Queen Alexandra

The grand art nouveau memorial to Queen Alexandra sits in the wall of Marlborough House.  On the plinth on are the words "faith, hope, love.  The guiding virtues of Queen Alexandra."

Married to King Edward VII (son of Queen Victoria) the couple were Prince and Princess of Wales for nearly forty years and King and Queen for just nine years 1901-1910.  After waiting for his chance to rule all through Victoria's long reign, Edward had the throne for only nine years before he died. 

Ted's day out

The Doll was away for the day … so I thought “I’ll have a Ted day doing Ted stuff”.  First stop was Hamley’s toy store on Regent Street. I think it’s the London equivalent of FAO Schwarz in New York City, the toy store that was in the movie “BIG” starring Forest Gump. The lovely young woman in the remote controlled flying things section at Hamley’s let me play with a helicopter for simply ages.  Well, until the small child next to me yelled loudly “when is it going to be my turn?”. I took my leave via the doll section (best not to mention this to the Doll I think).

Next stop – the wine car boot fair.  A fair with a collection of some of the independent wine retailers based in London. There were a large range of wines to try, including offerings from London Cru/Urban Winery.  They ship grapes from France and the wine is made here in London by an Australian winemaker.  How’s that for cosmopolitan wine eh.

Many of the retailers source from smaller vineyards, and less famous areas, with lots of wine coming into the market from places like Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, where let’s face it they have been making wine for literally centuries.  So it’s old right, it has to be good. This nice chap from Vagabond tried to tempt me into bending my consumption principle of never drinking from anything taller than myself.  I resisted (just) and then purchased a 375ml bottle which was rather good.

Time for some food and a chance to have yes … a burger!!! Naturally I did some research on the origin of the Hamburger, and I think I can safely say that there is absolutely no consensus over who can lay claim to having invented it. It has been narrowed down to an on-going debate between the Germans from Hamburg and street cart vendors from New York city. I have been looking at this place called Honest Burger for a while now in my daily travels so I decided to give it a whirl.  Theirs is a simple concept and a good one – choose your meat and how you’d like it cooked, add a few extras, or choose one of their existing combinations. Bung it all on an enamel plate that your grandmother used to use, with a few sides and viola!  Delicious.

… and that’s a Ted day out … 

Westminster Cathedral

Westminster Cathedral is the largest Catholic church in England and Wales.  Often overlooked by tourists who visit Westminster Abbey of the Church of England just up the road.

London at Night 3

A quiet glimpse at the intersection that leads to London Bridge, with the Walkie Scorchie in the background.

7 years and 007

Seven today.  Yup it's the 7th anniversary of aglimpseoflondon today.

So how to celebrate.....how about a trip in this classic rolls driven by agent 007 in Goldfinger.

The real agent 007 was John Dee (1527-1608), English mathematician, philosopher, astrologer,  advisor and spy to Queen Elizabeth.  He used the code 00 when corresponding with the Queen to indicate "for her eyes only".  The two circles were protected by a sign that was somewhere between the square root sign and an elongated numeral seven.  For Dee the number seven was lucky and he believed it had magical properties.  Thus 007 would let the Queen know this was a secret message from Dee that only she should read.

Now this is the real car used in the Bond movie, no copies on this blog, especially on such an auspicious day.    To take a glimpse of this and many other original vehicles from the Bond movies over the decades take a trip to the London Film Museum in Covent Garden.

London at Night 2

A view of St Paul's Cathedral from the millennium bridge

London at Night 1

The Shard sparkling in the distance.

Having a Laugh

The highlight of the annual comedy calendar is the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in August.  I decide each year that I am going to make the trek north for a good laugh, but events always seem to conspire to deny me the opportunity.

Fortunately, all is not lost, as many of the comedians "warm up" in London before the festival. The are loads of acts on, including a two day pre-Edinburgh fringe taster festival.  There are 15 five minute acts each night, so there should be plenty of laughs. Bet they could even put a smile of this Scotsman's face.

