May 2013 Instagramy post

May has been so busy that I felt a bit like this duck.

I am lucky enough to live in walking distance to Ottolenghi but having gone there for more than a decade, I always make sure I spread the love and visit Tavola in equal measure.

It often gets overlooked as it is 2 blocks away from Ottolenghi.  

But Alistair Little the owner/chef is one of the three cooks 

who were  mentored by Elizabeth David; 

the other two being Rowley Leigh and Simon Hopkinson.

He does both savoury and desserts extremely well!

Even his produce is flown fresh from Sicily but 
I tend to balance out all that fresh deli food with...

I forget who said if you want to eat well in England, eat breakfast 3 times a day.  
I go to a Spanish restaurant / caf ( not cafe but caf my dears) 
called Churreria

Went for a drink at Bar Americain in Piccadilly that has been rather trendy of late and attracts people who work weird hours/showbiz types and while the decor was correct it had no proper ambiance.

 But I must admit they had lovely cocktails.

Not all bars are made alike...

The pub around the corner from my house put this sign outside 
and I asked why. 

They said it was because some tourists got so upset at 
the "lack of service" they would march up to the bar complain and storm out before they had a chance to explain.

But there is nothing like a nice relaxing home cooked dinner catching up with an old friend.

My friend's flat and the view almost makes me want to move 

to North London.

As my friend is an architect, even the interior is crisp.

Dinner was Gwyneth's 10 hour chicken which was rather delish!

For those of you not familiar with London, views from houses are quite rare! It's either a garden or an interior but no views.

Driving around London one day, I passed MI5.

I couldn't get a proper picture nor did I want to get out being seen taking pictures but believe me there were loads of CCTV.

Speaking of international intrigue, I live in an eclectic area that has both public housing and prime real estate.  
One property considered super prime suffered an arson attack 
a few months ago and the rumor mill went crazy.

 
  The house, not a block of flats, has been under construction for the past 7 years and then one month before the oligarch was meant to move in according to the spokesperson, the place got torched.

Apparently, it is going to take several more years of work.
While I don't feel too sorry as it's not like they are homeless but still what a pain!  And it shows even if you have friends in high places, these things can happen to anybody.

I don't know what the elephant in front of the Queen's bank 
was in aid of...

Sorry for the terrible photos but the glare was strong.

But these were the windows at Harvey Nics and 

I found the portraits very covetable.

Almost more than the clothes they sold inside.

Went to Chiswick Auction House as it is one of the few auctions houses in London that is affordable unlike the trio of Christie's, Sothebys, and Bonhams.

The BBC films there on a regular basis with shows like Bargain Hunt and the like so I always see if I can find anything interesting.

Friendly enough faces but no thanks.

These faces would scare me at night so passed.

But there was nothing that tempted me...

But only an auction house would sell a parrot statue next to a chair next to a children's Victorian bathtub.

Near the auction house was this oddly matched sight.  A emptied council flat with the most splendid cherry tree in full blossom.

Some of you have seen my Chelsea Flower show posts 

but all of Chelsea was flower mad.

Even in the Sloane Square tube station.

The stores nearby all followed suit.

I should've stuck my face in and pretended they were my legs.

Kensington Palace was fighting Chelsea for some attention 
with this new planting.

Do you see how gloomy it has been?

Guess who I saw?

Paparazzi alert.  Do you see that dog center left?

This is for the royalists out there.

That was Lupo, Kate and Wills' dog.  The man walking the two dogs had a green KP (Kensington Palace for short) jacket on and was telling Lupo to come back and we were in front of the palace so I just did the math and snapped for y'all.

Speaking of monarchy...

I missed the play last month due to jetlag so I was lucky enough to scramble another ticket.  Sorry but just as I was about to click away they told me absolutely no pics. I only got this.

Helen Mirren is the one in the green...

Hands down one of the best plays I have ever seen!

There is a live feed from the theatres in selected cinemas around the UK so do make sure you go see it then.  If you live outside the UK, then do get the DVD upon release.

I also saw a play at my favourite theatre in London called the Donmar Warehouse.

 

I saw Weir which was about some Irish people in a pub telling stories.  Stellar cast.  How can they go wrong, eh?

It is a cozy and intimate theatre where you are right in front of the stage but it attracts high caliber actors.

I walk several times a week in Hyde Park so I see all sorts of things.  When I saw this rehearsal I couldn't think of what they were practicing for but of course the next day was the opening of Parliament and this is all part of the pageantry.

Last week, I saw the Queen's Household Cavalry practicing for what I assume would be her birthday celebrations coming up in a few weeks.

I love that red tassel on their gold helmets. 

I find the uniforms incredibly butch and camp simultaneously.

They weren't going in a proper circle and were getting yelled at!

A different sort of cavalary.

The trend of mollycoddling dogs has taken new levels.

 I thought he had a kid in a new type of stroller but...

He had another dog inside and it was a dog stroller!

I wish I had better weather for dinner with a friend who 
is a member at the Hurlingham Club.

I know some sneer at it and say it is soooo middle class.

But people, it's just some tennis courts and manicured gardens!!

Not every one has an ancestral estate in the west country and I like that you can just go down to Fulham and enjoy some green without enduring the traffic on the motorways.

The famous black swans.

When I visit, I always feel like I have entered Noel Coward's era.

The mansion block afar is the only hint you are in London.

Croquet anyone?

The real reason behind London's parking problem.

Well that was my May in a snapshot folks.

We have had the coldest and longest winter in 50 years!

Please hope we get better weather in June!