Odeon

Thursday night and Ibs, Claire, Jerry and I went to see 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' at the Odeon Leicester Square. Easily the best cinema in Britain, it's the only place to see big blockbuster movies - huge screen, great sound and still has a curtain! The air-con could have done with being turned up but otherwise a tremendous movie experience.


I really liked the film. Took me back to seeing the first with my family, on holiday in Swanage. It's easily the 2nd best of the series and, for what it is, it's hugely enjoyable and entertaining.
I especially liked the way it took it's plot from the best bits of 'Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World' TV series and the way it packed in so many American 50's cliches.
It's always a pleasure watching Kate Blanchet in anything she's in, even though she's a very unconvincing villain.

On the way to Leicester Square I was really sad to see that the Swiss Centre is being pulled down. It was always such a feature of the square and a strangley unique building.

Knock2Bag

It was the 1st anniversary of my mate Rupert's, Comedy Club night, Knock2Bag at the FM bar Shepherd's Bush, last night.
Ibs and I have been to most of these during the past year and last night's was by far the best. They're always a good excuse to see close, old, friends like Mark, Rupert, Helen and Lloyd as well as old BBC colleagues.
The night's have been building in following and quality and now Rupert can fill the venue without relying on friends. I felt really proud of Rupert, over the past year he's made such a success of Knock2Bag and we love going along, not just to support him but to enjoy a really fun evening.


Last night's was absolutley superb, none of the shouty sweary stuff that we sometimes get but more 'variety' like, 'music-hall', turns. Most used music, sang songs and it was an altogether a softer, funnier, more English experience.
Here's who was on;

Edward Aczel


Moonfish Rumba
Ginger and Black


Brian Gittins. He's resident at Knock2Bag and I absolutely adore him. Gittins is Genius. He runs a road side cafe on the A23.


Tom Basden
and didn't take a picture of Luke Toulson

Lust, Caution

Ibs and I watched Ang Lee's astonishing film 'Lust, Caution' on Monday evening. A beautiful film, incredible performances and very powerful sex.

It was a cold wet start to Tuesday morning but the shuffle on my iPod was on phenomenal form:

1. Trois Gymnopedie - Satie
2. Anotherloverholenyohead - Prince
3. Nobody Does it Better - Carly Simon
4. Loaded - Primal Scream
5. Tighten Up Vol 1 - Big Audio Dynamite
6. Knives Out - Radiohead
7. If you Tolerate This Your Children will be Next - Manic Street Preachers
8. Achieved in the Valley of Dolls - Barry Adamson, featuring Billy McKenzie
9. Chime - Orbital
10. Sowing the Seeds of Love - Tears for Fears

Belle and Sebastian

Ibs and I bought our eldest nephew Oliver a DVD box set of the French TV series Belle and Sebastian. I loved this when it was on during school holidays, when I was a child and as Oliver is mad about dogs, I thought he'd love it too. Although I really shouldn't inflict my nostalgia on him.

He and George left us a lovely voicemail to tell us how much they've been enjoying it.

Might have to buy him 'White Horses', 'Robinson Crusoe' and 'Singing Ringing Tree' for Christmas.

Beatrice

Sunday 25th May. After walking Georgi, Ibs and I travelled to my sister, Jane's, in Hanwell, for Beatrice's 1st birthday party. Really lovely afternoon and people.

Jane, Emilia, Hugo, Beatrice, Olivia

Beatrice
Hugo

Although we wanted nothing more than to have some time together at home, we got a call from Denis who wanted to come for dinner. We ate Ib's asparagus soup, some more of my tarte and left-over cheese. Denis looked very slim and, as always, the epitome of Parisian cool.

He brought a fantastic gift for me; the Sopranos Family Cookbook. I can't wait to show Stephen and Mark on Friday.

Monday: decorated the back room all day and was still painting on Tuesday morning, before going to work.

Hedge

We're really starting to see Little Blob making himself's (or herself's) presence known in Ibs' tummy.

