The Fire

The great fire of London was 350 years ago to commemorate the event a number of activities have taken place over the past few days.  The finale was to set fire to a replica of the city as it looked back then.  Floating on a barge in the Thames here is how the city looked prior to the spectacular burning.

The Gallery

Today we look at the gallery that is hosting the exhibition in yesterday's post.  This glorious building was built by William Waldorf Aster in 1892 to be used as his London offices.  The man whose family owned most of the property on Manhattan Island, spared no expense on his lavish London pad.

The stairwell pillars are solid ebony, the staircase is mahogany, the panels are English oak.  The three musketeers gaze down from the banisters, as do characters from several American novels.   Four intricate panels depict the scenes from Shakespearean plays.

In the main gallery light streams in through stunning stained glass windows. The panelled walls are of pencil cedar with a gilded freeze depicting portraits of characters from novels from history and fiction.  Gazing down from the rafters are carved figures from literature, including Robin Hood and Ivanhoe.  At one end of the long gallery is a marble fireplace.

The building has only had four owners mainly as it cannot be used as a residential property.  The current owner is the  Bulldog Trust that supports charitable activities through exhibitions and events as well as providing a venue for corporate and private events.

It is only open to the public during the hosting of exhibitions.  Twice the value for your visit!

Cotton to Gold

Sturdy leather clogs worn by the workers of the cotton mills in the nineteenth-century Lancashire.  The iron soles could be heard clanking along the streets as they trudged to work in the morning and again on the weary walk home in the evening.

Cotton created extreme wealth for the owners of the textile mills.  With their new found cash these industrialists became collectors of extraordinary treasures.  Everything from paintings, coins, glass, books and whatever they looted from the graves of other civilisations.

Several collections form the industrial north west have been brought together in an exhibition "cotton to gold" showing at Two Temple Place.  Tiffany glass, Turner paintings, ancient gold coins, 13th century books, are just a few of the items in this incredible show.  One not to be missed.
On until 19th April.  

Continuing the Adventure

Continuing our MINI adventure we took in a few more of London's iconic sights.  From St Paul's we headed off towards Bank passing the walkie scorch with it's hairnet (see my previous post for explanation)

Past Tower, which we decided not to climb.

We drove over London Bridge and then came back over Tower Bridge.  I was concetrating on my driving in heavy traffic so no photos crossing the bridges.  We drove along Embankment and stopped to take the iconic photo of the London Eye. We took in the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.  Drove around Trafalgar Square and up the Mall towards Buckingham Palace.  And as a treat for my American friend we organised a wee parade.

to be continued…..

Pretty in the Park

Beats taking the busy road the other side of the trees.

Winner

Tsegaye Kebede wiiner of the elite men category of the London Marathon looking good at the 24 mile mark.  His winning time was 2:06:04.

Mad Hatter's Tea Party

"Eat me", "drink me".....so the labels read on the cake and drink when Alice fell down the rabbit hole.  When I was invited to a Mad Hatter's Tea Party at the Royal Horse Guards Hotel, like Alice I had a wonderful adventure. Unlike Alice however, the fun and exquisite tea and cakes I had were not a never to be repeated event.  You can have your very own tea party with the best tea in the world and the most divine cakes you can imagine.

Joanne Todd is the very talented pastry chef who created these tempting morsels. She also designed the beautiful china tea cups and saucers.  Joanne did her early training with Gordon Ramsay and has created her own unique and totally delicious style.

The "Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea" menu includes dainty sandwiches and savoury bites, and of course jam tarts, with hearts. The extra special items include coconut white rabbit cupcakes, "eat me" passion fizz cake and "drink me" layered bubble shots and pocket watch thyme torte. At £35 it is amazing value.  Forget the Ritz girls (and boys) this is the afternoon tea party that will tickle and sate all your senses.

The surroundings are beautiful, a step back in time, an historic English building as only the English know how to do, but I'll tell you more about that another day.

The Mad Hatter Tea Party runs from 25 March to 7 April at the Royal Horse Guards Hotel. 

Night View

Looking across the Thames to Southbankwith festival hall lit up in red and blue.

I heard the clip clop of horses hooves and then saw this charming old fashion carriage drawn by two white marble horses. What a unique way to see some of London's sights.  I had visions of me riding through Hyde Park and imagining myself in another time.

The drivers tell me they are popular with men wanting to make a surprise proposing.  Makes the men go quite romantic, even getting down on one knee.  They've all said yes so far.

The Boy who wouldn't grow up

From the room at the top of this beautiful building with its decorative walls J M Barrie created Peter Pan and Wendy.  Perhaps as yet another attempt to win his mothers favour by being her favourite son who died as a child. 

James spent much of his childhood trying to be his older brother, dressing in his clothes and copying his whistle.  Their mother imagined the lost son was happy never having grown into a man, remaining a boy forever.

Many of you have asked where this building is, I have attached a google map to the address of 3 Robert St

Romance Among 10,000 Ceramic Blooms

The fountain court at Somerset House is currently a grass meadow with 10,000 ceramic blooms. An art installation by Chilean artist Fernando Casasempere. The blooms are made with clay from his native Chile a material used by local artists for hundreds of years. The installation titled "Out of Sync" go on display in Santiago and then take up permanent residence in the desserts of northern Chile. In the mean time it is the perfect courting space for a couple of pigeons.

New Season

Rain, wind and brown leaves. How can that all happen overnight?

Sky Ride

Yesterday was the annual sky ride in London. Each year throughout Britain streets are given over to cyclists. The aim is to get more people on bikes, one million more by 2013 is the current ambition. Hardy cyclists braved heavy rain determined to enjoy themselves despite the weather. Makes me think that extra million is rather conservative.

York Water Gates

Tucked away in Embankment gardens these gates once in front of York House leading directly onto the Thames. York House was one of the mansions on the Strand built around 1237 for the Bishops of Norwich. Although it was not known as York house until 1556 when acquired by the Archbishop of York. The water gates pictured here were an addition in 1626 during the period the property was owned by George Villers 1st Duke of Buckingham.
Construction of Embankment in Victorian times meant the gates were no longer on the Thames banks. Where York House once stood is now modern office buildings. The gates do seem a little out of place but are a reminder of what once was here.

Communication

Then and now

Chill Out

Resting in the park

Reactions

What are yours?

Philanthropic Bulldog

The building of the Bulldog Trust.

Reflecting

Sitting under the statue of Robert Burns in Embankment Gardens reflecting, resting or people watching.

Savoy Graveyard

Tucked away behind the Savoy Hotel on a little street off the Strand is a small chapel and graveyard. A little oasis not widely known about. Dating back to the reign of Henry VII.