Boating and Boaters

This weeks Ladies Monday was relocated to Oxford, Oxfordshire where we were in the hands of the lovely Miss Heather.

The town was just as I had imagined - old buildings, pretty gardens, academics, tourists and chavs.

Heather guided us around all the sights, including this bridge, very famous, for who knows why.

But the real purpose of the excursion, was PUNTING!

Unfortunately it was not as easy as it looked.... This picture shows me as an apparently seasoned punter, floating down the river in a leisurely and controlled manner, taking in the sights, enjoying the serenity. Unfortunately this was not the case, and after having spent 10 minutes ramming into trees/bridges/boats and wildlife, we returned to base and swapped for a row-boat.

Much more ladylike!

Dee looked like she was made for boating.

I chose the preppiest outfit I could muster for the day, including chinos and a polo. I think I could pass for a student in this courtyard at Christ Church.

Heather was able to tell us lots of the antiquated customs and traditions that still exist there, such as not being permitted to your exams unless you are wearing a fresh carnation that someone else has bought for you - it is bad luck to buy your own.

Oh and of course there was picnicking - it's never Ladies Monday without a picnic.

Amazing Summer Shows no. 1

Thanks to a tip off from Heather, and a chance meeting with the lovely exhibition designer Maya, I had a revelatory exhibition experience - Roman Cieślewicz at the RCA.

An extremely prolific and avant-garde graphic designer, he began his career in Poland, moved to Paris and then made his mark on the international design world.

The influence of communist propaganda is evident....

as is surrealism.

Every poster and collage looked as though it could be on a PAM t-shirt or hipster-night flier.

GENIUS!

(And the exhibition design was incredible - no photos inside unfortunately.)

Bright-on

DAY TRIPS!

A couple of weeks ago Siggy and I dragged Max down to Brighton with us for the day.

My Mum had told me great stories of when she used to visit her Great Aunt Dolly there, who lived in an old Oast house and gave her home grown asparagus and roast beef for Sunday lunches.

Unfortunately our day was not quite to civilised or organic.

As Siggy commented "This isn't exactly the classiest place I have ever visited".

"Martin Parr wouldn't have enough film for this place" was a comment from Max which basically meant the same thing, however in the eyes of the artist.

We did however enjoy the customary fish & chips with mushy peas by the beach.

And I was pretty stoked with these apple and rhubarb custard boiled sweets I bought from a ye olde sweet shop.

Although not quite as happy as Siggy was with his Slush Puppy.

(note his fist class themed outfit)

We killed a bit of time with a round at 'Crazy Golf'. Not quite sure what was most crazy - the shoddy equipment and decrepit course or the fact that I lost when I was 8 strokes ahead....

Norway-ay-ay-ay-ay,ay-ay,ay-ay

In what is becoming a summer ritual, last week I went to Norway for a mini-break.

Here are a few holiday snaps, featuring the Lovely Thea, Swedish ring-ins Marti and Sean, and of course my native Norwegian Siggy.

(actually credit goes to Siggy and Sean for some of the shots).

The last week in London we've been blessed with the company of an artist in residence - Mr Max Creasy. A brilliant photographer and Norwegian native, here are some of Max's photos of Norway that I wish I had taken.

Ladies of Leisure (on a budget)

Monday is Ladies Day.

Over the summer months, this has often involved hours spent at London Fields Lido, or sometimes a shopping expedition - starting at the nicest most expensive shops where we pick out things that we will buy when we are rich - and ending up buying 6 packs of nickers at Primark for £2.20. Anyway these days always involve coffee, and cake or usually humus and pita bread.

This week however we, the ladies, ventured out a little further, to Hampstead Heath.

Trekking through the long grass, over the hills, past the mixed pond and then the men's pond, carrying our picnic goods, we were lightly perspiring and gagging for a swim by the time we finally found the ladies only pond.

What a haven!

It was so idyllic - a mini lake sheltered by willow trees with a secluded grassy slope for sunbathing - much more comfortable than the concrete slab at the Lido. The water was super-fresh and just cold enough to be invigorating, but warm enough to paddle about on the rubber rings. There were certainly all shapes and sizes there, and I overcame my inner prude and coped with the partial nudity. A delicious picnic of strawberries and roquefort and pea+mint dip and a cheeky half-pint on the way home topped off a perfect day.

How will I ever go back to the Lido???

July and the Australian Invasion

July seems to be never ending this year!
But such a great month I'm not complaining.
After the week in Provence Sarah arrived!! All the way from Melbourne to spend the week with me!


We had many romantic dinners together, at Hotel du Nord and Frenchie. It's hard not to make dinners for 2 romantic in Paris.


She was also here for Bastille Day which was a bonus.
We had first class viewing for the fireworks, accompanied by first class champagne courtesy of Siggy.


The fireworks were pretty spectacular..... (this video is not).



Other social outings have included a Rose Bakery picnic in the Parc Buttes Chaumont.


There was lots of amazing food, juggling, inappropriate drunkeness and a watermelon water melon eating dog.



My old friend Gen arrived in Paris Friday night and I have been busily playing tour guide and hostess.


We managed to catch the end of the Tour de France on Sunday when they did 8 laps of the Arc de Triomph, just a stones throw from chez moi. (Gen took this photo, I was way too short, all my photos were of the back of other peoples heads and cameras).


We spent Saturday afternoon around the Marais wandering the streets,


and popping into the little squares and gardens.


Monday we did tea at Mariage Freres, Macarons at Laduree, chocolat chaud at Les Deux Magots and, dinner at Kong, made famous for the view, and for some, mainly Gen, by it's appearance in the penultimate episode of Sex and the City.