Christmas at the Ivy

The Xmas tree that welcomes patrons as they enter the Ivy restaurant, a favourite haunt of celebrities

Mistletoe

Pretty bunches of mistletoe hang from the ceiling in the market at Covent Garden this Xmas.  There ought to be dozens of kissing couples beneath their branches.  Where did that custom originate?

The Lego Train

Even the big boys can't resist the lego train in Covent Garden.

Silver Stag

Covent Garden has a new Xmas reindeer this year.  I'm not sure how much Xmas cheer he instils, what do you think?

Heartbeat

One Hundred Thousand white balloons adorn the arcade in Covent Garden.  "Heartbeat" is the installation of French Photographer and visual artist Charles Petillion.  Photographs of more of his installations can be seen in a pop-up gallery.

The artist uses balloons in his installations as metaphors invading everyday spaces aiming to change the way we see the everyday without noticing.  The installation here certainly has everyone noticing.   Pop down and take a look and make sure you see the photo gallery as well.

Africa Festival

All things African being celebrated at Covent Garden last Saturday.  Music, stalls, face painting, acrobatic performances, a very vibrant occasion.  If you missed it then make a note in your diary now for the Africa Utopia festival at Southbank to be held 10-13 September.

Do-it-yourself Reindeer

Keep the kids busy over the holidays and challenge them to see what they can create with lego.  The lego reindeer at Covent Garden is to inspire them.

Last Minute Shopping

How are you going with all your silly season shopping?  Finished yet?

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.

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.

Bond Fans

A line up of cars, yes but not just any cars.  Every one of these cars was in A Bond movie! And there were more around the corner.  All the modes of transport The slick spy took, be it helicopter , two wheels or four, battered or sexy you can now see it and the new exhibition at the Film Museum in Covent Garden.  

Pearlies

The other royalty of London.  Dating from 1875 the costermongers sewed shiny buttons down the side of their trousers to stand out in the busy market streets.  A young orphan street sweeper named Henry Croft went one step further and sewed the buttons on his hat.  From there it grew until now the entire cloth of their garments are covered in buttons.  Don't be filled into thinking anyone can become a Pearly by donning a shining coat, no to be a real Pearly your title is handed down from generation to generation.  There are 28 distinguished Pearly families, one for each of the London boroughs.
Twenty first century Pearlies spend their time raising money for charities.

Computer Changes

I had to spend some time at the Apple Store after the OS upgrade.  Next I have to sort out the problems on my phone after the jellybean upgrade.

More Festival Decorations

A Christmas tree at the entrance to the London Transport Museum.

Christmas Tree

The christmas tree in Covent Garden.  

A Wee Bit of Rain

We've had a wee bit of rain lately.  For Londoners it has just meant an umbrella.  For those in the south or coastal areas of the UK it has been terrible with some of the worst flooding in decades.  Houses have been washed away, vehicles blown over and services disrupted.  Thousands of people have had to be evacuated from their homes.   Let's hope the worst is over.

Pretty Butterflies

St Martin's Courtyard, a lovely shopping square in Covent Garden, has been decorated with butterflies and flowers, around the entrance, on the sides of the buildings and in circles through the entrances.  It looks very pretty, worth a visit.

Another Brolly Day

Yep it's another brolly day today.  I guess the lovely summer clothes in the store will go on sale soon.

Spring

Spring currently means an ability to spring from warm clothes to cooler clothes, brolly or sunglasses, all in one day.

Sixes and Sevens

Seven dials in Covent Garden is the area where seven roads all converge to a circle with a giant sun dial pillar in the centre.  However the sun dial only has six faces.  Apparently the original plan was for six roads.  There was a late alteration to the roading plan.

Six or seven, it doesn't matter, it's still a great place to find trendy shops and bars.