June 2014 Potpourri Post Part 2

A trip to the Wallace Collection is a nice place to wander through while having a chat with a friend on a rainy London day.  

This museum gets forgotten among the heavyweights of the 

British Musuem and National Gallery 

but it is perfect for a little cultural injection.

It used to be a private home so is a perfect backdrop for many of the grand objets d'arts the collection houses.  It also is a popular venue for private and corporate parties.

They have something for everyone.

 Don't let the Game of thrones extra throw you.

They also happen to a sizable collection of the Sevres porcelain outside Versailles that was commissioned by Louis XV and 

his mistress madame de Pompadour.

I can't get over the still vibrant blue and

 the ever stylish design below.

But not only do they have precious items but the rooms themselves are a pleasure to pass through.

I think all the rooms with the silk walls are perfect.

But they are going to be undergoing a small refurbishment 

during the summer so please make sure you check if the room you are interested in will be open.

The blue oval room holds some items that were either taken or stolen somehow from Versailles.

I went to the tour at Versailles a few years ago and the guide there kept mentioning items that were at the Wallace so it made me look at things again in a fresh light.

People interested about the era of Marie Antoinette and the 

French revolution should definitely pay this place a visit.

They also have a nice internal courtyard to have either tea or lunch.

I had never seen it so crowded but as it was a rainy day everyone must have had the same idea as we did.

After lunch, we visited  VV Rouleaux.
It is the place to go in town for your haberdashery needs.

I felt like getting some ribbon for a future elusive project.

But they don't just sell ribbons...

They also sell hats and even hold hat making workshops.

I got my friend to try one on for me!

He manages to pull it off somehow.

We then went for an afternoon coffee and cake

 at the Monocle Cafe on Chiltern Street which

is opposite the Chiltern Firehouse.

That place is literally on fire and the hottest place in town at the moment.  It has a nice courtyard but otherwise no other feature other than a superb PR team.

But it is on a street that was considered a hidden gem to most until that place opened.  Chiltern Street was always cool.

But London is booming right now.

Met one of my dearest friends whom I have known for 

almost 20 years for dinner on a Tuesday night and we couldn't get a table last minute anywhere at a decent time. 

We were offered tables at 11 pm!? 

I remember when that sort of thing only happened in Spain.

But we finally got a table at Murano which is an Italian restaurant 

run by Angela Hartnett at 8 pm.

They had a great flexible menu but the dishes either went way above or below expectation. 

But very nice and considering all the intermediaries and extras makes it decent value for London.

Never met a wrist stack I didn't like and 

my friend's was no exception.

I also met up with ever entertaining in real life as well Curator and visited the Wedding Dress exhibition at the V&A.

We then chatted the afternoon away and 

replenished our Vitamin D in the V&A courtyard.

The V&A have the best trays with William Morris designs on them.

Speaking of designs.

She gave me an amazing personalized linen scarf that she embroidered herself.

I love it and thanks again Curator!

I know it looks like Millie is wearing a bikini but she is on heat and the dogsitter designed special underwear for her. 

Canine couture darlings.

In other news, the house is at a standstill but I did open the doors onto the balcony and hung out with Millie.

London summers don't involve pool parties

 but they do have lingering evenings.

This was the light at 930pm at night. 

I can't wait for the solstice!x