Georgi's staying with us this weekend, she loves this red rubber...thing.

It's May, Bank Holiday weekend and I've reached the 'hedge trimming' stage of my life. This was my 1st attempt and I thought it came out pretty well. Actually, I really quite enjoyed myself!

Kevin the window cleaner paid his yearly visit and a woman called Mitty, from a near-by road, popped round to swap notes on local tradesmen.

Before

After

Ibs and I baked and cooked during the afternoon ready for an evening dinner with Jerry, Jess, Adam, Robyn and Alex.

This is Ibs' banana and walnut cake.

This is my asparagus tarte.



Table ready

Ibs made the main course but I forgot to take a photo, her delicious Jamie Oliver chicken dish.

On Sunday - it poured with rain. I took Georgi to Roundwood Park for a walk. Lots of other dog owners were there and Georgi had enormous fun playing with the pack.

Carmen Gia

I love this Carmen Gia, probably my 2nd favourite car, in the whole world (2nd of course, to the best car ever made, the Citroen DS). This one's in great nick and in a cool, contemporary grey. Probably a lttle too Farrow and Ball, I prefer theses in bright orange or red.

I've been cycling past these lovely cottages along the Harrow Road for ages and always admire their front gardens. The roses are in full bloom now.

And I love this wonderful flowering, creeping, vine. The red flowers are intense. I must find out what it's called so I can get one running up the side of our house.

After much indecisiveness and torn between silver birch trees or something bold and geometric, I finally bit the bullet and ordered this wallpaper for our back room.

It's a big risk and could be a gigantic, nausea inducing, disaster or be a stroke of genius. It's called 'Link' by Tom Dixon for Cole and Son. Should be going up on Tuesday with help from our friend Sarah.

I couldn't skip tracks on my Ipod this morning, however the random selection of music was nostalgic and uplifting.

1. Sound and Vision - David Bowie
2. Get Up Offa That Thing - James Brown (reminded me of Gordon Cardwell, who when I played this - on vynl- at Chasefiled Road, would sing along, changing the words to; 'I'm Back! .. I'm Black'.
3. Firesuite - Doves (reminded me of seeing them with CK at The Forum)
4. Sing - Carpenters (my sisters and I used to sing this, in rounds, on long car journeys, when we were children)
5. Weird Fishes / Arpeggio - Radiohead (gorgeous track, must hear rest of the album)
6. Push the Button - Money Mark (always does it for me - spare, humorous and funky)
7. Girlfriend is Better - Talking Heads
   

Monday 19th: Southwark

Monday morning 8.30 and we had to go back to Paddington St Mary's for another scan to check Little Blob's umbilical cord was all ok. It was, to our huge relief. We got to see the little fella again, hear the heartbeat and got some new snaps.

I then headed to Southwark for a meeting at Tate Modern. I love Southwark Underground station and always excites me with it's reflective surfaces, graceful curves and grand, airy concourse.

Leaving Southwark station you're confronted by this awesome beauty, which I think is the London Development Agency. It's off-perpendicular angles are dramatic and the mirrored surfaces beautifully reflect cloud configurations. One of the best new buildings built in London in the past 5 years.

Next treat was discovering that Tate have secured a long term loan for a recent group of Gerhardt Richters, first shown at the Venice Biennale. These are a major work, of great significance, by one of the last great living modern painters.

At the meeting, I met a man named Mr Green, who works in Conservation. He's spent the past 2 years working on a Turner, which at some point in it's long life, has had it's paint lifted from it's original surface and secured to a new one.

Sunday 18th May: Church

We caught the 7.30 train from Nottingham to be in Notting Hill at 11.00 for Ibs Godson's 1st Communion. I knew the 1st hymn, from my chorister days, so sang with vigour and really quite enjoyed it until the whole Catholic service thing kicked in. We had to take Ibs outside as she nearly fainted, brought on by all the incense and standing - sitting - kneeling business.

There was a party for Jean Charles in the afternoon at the Agbo's home in Hackney.