Come for another walk with me

this time, in London, where I've been spending a few days with my Californian friend, Mary.

Let's start in Whitechapel Road, near the surprisingly smart apartment we've called home for the last few days.  Here's an interesting archway to whet our artistic appetite.

with a map, to get our bearings.

First stop, The Womens Library, to visit a fascinating exhibition about Feminism in the '70s.  I take so much for granted but am grateful to those women who worked so hard to ensure that I am able to do what I do today.  Equally interesting for me is the styling and design of the exhibit itself as well as one or two particularly eye-catching pieces

"Setting a table is a form of Art to a Woman" - an embroidery by Berta Freistadt, c1975

Next stop, the somewhat apropriately named Petticoat Lane market area, looking a little forlorn today and highlighting the huge contrasts in this area, between the new and shiny and the faded, down at heel.

Working our way through the old streets in and around Aldgate, we pay particular attention to the walls

Let's turn down Fashion Street and head for Brick Lane.  As we walk along, we'll notice how the old facades hide altogether different structures behind them and how the old traditional buildings are accomodating new, technology-driven business.

Here, at the junction between Fournier Street and Brick Lane, the barriers around some roadworks provide a canvas for art.

All around us is evidence of the many layers of community history.  Does it provoke similar curiosity with you?  We want to learn more about the people who have lived and worked in the area, to find out about what they did and how they lived.

Let's step inside this shop full of marvellous things we are so happy to own - and yet more that we covet.  Polly George's ceramics, gorgeous letterpress cards and intriguing jewellery with hidden meanings.  A conversation about lovely things is a delight and it's hard to leave but we must move on.

Before we do, we'll spend a while admiring the shop next door, the Brick Lane Gallery.

then we'll offer a reminder to "look up!".  When art is all around, it's easy to miss all kinds of fascinating sights.

Crossing Commercial Street, towards Spitalfields Market, we're starting to feel a little hungry.  Shall we look for somewhere to eat lunch?

Something tells me that this is becoming quite a smart area now.

and yet around every corner, there's a surprise.  Once inside the market building however, we're spoiled for choice - pasta, noodles, wholefood, Spanish, Indian, Mexican or...

Leon

We'll sit and take a break over lunch.  Join me again in a while and we'll continue our journey.

tired after a lovely day

We had a few friends around today; one of those "Sunday lunchtime after the choir's Christmas concert" traditions.

It's always fun, doesn't involve too much effort beyond providing something tasty to eat and drink for everyone and we really enjoy the occasion.  The trouble is, we invariably find that there was simply not enough time to talk to everyone, to enjoy the company of every friend who comes along.

Of course, there's always time to admire gorgeous shoes.

Though some are too young to appreciate much more than chocolate.  Give them time..

Now, everyone's gone home, Mark and Edward have driven to London and I'm home alone.  but look what I just found in the sitting room...

8.19am, Thursday morning

The light in the garden this morning was so magical, I had to take some photographs before I went off to the hairdressers.

Quite unlike the kind of big-city shopping I did on Monday, pootling about Cirencester this morning was a delight.  New and interesting independent shops are opening and it's becoming quite a smart place to be, though I thought this well-established flower shop was looking particularly lovely in the sunshine.

Plus and as well, it's fun to bump into friends, have a chat over a coffee in a great place too.

Always there

Monday.  Wash Day.  Well, that's how it goes isn't it?

Hopefully our kind of comforting routine isn't quite as rigid as that and judging from the crowds out shopping today, there can't have been many left at home doing the washing, that's for sure.  Armed with my lists, I set out this morning aiming to get the presents sorted, thinking as I did that I seem to have fewer to buy each year, sadly.

This time of the year provokes all kinds of mood swings - merry and bright one minute and then maudlin and downright miserable the next, and I know I'm not alone in that.  Fortunately the merry and bright usually wins through most of the time!

I could hear my Mum's voice this morning, though, as the button on my trousers popped off just as I was about to leave the house.  There she was, somewhere, saying "Don't sew sorrow to your back" - meaning, take off the trousers because you can't repair something properly whilst still wearing it.

Of course, I followed her advice.  You would have done too, wouldn't you?

Nikolaus

Today being the 6 December, the bears are dressed for the season

and there are one or two more Santas around the house.  Sadly though, with no boy home, the Nikolaus Haus will have to wait a little while longer.