Catch them on 2nd and 3rd July at 2-4 Paul St, Shoreditch EC2A 4JH.  Tickets are available here.

Good Morning Vietnam

Ever since last week I have been thinking about Vietnamese food and it made me recall the time that the Doll and I went to Vietnam.  We visited the Mekong river delta, where I quickly discovered that there is a rustic floating equivalent of all the vehicles we take for granted on the road, and indeed many of the buildings on our streets as well. There are floating petrol station boats, rice boats, fruit and vegetable boats, meat boats, fish boats, cargo boats, refrigerator boats, clothing boats, fire boats, ambulance boats, taxi boats, police boats, and even floating (3 storey!!) school boats.

The Doll organised a taxi boat to take us to an orchard on one of the many small islands in this vast vast river.  We were to have a “local experience”.  It turned out to be like many of our experiences in that it was a “you go first Ted” experience.  So I did … I met this lovely old man who told me he was 91 and I figured that if after the age of 60 he had lost one tooth every year, then he could be telling the truth. I bravely drank all the little samples of “wine” made from the various fruit he grew.  Then he served us some smallish fried morsels, which now fortified, I insisted the Doll try first. “Kinda like chicken” she said. So I tried them and took the “wine” he offered.  He then announced that it was fried snake and snake blood wine.  We slithered back to our taxi boat and made for home while I still had legs to stand on.

Thankfully you won’t find any snake on the menu at Cay Tre in Soho, or indeed its original restaurant in Old street.  We ate some really delicious food here, including bbq pork ribs, shrimp stuffed aubergine, many mushroom hot pot, minced pork in lot leaves, and duck stuffed reindeer squid (see their antlers). We drank tea from the cute glass teapots – the ingenious little spring in the spout traps the tea leaves.

Now ... completely unrelated .. as many of you liked the little Ghandi ditty, here comes another one .....

What do you get if a Frenchman throws a live grenade into his kitchen? (of course it’s a man, most women aren't silly enough to play with live grenades) … answer … Linoleum Blownapart.

Cadogan Place Gardens

This 350 year old garden is still privately owned, although membership to the gardens and tennis courts is offered to the surrounding residents.  The gardens form part of the estate acquired by Sir Hans Sloane.  Many of the plant species he brought back from his travels can still be found in these gardens, such as the 300 year old Mulberry trees.   By the end of the 18th century it was known as the London Botanic Garden.

It is still a place for rare and endangered species. The small tree (right) "Wollemia nobilis an Australian pine that dates back 65 million years was believed to be extinct and only known of through fossils.  That was until a small stand was discovered in the Blue Mountains in 1994 by a national park field officer.  The three areas where the 100 trees were discovered, is kept a closely guarded secret to maintain the health  of the trees.  They are vulnerable to many plant diseases particularly a virulent water mould that is easily carried by people on their shoes and clothing.

A propagation program available to Botanical gardens in Australia and throughout the world was set up in 2006. Kew gardens propagated this tree and sells plant in their shop.  They make a lovely potted Christmas tree.

Feeling a little weary from all this garden visiting there was just one more thing to do.

Enjoy a wee glass of proseco and sit down for a rest.  Cheers Sharon.  I hope you enjoyed our day.

MaRoCoCo Garden

Today's garden is a wee hidden gem behind Rococo Chocolates.  Designed and executed by the Chantal Coady the shop's founder.  The garden features a Moroccan tile mosaic and scented plants.  The small space is cleverly made to look larger by the use of arched mirrors.  From the garden you also get to peep into the chocolate kitchen to catch a glimpse of behind the scenes.

Belgrave Square

Our garden tour continues on to Belgrave Square.  A 4.5 acre private garden dating from 1826.  This garden square is surrounded by embassies.  Those with keys to the garden can enjoy the tennis courts, the children's play area, a quiet garden and a few sculptures.

