Knock2Bag

Rupert's Knock2bag comedy night resumed this week after a hiatus while he prepared and performed at the Edinburgh fringe with Mark.
This month's line up was Andrew Lawence, Earl Orkin, Darren Ruddell and Knock2bag resident, Brian Gittins. I love Brian's routine of awkward silences, coughs, constant trouble with the microphone wire and always makes me cry with laughter.
The mood of the evening was quite edgy. A female heckler gave the acts quite a hard time and a lot of people didn't take well Andrew Laurence's dark routine involving midgets, 'mongs' and a great joke about Madeline McGann. I thought he was brilliant and very, very funny.

Ranos

We're on to the sixth and very last series of 'Sopranos'. But sadly, the first 3 episodes were not up to usual standards with another long and tiresome dream sequence.
However, Meadow's little dance, at the beginning, did liven things up for us all.
Despite the lacklustre episodes, Mark, Stephen and I were more than satisfied with our steak dinners, washed down with a superb bottle of Chateau Canuet.

Park Lane

We were back at Sara and Matthew's on Sunday for a Read and Bennett family get together, to celebrate Matthew's 40th. It was a thoroughly happy and enjoyable occasion.
It was wonderful to see Suzanne and Shahid, who Ibolya and I haven't seen for a few years and it's always an immense pleasure to see Arthur and Rosemary.
The late summer weather couldn't have been better and Matthew served up as good a Sunday lunch as it's possible to have.

Patio

Bacon

Thursday night, I met Stephen, Christophe, Pete and Karen in the Morpeth Arms before going to the private view of the Francis Bacon exhibition at Tate Britain.

I've loved and admired Bacon since I first begun to be interested in art and have been aware of his work since I was a child.

I thought I'd seen a lot of his work over the years but nothing like as many that's being shown in this vast and comprehensive show.

I think it confirms him as the greatest British painter since Turner and I hope to go back many times while it's on.

Afterwards, we had dinner in the Rex Whistler restaurant, which was an absolute treat. It's such a terrific restaurant; superb service, well priced, great food and wine list. I had pigeon breast on celeriac, followed by (my favourite) duck, spinach and (dripping fried) chips. Wonderful way to finish a lovely evening.

Eulabee

Catherine postponed our planned dinner on Wednesday so Ibolya and I went to a double opening do, we'd been invited to, on College Road, Kensal Rise. The first was the re-launch of a communal shop called 'Eulabee' and next door in Gracelands (our wedding caterers) was a launch party for an exhibition of work and a new book by Lisa Campbell.

I thoroughly enjoyed the wine, pork pies and oysters that were laid on but most of all, I loved Lisa's boxes. The boxes, mostly same size, about 12cm square, contained a picture background with toy figures and were incredibly funny. It's not often I look round an exhibition and enjoy myself, laughing out loud, quite so much. I've nicked a few images of the boxes from Lisa's website. I'd have loved to have bought one or two and Ibolya and I thought they'd be great in the nursery.

Dulwich Picture Gallery

Ibolya's Mum left today to return home to Hungary. It's been really lovely having her here and we're both going to miss her being around. But looking forward to her coming back in February
and seeing her second grandchild.

We had planned our first night in together for over two weeks (I'd even cancelled Ranos!) but instead we were invited to a launch function, organised by Ibolya's boss's wife, at John Soane's magnificent, Dulwich Picture Gallery. I hadn't been for many years so it was a very good excuse to see this fantastic building again and it's great Pousins.

The event was the opening of an exhibition of drawings and prints, by well known people, to raise money for the House of Illustration project. The theme of each work was 'What Are You Like' and each person was asked to illustrate all the things they like.

Some of the contributors included Andrew Marr, Quentin Blake, David Shrigley, Sara Fanelli and Peter Blake.

But what made me happiest about the evening (and made the long journey so worthwhile), was shaking hands with one of my all time musical heroes and absolute Godlike genius, Brian Eno.

I was completely tong tied and just about manged to say 'pleasure to meet you'.

Barley Croft

Saturday, 6th September and Ibolya, Ibolya, Georgi and I went to Bedford, via St Pancras, to my sister's home in Sharnbrook, for my Brother in Law, Matthew's, 'Friends and Neighbours' 40th Birthday Party. My nieces and nephews met Georgi for the first time

Jane lent an operatic flourish to the chorus of 'Happy Birthday'

Sara and Matthew

Ibolya, Georgi, John Betjamin and I at St Pancras. The second part of Matthew's celebrations, for family, are next weekend.

