SHEPHERD

The mornings are eventually getting lighter! Here's the classic tower block on way to yoga school, as the sun is rising.

 

CHIPS

A good chip shop is hard to find in London, but this one is lovely. Dennis' on Lea Bridge Road.

SOUTHBANK

We took a walk along the Southbank to visit the Christmas Market, which to be honest, I don't think is in full swing yet. There was no Christmas music, and half the stalls were empty, HOWEVER, there were churros, mulled wine, bratwurst, and carousels, what more do you need really?

I love the book stalls on the Southbank, could get lost for hours rummaging there!

 

SPECIAL

Paul took me to see The Specials last week at the Roundhouse. The Roundhouse is one of my favourite venues in London. I have so many memories here. Here's a pic from when they performed Ratrace.

BARBICAN

The Barbican estate is my second favourite building (if you can call it a building? A gaggle of buildings? What's the plural?) in London, after Battersea Power Station. It's a stunning example of brutalist architecture, it dwarfs and completey consumes you. It was built in the 1960's, on a bomb site from WW2. It's ambition and vision were groundbreaking. Architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon spent YEARS planning, developing and re planning etc. The City asked the architects to design the site in the early fifties and work didn't start until almost ten years later, completing the works in 1975, (TWENTY YEARS from start to finish!) with the arts centre following in 1982.

Paul took us to see John Cale here last Fri day for our six year anniverary (when did that happen!?) and I spent a good twenty minutes happily being lost in the maze that is the Barbican, before finding the theatre. I never learn. I have an awful sense of direction. But I guess there are much worse places to be lost.

One day we will own a flat here!