Carlton House Terrace Gardens

So Sharon the next place you are visiting is Carlton House Terrace Gardens.  Originally part of a Royal Deer hunting park and later part of King Charles II's garden.  The original Carlton House was the London residence of the Prince Regent until George IV.  The house was demolished and street redesigned by John Nash who replaced it with a series of smart houses for those of the highest social rank.

Today they are all private gentlemen's clubs.
In one corner of the garden stands the statue of the Grand Old Duke of York.

That nursery rhyme stuck with me for the rest of the afternoon!

Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men,
He marched them up to the top of
(Everyone stands up)

The hill and he marched
Them down again. Everyone sits down

And when they were up they were up.
(Everyone stands up)

And when they were down they were down.
(Everyone sits down)

And when they were only half way up,
They were neither up nor down.
(Everyone half-way up)
(repeat)

A Garden Tour

The weekend of 14-15 June was open garden squares.  Now in its 20th year this is a chance to see many garden squares not open to the general public.

I thought Sharon of Phoenix Daily Photo would enjoy seeing many of these gardens, so Sharon over the next few days I am taking you on a tour that I know you would love.

The first garden we are visiting is Marlborough House.  Built by Christopher Wren 1709-1711 for the first Duke of Marlborough John Churchill and his wife Sarah, Queen Anne's favourite courtier.  After the death of the fourth Duke of Marlborough in 1817 the mansion purchased by the crown for Princess Charlotte, sole heir of the future King George IV.  However Charlotte didn't get to live here as she died following childbirth.   As succession to the throne changed so did those who were to live or did live in the house.   It was not until 1863 when the Prince of Wales and his new Danish bride came to live in the house that anyone since the original owners made an impression on Marlborough House.  Bertie and Alix used this as their London home for nearly 40 years until Bertie succeeded to the throne in 1901 as Edward VII.

The last royal to live here was Queen Mary after the death of King George V.

In 1959 the current Queen Elizabeth gave use of the house to the government as a Commonwealth Centre.  It now houses the Commonwealth Secretariat and Foundation.

One of the corners of the garden that caught my eye was the pet cemetery with 8 tombstones.

Paparazzi

Who was arousing this much interest I hear you ask.  Why the Queen of course.  The paparazzi fixed on the palace for that shot when the Royals stand on the balcony and watch the red arrows fly over.

For overseas readers who may not understand what this all means, last Saturday was the day the nation celebrated the Queen's birthday.  It is not her real birthday, as that is in April, and we throw a party for her then as well.  However, as the weather isn't great at that time of the year we throw yet another party, a much bigger one, in June when in theory it should be summer.  It rained this year and last year as I recall, but I digress.

On her official birthday there is a procession "Trooping the Colours". The Foot Guards and the Household Calvary put on their finery and wear their colours (so the ranks can recognise their battalion), then they march from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guards, (about a mile down the road). The Queen follows them in a golden carriage.  Once there she inspects them all and they salute her.  Then everyone returns to the palace for a cup of tea while a twenty one gun salute is fired from canons.  This is followed by a "flyover" by old fashioned planes. The highlight is the Red Arrows that create a trail of red, white, and blue smoke as they fly down the Mall before passing over the palace.

The thing about photography

… is that I am really really bad at it.  I suck big time, but you saw that already right. The Doll has magnificent photography genes all over her DNA (again I am stating the bleeding obvious aren't I). I do have photography genes in my DNA, the only problem is that they are badly recessive ones, and I know why this is … my Mother !!!  If I had lost my memory at some stage earlier in my life and had to rely on her family snapshots to bring it all back I would be convinced that a) I had two and a half siblings, b) my mother was nine feet tall judging by the size of her shadow on us, and c) we lived in a garage … without a door, but we did have a car.