Nursery Bear

I've got a lot of updating to do from the weekend, from the first part of Matthew's 40th birthday celebrations but wanted to just quickly post this.
It's our Little One's official first ever present! Brought by my sister Sara, chosen with help from my Mum, from a little shop in France on their holidays. I absolutely love it and is the first thing in the nursery, so far, to give it a children's feel. Thank you Sara.

Grisette and Sybil

I couldn't resist posting these absolutely stunning pictures of Stephen's cats, Grisette and Sybil, taken by Sylvie, his Dad's partner.

On another note, Ibolya had a dream last night that she gave birth to a baby boy who looked like Marty Feldman.

Fourth Plinth

I cycled through Trafalgar Square earlier today and stopped by the Fourth Plinth to take a good look and snap a few pictures.

It was the first time I'd had a proper look at the present work for any length of time and I really enjoyed its architecturally playful form.

It also made me realise what a fantastic project this has been, the idea of using the redundant plinth to display a series of temporary works of art, commissioned from leading national and international artists and how it epitomised the adventurous and culturally sophisticated vision our previous Mayor had for London. What a shame that it won't be long before Boris Johnson erects a statue of Margaret Thatcher where there were once these inspiring and beautiful works of art.

First of September

As soon as we hit the 1st of September I'm always all too aware of the inexorable slide of Summer into Autumn and today, I felt it more acutely than ever. I saw the first fallen acorns and conkers in Hyde Park, the squirrels were out in force gathering provisions and I felt a sharp, cold nip on my fingers as I held my handle bars. And several vehicles had their lights on when I rode home.

However, despite winter's looming shadow, there are many reasons to feel happy and causes for celebration.

1. Ibolya went to St Mary's this morning for Little One's latest check up. Our notes said I shouldn't go to this one so Ibolya went with her Mum. The tests were for Glucose, Haemoglobin levels and to check for antibodies. Everything is as good as it could be, and Little One's size and development is totally normal. The Ibolyas also got to listen to Little One's racing heartbeat, lucky things and they both a had a little cry. Our next visit, which I defiantly won't miss, is beginning of October


2. Tomorrow, my best friend Stephen celebrates the 14th anniversary of the start of his relationship with Christophe


3. Also tomorrow, my oldest friend (blimey - it must be 30 years now) and brother-in-law, Matthew, celebrates his 40th birthday and is having 2 parties to celebrate


4. Atticus, one of Stephen and Christophe's cats, returned home on Friday after being missing for 2 weeks


5. Georgi has come to stay with us for the month


6. After a couple of weeks hiatus, whilst Mark performs at the Edinburgh Festival, our Ranos evenings resume this week


7. We're going on a trip to Yorkshire with my Mum and Dad to visit where my Dad was born and grew up. We'll also hopefully visit Salts Mill and the Bradford Museum of Film and TV


8. Mark takes over managing the BBC West One comedy club and Rupert's Knock2Bag night returns to Bar FM at Shepherd's Bush
   

Less personal but other things making me happy about September include:

1. The Bacon and Rothko shows opening at Tate Britain and Modern


2. The small Powell / Pressberger season an Channel 4. Although I own most of their films, just seeing them listed excites me, reminds me what towering works of genius they are and makes me desperate to watch 'Life and Death of Colonel Plimp' (Britain's 'Citizen Kane') and 'Small Black Room' again


3. The Saatchi gallery is reopening in Chelsea


4. Apple are rumoured to be unveiling a new generation iPod Touch in the next couple of weeks


5. And the Warhol show I saw at the Stedelijk Museum last year is on it's way to the Hayward

Star Wars Toys

Ibolya, Ibolya and I were on our way to Roundwood Park last weekend, with Jane, Emilia, Hugo and Beatrice, when we came across a house having a garage sale. I immediately spotted these vintage Star Wars toys.

I've been looking on ebay for a while now, to acquire some of these for our toy cabinet, which has badly lacked much of a Star Wars presence.

These little beauties cost me £3 and are very happy and welcome addition to the cabinet.
I'm still on the look out for some vintage robots (preferably Japanese and I'd love a Godzilla) as well as a Steve Austin (Six Million Dollar Man) and an Evel Keneval.