cocktails were very well made, the only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the music - a bit of a hip hop overload.

Oink ok, if you are a meat eater then there is one place you simply must go while in Edinburgh! 

(Vegetarians look away now)

Oink serves up delicious freshly carved hog roast rolls from the shop and also puts in an appearance at the weekly Farmers Market at Castle Terrace every Saturday 9am-2pm.

You can choose from the piglet (for the smaller eater) the oink (the classic) or the grunter (for the larger appetite) 

I opted for the oink with stuffing and apple sauce and it was heavenly!

images credit:oinkhogroast.co.uk

Very nearly the highlight of my whole trip!

Apart from the moment I found my dream Parka!

Finally! After seasons of hunting for the perfect parka I found it.

Not the most ideal souvenir to pack into my hand luggage but I wasn't going to put this baby back- where there's a will there's a way, and it sucessfully made its little way back to London with its rather delighted new owner.

Edinburgh Bound!

Aubin & Wills Autumnal Thrills

OOH LOOKSY

Here is the new film for Aubin & Wills Autumn 2012 starring British model Sophie Dahl and Dutch model Andre Van Noord.

Aubin & Wills, Jack Wills' sophisticated sibling brand established in 2008 offers collections inspired by British heritage and classic vintage while also keeping  their finger on the creative pulse by supporting up and coming artists, musicians and writers.

The Aubin gallery and The Aubin Cinema in Shoreditch are extensions of the boutiques which enable further connection with fans of the brand.

( The cinema is especially good with sofa seats, blankets and the option to take in a bottle of wine!)

They also write a pretty decent blog called 

The Swift Red Fox

Is there no end to their talents???

I'm a massive fan of their seasonal collection film shorts which are always so beautifully shot, but being a Libra girl at heart I just love this one!!

It makes me want to pull on some wellies and go for a country walk crunching through Autumn leaves!

image credit to Annemarieke Van Drimmelen www.aubinandwills.com

I really rather like this Threddingworth coat from the collection too!

www.aubinandwills.com