Harrods and Harvey Nichols in Christmas splendour!

Lots of pictures from Knightsbridge in Christmas glory to add soon!

However, let's get into the right mood first:

 Another well established pub is closing...

My friend snatched this item, saying it would make a perfect present for someone she knows!

I've seen that before. Have you?:-)

And a picture of Cinderella book written and illustrated by a lady who lives in Chelsea and who gave the heroine her daughter's face!

A slight detour on the way back home brought me to Knigthsbridge. Like many others, I tried to capture the Christmas decorations.

At Harrods:

And at Harvey Nichols:

Plus a few snaps between the two:

From Ada to Madeleine

Mr Google told me it's Lord Byron's daughter, Ada Lovelace's birthday today! She is often perceived as the world's first computer programmer. Her parents separated early and since she was a few months old when it happened, she didn't see her dad as he went to live abroad and died when she was eight. Not much of a consolation that they are buried at the same cemetery by a small church in which a painting of Christ with an adulterous woman by Daniel Maclise can be found. One day I'll go to see that place. Daniel Maclise was quite a prolific painter and some of his works can briefly be seen at The Houses of Parliament during a speedy guided tour. I was interested to through this set: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/daniel-maclise. I can appreciate his talent and attention to details, but there is something in his works that I do not find that appealing.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a link which shows Ada Lovelace's connections with The Borough of Ealing, where my home is for now:

http://www.caraealing.org/index_htm_files/Inaugural%20CARA%20Lecture%20by%20Dr%20Jonathan%20Oates%20-%20Final.pdf
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Here is a selection of Ealing pictures taken on that day, 10.12.2012, the first two from the top seat on a double-decker. That's a great way of seeing London!

Florist shop in Hanwell, Ealing

The Brent River and Wharncliffe Viaduct, Ealing

Art for Art's Sake Gallery, Ealing Green

Ealing Green

Bond Street, Ealing Broadway

Do- Little Sunday

The most important achievement of the first part of the day was to get rid of a nasty headache and the evening was dominated by a traditional activity: writing Christmas cards, mostly to those who still use snail-mail. OK, I also went through the pile of papers-to-look-at-later and unearthed a few bits I thought I'd share.

- Scribbled on a piece of paper, long time ago: THE URBAN VOODOO MACHINE; I remember talking to the guy from this band at a Fulham Road shop and remember listening to some of the band's music. Try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4gNorKKaAU or that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTB0oU3GjNU.

- Someone else, can't remember who, shared their favourite song with me: 'LIKE A FIRE' by Solomon Burke

- 'THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER AND CLAY' by Michael Chabon is a must -read, I was told

- 'You must listen to THE BEST OF THE DRIFTERS', I heard
I went through a few of their songs. They reminded me of the summers in Ireland. Our host had a big collection of vinyl records from the 50s and 60s and when it rained (which was often, of course) we would play them. On a rare occasion, we would persuade him to bring his old percussion downstairs, put it together and play for us. Luckily, the nearest houses were at a sensible distance! :-)
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Hugely delayed, 09.12.2012 snaps are being added:

 This poster has gone to a friend in Poland. He is a big fan of Eric Clapton. I took him (my friend, not Eric) to the guitarists' 'mecca' in Denmark Street and at one shop he gave a pretty good 'mini-recital'.

 This band member came to look for some props when I was at a Fulham Rd Octavia Foundation shop:

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Please let me know if I had added this picture somewhere else. I may have also mentioned that I youtubed them and found a song that I played my son for his birthday in 2012! :-)

Whimsical Saturday

Hello! Cloudless morning in London! I've spent most of it trying to make use of the Journey Planner and got exasperated. The idea is great: you key in the departure point and the destination, you can select various options and often you get the most bizarre result. If you are not that familiar with London, you follow the recommendations and ... happily waste time and money not knowing about it.

Asked by a met in London Polish friend who is currently working in Switzerland, from now on,  I'm going to include more pictures of Christmassy  London. Here is South Kensington Xmas tree near Ismaili Centre:

This area, out of South Ken Station was pedestrianised, along with Exhibition Road between Cromwell Road and Hyde Park before the Olympics, so I was totally surprised, when one afternoon I was nearly run over by a speeding car that emerged behind me!

My Saturday isn't going according to plans. Morning visit to POSK to see the collection has been postponed to the next weekend, fingers crossed. Let's see what happens with the rest of the day.

Instead of going on an exhibition tour at Pitshanger House Gallery, I joined friends for lunch, but made up for 'the cultural intake' by going to see "Love's Comedy" at The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond. I was panic stricken on the bus when it had to go on diversion, would hate to be late. However, I just made it in time, before my friend left me a ticket at the office. If you'd like to know more about the play, see this: http://exeuntmagazine.com/features/staging-loves-comedy/2/ .

Here is the world seen from the bus on the way back:

Good night! :-)