Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

  That’s what I think at 1.00 a.m. when my hostess is frantic to get rid of me. It’s also what good-time girl Britannia is thinking about the Euro-bash where she has been partying since 1973.

An Invitation…

St. Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year and I’m inviting you to a Valentine’s Day themed Recital in an especially beautiful location.

Figaro, Where?

The Metropolitan Opera in New York has been broadcasting Saturday matinees live to cinemas in Europe for ten years. It’s a super way to see tip-top productions with the bonus of watching what’s going on back-stage and hearing the singers being interviewed.  Only been around for ten years but already I have my favourite moment.… Continue reading Figaro, Where?

My Local Art Gallery

London is full of lesser known galleries and Barons Court has one. It is less than five minutes walk from my front door on the Fulham Palace Road, so really Hammersmith. 

Spottiswoode

Does London need a new £500 million concert venue? The rather ugly roundabout where the Museum of London is now (it’s moving to Smithfield Market) is the proposed site, located between the Barbican and St Paul’s. Maybe we would do better to stick to George’s long term economic plan and build flats and offices that… Continue reading Spottiswoode

From Z To Somewhere Else

A recent post about Dr Zhivago leads me to London Spy, a recently concluded psychological thriller on BBC TV. The journey has a few stops on the way so, if you’d care to come for the ride, all aboard!

A Pinch of Snuff

My late father-in-law favoured High Dry Toast. Norman Murphy, an authority on P G Wodehouse and much else besides, likes Kendal Brown. I have just ordered some Seville. From 1720 until 1981 they could all be purchased at Fribourg and Treyer’s shop in the Haymarket.

Trick Or Treat?

Our Umbrian farmhouse had apparently lovely bowls of autumnal fare including squashes, gourds and pumpkins. Sarah painstakingly prepared them, doing a lot of peeling and de-seeding. Unfortunately there was an ornamental pumpkin in the display. Have you ever eaten a gordo ornamentale?