Hello there! Sorry there was no 'Fanciful Friday' this week, I was in London for the last few days combining work with a little socialising.

I had to attend a training day at the British Library on Friday. It was very worth while and I met some very interesting people; including the author of a book I have to read for my conservators course.

Photo stolen from here

Afterwards I met up with friends and went to one of Marco Pierre White's restaurants; Wheelers of St. James'. Fancy.


The food was scrumptious but the service as awful. I think it was because we were having the cheap-o menu and therefore Fernando our waiter just didn't give a toss. He even tried to do us out of a quid at the end of the night by giving us Euro's. Lame.

On Saturday we went to 'Shadow Catchers' at the V&A; it's an exhibition about camera-less photography. If you're in London I recommend going to see it as the whole exhibition is very intriguing. The results you can achieve with just photographic paper and a flash light is incredible, it made me want to go out and try it for myself.

Adam Fuss
From the series 'My Ghost' (Butterfly Daguerreotype)
2001

Susan Derges
'Arch 4 (summer)'
2007/08

After the exhibition we headed to D'Arblay Street for a late lunch at The Breakfast Club, where I had the most amazing haloumi, spinach, houmous and sundried tomato wrap. Drool. We then moved onto The Hummingbird Bakery to pick up something sweet for the road.


I definitely deserved that Red Velvet Cake as the journey home was dreadful. Oxford Circus tube station was temporarily shut down due to congestion just as I was meant to be catching my tube to Paddington Rail Station. This meant I had to get a later train, which was delayed in Bristol due to drunken football fans. The drunkenness continued for an hour on the local train home. Joy. Even so I really enjoyed my weekend and can't wait to go back in December, especially since the Christmas lights etc. will be on!

Birthday Blog (Parts 3 & 4)

Birthday celebrations 3 and 4 took place over the last two weekends. 3 consisted of a girlie night out in Cardiff where fun times were had by all and 4 took place in London over 3 days.

Day 1: We went to see Cemetery Junction and even though none of us are great fans of Ricky Gervais, we absolutely loved this film and were quoting lines all weekend.

Day 2: Portobello Market and the Hummingbird Bakery were our first ports of call, which is becoming a bit of a tradition and a bloody good one at that because I love cake, especially Hummingbird cake

Leah and Terri eating Black Bottom Cupcakes and Red Velvet Whoopie Cakes.

We then tried to purchase tickets for the Grace Kelly: Style Icon Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum but to no avail. So we went to The Enchanted Palace (Kensington Palace) instead and had a wonderful time trying to find the hidden princesses.

The beautiful Kensington Palace Gardens.

Our evening consisted of eating a fabulous three course meal at Floridita, Soho and drinking the best Mojito's I've ever tasted and trying a 'Dark and Stormy' which, if I remember correctly, is a rum and ginger beer concoction.

Leah and Terri enjoying their Mojito's.

Day 3: Was meant to be a picnic in the park day, but the heavens opened so we decided to browse the boutiques and vintage shops of Northcote Road, Battersea. I then had to leg it to the station with what felt like a large child on my back. I am never attempting to travel home from London on a Sunday and a Marathon weekend ever again, as it is a completely horrendous experience, but at least I made my connection (unlike the last visit to the Big Smoke.)

I am still completely shattered from all the frivolity (it has been 4 days since I got back) but had a great time eating cake, drinking cocktails and running for the tube.