November 2013 Instagram-y post

Full moons, eclipses, mercury retrograde, and a home renovation does not make a good combo.  
I know I usually stop at mercury retrograde but things have been quite frayed lately so this is my rationale...  

Still not very social but made a few exceptions.
Went to the new Ian Schrager hotel called Berners - Edition.

Via

This is my iPad version of the same place!

Is that a gallery wall or what??

It has a great lobby culture as well.
Won't last long because the "pros" will find out about it soon enough.

Via

The decor is exciting with a mix of modern and classic.
The cornices are insane and I have complete sofa envy...
Christian Liagre olive green velvet.


Via
Guess which shot is mine?

Had a really good meal at Cheyne Walk Brasserie.

They even toast their bread with open flame so 
it has a richness that electricity can't mimic.

London is starting to decorate for Xmas.

Oxford street with baubles. 

John Lewis with Xmas tree cones

But Charlotte Olympia didn't fail to dress their windows 
according to the appropriate holiday.

Did you have a good Halloween?

I didn't do anything - not even a pumpkin this year.

I was into Halloween last year, this was my pumpkin.

Anglican Britain doesn't properly celebrate

All Saints Day but mainland Europe takes the day off work. 

It made me think of my trip to Paris exactly one year ago with one of my besties who visited from Oz.

Notre Dame - it was packed of actual church goers which one doesn't see in London.

Firemen doing their practice drills for their patron saint and
not putting flames out on the Seine as it seems.

The Seine is not just for tourists and has functional barges too.

Went to a milliner pretending I might go to the Melbourne Cup and had a browse.  Fancy that ceiling rose hat.

I always forget the name of the decor store in Holland Street but 

I always admire their wares.

I never see anyone in there though - 

not even a shopkeeper so I have never been inside.

Do you like cushions?

Rifat Ozbek has the best store right next to the one above.

Went to see a play that one of my freighbours was in.

Read it three times when I was the same age as Anne Frank.

But the play was so good and had me in tears.

By the way, did you know the furniture designer Jean Michel Frank was a first cousin once removed with her?

We had a storm in Britain that was one of the strongest I have experienced since living here.

A lot of trees were felled by the wind.

On the home front, delivery of my terrace windows came in.

My plasterer has these stilts he bought in America.
Michelangelo could have used some.

Do as I say and not as I do people.

I am tough on the pros but I am a civilian so to allay any fears for sharing your renos with me,

here is my living room at present!

Here is to a easier and smoother November!