The Goldwaters

The inspirational and very lovely Goldwater family came for lunch on Sunday and it was an enormous pleasure to enjoy their company for the afternoon. The Goldwaters are Mike, Wendy and their sons Sam and Dan.
We were very touched that the boys had travelled, all the way, from Newcastle and Brighton to be able to join us and for the pretty new dress the family gave Ruby.
We were also thrilled to be given a dedicated copy of Wendy's book 'Daughter of Dust' , which we're both going to take in turns to read.
Ibolya used to au-pair for the Goldwaters not long after she arrived from Hungary and they've kept in touch ever since. It was the first time we'd seen Mike and Wendy since our wedding and a few years since we'd seen the boys and all of their first time meeting Ruby, which all made the day all the more special.

Saturday

Georgie came to stay this weekend and was as adorable as ever. No matter how many times Ruby pulled, tugged and attempted to climb on her, Georgie happily and patiently tolerated it all, while Ruby was beside her self with excitement at Georgie's every move.
Ruby spent the best part of the weekend practising her standing and walking skills and she's really mastered the ability to pull herself up into a standing position, balance with one hand supporting her weight and then letting go, momentarily teetering on her legs, before bumping to the floor on her bottom.
After we got back from a morning walk in Roundwood Park, Jane, Hugo and Beatrice popped in for a cup of tea. We shopped, cleaned and cooked in the afternoon to prepare for dinner with Lorena and Vittoriano; slow roasted lamb, with vegetable mash and greens.

Guys and Dolls

Last night we went to this month's Flicker Club screening at the Lexi of Joseph L. Mankiewicz' glorious film of Damon Runyon's short story 'Guys and Dolls'.
Before the film started, all 12 pages of the short story were read by the actor Mark Strong and it was fantastic to hear the original, very funny and beautifully written story, read so well.
Seeing a film on the big screen for the first time is always like seeing a painting you've only ever known in reproduction, up-close, on a gallery wall. And this immaculately photographed film, in the richest, saturated, Technicolor, demands nothing less than a whopping big screen to really appreciate every nuance of Brando's sly, sexy, performance, the highly stylised (soundstage) sets and the precision of the choreography and musical arrangements. I couldn't stop smiling from the moment it started until the end of the final credits.
I can't make the next screening, which I'd really love to see as it's 'It's a Wonderful Life'.

Ed Ruscha

I really like Ed Ruscha but was a little disappointed by the current exhibition at the Hayward gallery .
It's great to see a major career survey by a living painter, hasn't been one there for ages. But as it's a celebration of 50 years of his painting, it excludes some of the most interesting and vital aspects of his practise, his photography. I love his stark, haunting ariel images of deserted car parks and gasoline stations, would have been great to see those and his artist books too.
However, the paintings are good, witty and, at their best, unsettling. I particularly enjoyed seeing again his 1966 work 'Oof'. It was the first painting I saw of his in the flesh on my very first visit to MOMA and New York. I took a photo of my friend Derek, infront of it, standing sideways, in the shape of a P.

Barley Croft

Ibolya, Ruby and I have just had an utterly blissful weekend with my sister Sara's family, in the comforting, country surroundings of their home at Barley Croft, Sharnbrook.
The weather was a bit too unpredictable for a long country walk but it was a massive pleasure, as ever, to hang-out with the Bennett family, spoilt by their generous hospitably, fine food and wonderful company. And it was a double treat to see our Mum and Dad, briefly over lunch, on their way back to Nottingham.
The terrific photos of the knights on horseback were taken by my nephews Oliver and George.

Paradise Comedy

I was back at The Paradise again last night, with Stephen, for Mark's inaugural Wednesday Comedy Night. The acts were MC James Acasterere, Pat Burtscher, George ('Don't Get Marmite in the Butter Dish') Ryegold - who was very funny - and Doc Brown - who was the funniest and most likable of the night. It was pretty terrifying for Stephen and I as we were sat so close to the stage and we had to leave before the Rob Rouse, who was headlining, as it was getting late.
It's a fantastic venue and Stephen and I had a delicious meal in the restaurant before the show.

Happy Birthday Granny, Grandpa and Uncle Matthew

November 18th is a big birthday day in our family with Granny Read, Grandpa Nemeth and Uncle Matthew Hargreaves all celebrating the day of their births. Happy Birthday to them all.
Here's a picture Ruby made the other day.