Four seasons in one day time of year

It's May and we've had sun, warmth, rain and chills already but the blossom is out and if you can dodge the rain and keep a scarf to hand it's looking beautiful. Here's a photo of Westbourne Grove at its finest and I'll spare you the shots of the rain! The May gathering of narrow boats at Little Venice was a victim of the weather but was still very jolly and the photo attached is - I have to admit - from last year's event but it looked just the same this year apart from the sun when we popped in for a look this morning! It's a wonderful sight right in the middle of London.

My visitors over the weekend wanted something a bit different in terms of exhibitions so we set off to Somerset House for their River Sounding installation and the Pick Me Up Graphics Fair. Bill Fontana's River Sounding is a really unusual and fun experience. It's a sound installation and as you walk around the subterranean storage areas and alleys under Somerset House sounds of the River Thames follow you giving an atmospheric feel whether there is a picture projected onto the old brickwork or just a passageway to walk through. These areas are normally closed to the public so it was fun to explore them. A few photos may help - a couple of the projected images and a view of the passageway so just image watery noises to accompany them!

Somerset House's Pick Me Up Graphics Fair was a show of new work and also a chance to watch prints coming off the press. The work was extremely varied and ranged from accessible to fun to strange and eye bending! I've attached a snap of the printing and one of my favourite prints (thanks to Natsko Seki)

There was a good stand up comedy show at the Amused Moose with the compere Mark Dolan being our favourite. The venue was unusual as the comedy section was a set of chairs on the dance floor of a nightclub which was all mirrors and lights but the acts were funny and we left before the nightclub really got going.....

Dining report this week includes Franco Manca, a new pizza place in Chiswick which was a fun, lively room with a good buzz and tasty pizzas. We also had a return to Aphrodite, my favourite local Greek restaurant. The big treat was a visit to Cafe Anglais for a special occasion lunch which lasted several hours. The chef here is Rowley Leigh who has a good name in the London restaurant world which we reckoned is well earned.

Bye for now,

Sue

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