Well you can’t have it all they say … but what I do have is an institutional wine memory and a modest  ability to do wine reviews.  The Doll does not … 

Whenever I want to buy wine accompanied by entertaining and informative conversation I head down to see Mr Albion. His store is in a little cobbled street, and it's what I imagine a wine shop in a Harry Potter movie might look like. Kinda dusty with wine everywhere, but there is logic in the seemingly unordered groaning shelves and piles on the floor. Albion buys wine he likes and he generously allows us to buy what he likes as well.

He gave me this wine to try and give him some feedback.  So … I enlisted the Doll’s help.  Here is her review ... “light coloured, with a tiny hint of sunshine coming in the window, clear and sort of sparkly.  The label would benefit from another colour to give it depth and make it easier to photograph” … and? ... “and what?” … “oh yeah, tastes nice, have I had this before?” … I did warn you didn’t I … no wine review genes at all!

Here’s what this little fun Muscat from the south of France is really like … light golden in colour, sweet Muscat perfume on the nose, juicy, grapey and moreish on the palate, low acidity, nice light floral mouthful.  The lower alcohol level makes it perfect for summer lunch time drinking as an aperitif or matched with the fresh flavours of Vietnamese food.

Dancing Around the Lily Pond

All that's missing are the tadpoles.

The Goats

There they were just standing in the middle of the footpath.....

World Cup Fever

An enthusiastic supporter of the English team.  The world cup kicks off today.

The Supercars

The Gumball Rally 3000 came to Regent St on Sunday, giving a chance to get up close to a selection of rare cars.  The rally, in its 15th year, covers 3,000 miles from Miami to Ibiza before returning to London its birthplace.

Sunbathing - English Style

Londoners could be seen sunbathing all over the city on the weekend as the sun shone and temperatures soared.  

After the Battles

Governments send young men out to fight one another, sometimes good causes sometimes not so.  Whatever the cause those that return are changed.  They need support and the rally yesterday for the help for heros was all about that.  It is also a time to reflect on the two world wars, 1914 and 1944, milestones for both.  John Lennon had the right words.."give peace a chance".  

Ted and Ghandi and the 39 steps

It was time to put SWMBO and her very HEAVY suitcase onto the tube for the airport.  "No sweat" I thought, there’s a lift at Kings Cross station.  Off we went and this is what greeted us where the elevator should have been.  And yes, you read the notice right ... "step free access via the stairs" ... clearly I am missing something here as I have always thought stairs were composed of steps? 

Needless to say we had no choice other than to lug the suitcase/small mobile home down the step free stairs to the tube.  And this put me in mind of Mahatma Ghandi and all the silliness he faced as he walked many, many, many steps in his life long journey in pursuit of independence for India and civil liberties for all her citizens.

And Ghandi put me in mind of Delhi Grill (my mind always seems to turn to food and drink for some reason).  It’s an Indian “canteen” type of place, complete with Bollywood posters on the wall and the real thing on the TV.  The menu is small and the recipes come straight from the Punjab region of northern India via the kitchens of the female family relatives.

Start with the poppadums and the chutney rack.  There are the usual chutney suspects, and a special treat, a smooth beetroot one.  The Doll says this is her favourite.  I really like the crispy full flavoured tandoori lamb chops, the secret is (apparently) that they’ve been marinated for 24 hours.  Choose anything that takes your fancy as there isn’t a dud on the standard menu or the specials - it’s all good, as are the waiters in their Delhi Grill blue t-shirts. I want one … a t-shirt I mean.

So happy after eating, my mind drifts back to Ghandi. A man who had really tough feet from walking all the time in wooden sandals, eating little along the way so he was a bit skinny and frail, and his funny diet actually meant a bit of bad breath too ... so … He was a “super calloused, fragile mystic, hexed by halitosis” … with apologies to Mary Poppins.

Herb Garden

When dining at the Royal Opera House expect to see the chef pop out of the kitchen to the garden alongside your table and select a few herbs to add to your dish.
The gardens are a new concept as the planting and watering here shows.  Maybe we might even see vegetables in the gardens in the future.

