London Love, Barcelona, and Jon Snow

I have been in a long relationship with London and lived here on and off since 1995.

And like one does in a long relationship, it has been tenuous and we have had our ups and downs.

But I am falling in love with this place all over again which is a change as I have turned very local and can be a right whinger ( just to my family and close friends).

The Thames isn't just for show you know.
It works and maintains its place otherwise it might be filled up with dirt and over priced luxury flats might be built on it.

I was wondering what the first Queen Elizabeth would have thought of this new view of the Tower of London?

But of course I have just shown you the grander bits of London.

Check out this house built between the space between two homes?

That is the reality that tourists don't see.
But it breeds a tough lot.
I would be lying if the average Londoner would listen to the problems of a California native who might complain about valet parking and finding a pool cleaner.
I reckon this is how people north of Moscow must look at Londoners.

I have said it before and I will say it again but the park is at its peak in the spring.

I have always loved this chocolate box cottage which is for staff who work at the royal parks of London.

RIP Prince.

It seems I wasn't the only one who thinks of him when I see purple.
I over heard some others mentioning Prince at this patch in the park.

There is a horsetrail around the park but rarely do you see a group of ladies chatting away while riding.

Such a nice alternative to the morning coffee.

Meanwhile, I joined the gym.
It's been nearly 5 years since I left.

So much has changed.
You have to enter your pin number and only one door opens at a time.
So robotic.

I love Game of Thrones likes every other person and I have populist tastes in men.
Who doesn't fancy Jon Snow?

I chose this play solely on the fact I adore Marlowe did 
no one say who booked tickets to watch this.

As I was taking a picture of the set before the play started, I heard a lot of whispering and  cameras out which I thought was odd because normally people aren't interested in the sets like I am.

The play was horrid.
Not even Jon Snow prancing around in underwear saved it.
PS my friend was really analyzing his hair style being very Jon Snow - what does this mean??

I love how these two nudge each other to stay on my lap - their presence is completely therapeutic and restorative. 
They are actually babysitting me.

I put this picture on instagram and our WellFedFred added a very interesting tidbit about this brooch.

Karl wasn't challenging the hoi polloi but it is his interpretation of the brooch which stems from a type of love token on this link here which she kindly provided.

I went and replanted so many plants.

I need bins but thought the brass tub looked better as a planter.

I bet the inventor of Scotchguard was inspired by plants after the rain.

There was a flash sale at Robert Kime at his boutique in Kensington but I didn't find any inspiration and I left not even wanting to have bought something.

This was the best bit of his store but of course I know his talents are not as a shopkeeper but the lesson of the day was that you can be too discreet goshdarnit.

I went to Barcelona and their rooftop bars were one of the two best bits of the city.

 
It has a few nice buildings that Gaudi didn't do.

Did you know espadrilles were originally what Catalan peasants wore?

So it is odd how they tend to be an expensive type of footwear but as this was the home of the shoe, I got a few bargains that were locally made.

This square though touristy was where I had a daily coffee to pass the time.

Otherwise I was hanging about my new obsession that is Gaudi.

Like Spanish food, he doesn't really travel well and like incomprehensible family folklore and inside jokes, 
you just have had to be there.

You can see the Sagrada Cathedral on the right of the balcony and it is expected to be done in 10 years.
Slow architecture.

I was blown away of how it felt to be in his buildings.

They even had an original baby chair and kitchen sink of his time.

While I would love to live in one of his flats, 
the amount of tourists would drive you mad.

But imagine walking through these doors every day?

I have a gypsy soul so while I love being at home, 
I am always so sad to fly back but for the first time I couldn't wait to get back to London.
I really did try and love Barcelona but we just didn't have chemistry.

But I intend on going back when the Sagrada is done!
Happy May Day and month xx