Burlesque on Brick Lane

A few months back I bought a deal on Groupon that I thought would make for a good date night. The Brickhouse is a restaurant, bar and performance venue showcasing unique acts. Oweing to the fact that my circumstance have changed since I purchased the deal, the evening switched from date-night to girls-night, and a suiting way to bid farewell to Megs as she’s back to Chatham for the summer.

Pretty.

We arrived in Shoreditch early, and the Brickhouse wasn’t open yet, so we wandered. There’s always something to see around Brick Lane; for example, this…

I've always had a thing for funghi

and this…

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street? (It's in Shoreditch, yo)

And then we were allowed in for a large, expensive cocktail.

Honey and.... booze.

Dinner.

And access to the balcony, where we watched the show. And played on the bed???

Is it strange....

... that the furniture was covered in water-proof fabric?

Forest trekking in Epping Forest

As per Wiki…

Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. It is a former royal forest, and is managed by the City of London Corporation.

It covers 2,476 hectares^[1][2] and contains areas of woodland, grassland, heath, rivers, bogs and ponds. Stretching between Forest Gate in the south and Epping in the north, Epping Forest is approximately 19 kilometres (12 mi) long in the north-south direction, but no more than 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from east to west at its widest point, and in most places considerably narrower.

Epping Forest is known as “The People’s Forest”: Until the outbreak of BSE (Foot and Mouth) in 1996 commoners still exercised their right to graze cattle and every summer herds of cattle would roam freely in the southern part of the forest (and occasionally in the streets of Leytonstone).^{[citation needed]} Cattle were reintroduced in 2001 but their movements are now more restricted to reduce conflict with traffic.^[6] Commoners, who are people who live in a Forest parish and own 0.5 acres (2,000 m²) of land, can still register and graze cattle during the summer months.

Unfortunately we did NOT see any cattle.

Finding my way into the forest

This is called "Forest Exhuberance". It is not caused by Foot and Mouth.

Of course I ate the blackberries... it's the People's Forest

Jen opted to avoid the blackberries.

This is the opposite of Forest Exhuberance; this occurs after one has been lost in the forest and then finds her way out to civilised toilet facilities.

In the garden at the Hunting Lodge. Please don't mind my comb-over; it's actually a failed braid.

A better photograph of the Lodge.

In Tudor times, Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I may have hunted in the forest, though no documentary evidence has survived to prove it. In 1543, Henry commissioned a building, known as Great Standing, from which to view the chase at Chingford. The building was renovated in 1589 for Queen Elizabeth I and can still be seen today in Chingford. The building is now known as Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, and is open to the public. (From Wiki)

Two Jens with a mean King and a fierce Queen. Dress-up time.

It was one of the first sunny days we had had in some time, and made for the perfect opportunity to explore the forest. I satisfied my blackberry craving (for the day), and even found a few wild apples with which to adequately disturb Jen, who is not apt to eat rogue fruit.

If anyone who is coming to visit (or is living here) would like to visit the forest, they have a full program including FUNGHI WALKS, and I’d be happy to return.

 

 

 

Weird weather

I spent last weekend in tooting, and when I woke up it was sunny. By the time I got down the stairs, it was pouring. Ben cooked breakfast and while we ate we had sun and then drizzle. Then it poured. The towels got soaked.

This weather pattern continued through out the day, and generates different effects in each of us.
Mike and meg were apathetic.

I became standoffish.

Whereas ben was just… Well, ben. He’s not easily phased.

By the time I went to bed we had over two inches of rain in the ashtray outside and rainbows formed at least twice. Unfortunately, with this type of unpredictable weather the only thing to do is embrace sedentarianism… Can’t go out – I’d melt.

Temple church

This is Temple Church. From the website: The Church was built by the Knights Templar, the order of crusading monks founded to protect pilgrims on their way to and from Jerusalem in the 12th century. The Church is in two parts: the Round and the Chancel. The Round Church was consecrated in 1185 by the patriarch of Jerusalem. It was designed to recall the holiest place in the Crusaders’ world: the circular Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Waiting; a guide for London visitors

As preparation for your visit to London, you should know the following:

If you are separates from the rest of your party when taking the tube, you can alight at the next station to reconnect, however you must wait as a tableau.

See diagram below for explanation.

Friday evening in Waterloo

On expat blogs, a website for travellers with blogs, I came across this site: http://www.candaceroserardon.com/. Candace and I have since met a few times and she is such a kindred spirit. We are both francophiles with a love of faeries and random wanderings.
Last night we met for dinner at auberge, a French restaurant in Waterloo and shared the most delicious dinner. Afterwards we found ourselves in a small garden next to a church, picking out random mosaics.

We do so love mosaics.
Eventually the drunk men in the garden scared us off, and we made our way to the National Theatre outdoor space, where we watched various audience members receive Hoo-inspired makeovers from cross-dressed stylists. Life is grand at the southbank!

Back to my zen place

I may have got caught out in the rain. It may have been planned, though.
I’ve taken to calling this ‘my garden’ because they aren’t usually others in it. This time I found a man photographing flowers, so I had to share.
Every time I visit this garden I feel less stressed and at peace. Magical effect.
These are artichokes.

Here’s a better photo of the space. Call out to Candace… Come with me!

What’s in elephant and castle?

Central Puppies and Aquatics? It barely makes sense, but that’s what you’ll find in elephant and castle.

Two more Canadians in London.

And then Canada day was over and I was rushing to London Bridge station to meet Matt and Jess, who were on their way over to Europe for a flash euro-adventure.

Matt and Jess at rondeau bay on kirk’s wedding day.

They were with me only 1/3 of their time in Europe, as most of their time was spent on the continent (Rome and Paris), but it was brilliant to have them here, see my London life ( at least a bit of it) and have some home-folk around during a tough time.

Jess outside Temple Church in central London. A former worship site for the Knights Templar and one of the churches visited in the Da Vinci Code.

On their last Sunday in london (between Rome and Paris), we wandered around (to the great annoyance of Matty K who wasn’t keen on all the walking) starting out at the Tate Modern.

Crossing theMillenium Bridge, which is in a death eater scene in Harry potter and the order of the Phoenix, with a view of St Pauls Cathedral.

And then we got hungry so I took them to their first British pub. Located on The Strand, The George was built in 1723. whoa.

Canada day outside of canada

This year was my first spent outside Canada for July 1st, but fear not, friends – London took good care of me.

The Canadian consulate in London has organised Canada day events for the past five or six years. This year near on three thousand Canadian ex-pats (and let’s face it, a few wanna-be Canadians as well) gathered in Trafalgar square for an evening of poutine, Tim Hortons, and live musical entertainment by the likes of Blue Rodeo.

Jen’s brother was visiting so he got to see how London does Canada day too. This was before we got our faces painted.

Sparkly maple leaf. Boom!

Before we lost ben. He was all kitted up in spirit.

Guess who else we saw there?

Mike Myers!