Pretty in Pink

Jennifer looking pretty in pink.  A fashion style very popular in Tokyo but not so frequently seen in London or worn by English girls.

The Queen's Speech

The age old ritual of the opening of parliament took place yesterday.  On the first day of a new parliament session (or shortly after a new election) the queen will travel from Buckingham palace to the houses of parliament (Westminster) where her speech will outline the governments agenda for the coming year.

We are used to all this pomp and ceremony here however yesterday had even greater excitement for those who lined the streets to watch the parade.  This was the unveiling of the queen's new coach.

She doesn't get many new coaches, in fact this is only the second in her lifetime and this one was built by an Aussie!  It is a true labour of love by Jim Frecklington that took him 10 years to build.  He even mortgaged his house to help fund it.
The coach features wood from Nelson's ship, hand rails from the Royal ship Britannia and 400 books of gold leaf.  What makes it truly unique is that it is a thoroughly modern coach with hydraulic suspension (much more comfortable than those medieval ones), aluminium wheels, electric windows and heaters.  (she can leave the cashmere rugs at home).

She saw I was getting wet and offered me a ride but I declined, a bit too public for me, but I told her she looked lovely and admired her jewels, particularly the tiara.

35,000 Flowers

What happens to all the plants and flowers when the Chelsea flower show finishes?  Those that enter must include the answer to this question as part of their entry application.  The majority of garden installations and plants go to local communities and charities.

Today 35,000 flowers cover the steps leading from Regents Canal to Granary Square in front of St Martin's University of the Arts.  The colourful display will then be offered to the public.  So if you want some marigolds, geraniums and petunias, head over there on 7th June between 10am and 6pm.  All the proceeds will be given to Global Generation, the folk behind the skip gardens.

Roof Top View

Peeking through the flowers at a view of Oxford Street.  The other side of the rooftop garden on John Lewis department store.  How lovely it would be if all the stores along this street had gardens.

Page 91

Another glimpse from my A-Z project. This time the other side of the river where the docks are still a working zone.  The craze of turning everything into apartments has not reached out here yet.

Zest with Kathleen and a G&T

“Oh Ted did I mention that this Sunday is theme day and it’s ZEST” said the Doll as she left the house.  I thought Zest was lemon peel scratchings made with that special kitchen gadget, so I called in Wikipedia. “Zest” is apparently one of the 24 strengths possessed by humanity (we have 24 .. who knew). It is defined as living life with a sense of excitement, anticipation, and energy.

This immediately put me in mind of Kathleen Turner, and her role as Maude in a play called Bakersfield Mist. I first saw Kathleen in a movie called the War of the Roses, and I think I've been scared of her ever since. When the Doll said let’s go to the play of course I couldn't admit that, so off I went … worried.  And there she was all long legs, big hair and full of life, with an underlying whiff of menace, just as I had expected.  Maude lives in a trailer park and has bought an “ugly ugly” painting at a junk shop, that she is now convinced is a Jackson Pollock, and she will soon be rich.  Enter the esteemed art critic from New York who has come to authenticate the painting. Naturally, he dismisses it as a fake within the first 2 minutes.  The play is about Maude’s attempts to convince him that it is real. He finds himself more than a little out of his depth at times in the face of her determination to have him pronounce it genuine.  The public love the play, but the critics hate it.  The Doll reckons that's because it cuts just a little too close to the bone around the pretentiousness of the “art scene”.

Once safely home after my close encounter with Kathleen, I poured myself a wonderful G&T made with Monkey 47 gin and Fever Tree tonic.  There are 47 botanicals in this gin – over a third of them foraged in the Black Forest in Germany.  “So .. Ted what does this have to do with Zest?” I hear you ask.  Well I reckon there are actually 46 botanicals AND a small helping of lemon zest in that gin – so there!  It is possibly the best gin I have tried (and you know I only tell you about the really good stuff that I like), and it’s just perfect for those long hot summer days that will surely arrive … one day soon ...