Toby's return home and going to the Transport Museum

We got up early as planned, and drove off reaching the airport in half an hour, but it took half an hour extra to park the car. After Toby checked in we all had a coffee and got in another talking session before Toby, sadly, had to go. Fortunately it may not be too long before he can come back, and try to spend more time with Pete too.

After he went through the exit, we left and returned home, with just enough time for me to have a quick bite of lunch. Mas drove me down to Edgware, and I went off to Covent Garden to meet Mex.

As I was a few minutes early I walked around and took a few photos; I do not remember seeing such crowds of people there before!

London's Transport Museum

This man is playing an ancient musical instrument called a sheng, it is 3,000 years old and the organ and accordian are developed from the design. The music played on it is sweet and haunting.

I met up with Mex, and we looked around the museum which has had a multi-million pound face lift since I last visited it. It is now much more fun for children as there is a lot for them to intereact with .

The "dizzy room"

There was a room full of watercolour illustrations of the men working on the renovations to the museum which were works of art in their own right.

Some posters were displayed,

this is a small sample.


There was also a time travelling lady from the 1930s prepared to talk about all the small details of her life, living in the metroland suburbs, now that the underground railway had been extended into the countryside. She did charity work (unpaid of course), bought up her children, employed a cook, and her husband commuted to the city to work. Her life sounded ideal!

Afterwards we walked to the Photographers Gallery where we had tea and a cake and chatted before going off home on the tube to our separate homes.

I felt really tired at the end of this eventful day, and Mas and I went to bed rather early.

Lunch at the Fishery and Toby's final evening

We had a late breakfast, Toby feeling rather fragile. At lunch time we went to The Fisheries for a light meal which we enjoyed, and were served by a charming smiley waitress. (It is so nice to see people smile!)

We relaxed at home for most of the day, and Mas made a nice evening meal which we ate by candlelight. Inadvertently I dropped a pea on the table and it rolled at some speed towards Mas, who seeing it peripherally sprang into the air and was ready for the attack. This reflexive action caused Toby and I to jump too, and then we laughed a lot at the idea of the killer pea!

Toby carefully drank shandies when out with his friends on his final evening, having already packed his case for an early start tomorrow. Pete phoned and chatted for a while.

Lunch in Letchmore Heath and mooching in Hampstead

We went early to Letchmore Heath, and had lunch at the Three Horseshoes which was very nice, and Mas talked to Roy Skeggs who we had last seen when Toby and Romy were here together. He is a very interesting person.

Later Toby and I went off to Hampstead to walk, but it began raining in a dismal way. Despite this, we walked about looking at the architectural details and then stopped for a coffee, and later a drink at the Holly Bush before returning home. After dinner Toby left for the evening to meet up with his pals, and we went off to bed just as he arrived home again.

Relaxing and talking with Toby and hospital visit

Toby arrived home late from Wales, due to bad weather and flooding on the railway lines. We had a nice evening catching up on the news and chatting while we had dinner with a nice bottle of red wine. We were all rather tired and later watched TV for a while before going off to bed.

The next day we had breakfast, and Toby went off to spend the day with Gerald, and Mas and I went to the Royal Free hospital; Mas accompanying me in case I had to have anaesthetic, but I did not. When we left the hospital we had a coffee and quick lunch in Belsize Park before returning home again. We had a nice dinner with Toby when he returned, with lots to talk about as usual.

When we got up we had a long breakfast drinking coffee, and eventually decided to go to The Man in the Moon for lunch which made a nice break. Afterwards Toby and I went for a walk, and also called into the Two Jays bookshop to look at the books. Toby left early to meet Pete in town for the evening, and Mas and I relaxed and watched TV for a while.

Toby in the UK and local goings on

Yesterday just as I was going to email Toby and wish him a nice journey he phoned to say he had already arrived, and was on his way to Wales to see Danny. I managed to plant pansies in the front and back window boxes, the weather was so sunny I felt like setting to and tidying the whole garden, but did not, and did a bit more spring cleaning instead. Mas and I sat and watched New Tricks on TV which was quite funny.

Today after writing a letter and clearing up I walked to the library. I was astonished to find a small group of grown men having a tantrum as the library was closed, and will not reopen for a week. While I was reading the notice about the closure another elderly man arrived, and the decibels increased, the air became blue. I beat a hasty retreat before they began rioting!

As I was walking home the local church had a notice outside inviting people to come in. The church is called St. Margaret of Antioch, but is referred to as St. Margaret's. The church tower was built between 1370 and1375, and is made of rag stone, and under the present church there are foundations of a smaller church which may date back earlier than the tower. Possibly the longer name refers to when the church must have been Roman Catholic, but changed to Church of England after the reformation. The rest of the church is brick and has been altered and added to over the years. (Oddly opposite St. Margaret's church there is a pub called The Mason's Arms.)

I came across a blog, the Edgware Neighbourhood Watch blog, and is written by the skipper (a police Sergeant), part of the Safer Neighbourhood team which is useful and friendly. This team hold a surgery in the local shopping mall once a week.

The weather is grey and depressing, so I made some soup and small cakes as comfort food before we settle down to watch an old cowboy film. (At least it is easy to tell who the good and bad guys are!)

Unexpected illness and anxious driving

On Wednesday we went to St. Albans as usual, to get shopping, and meet up with Tania and Robert. We had lunch at the Bhua Thai restaurant and talked. Robert has been unexpectedly very ill and in hospital recently, but is looking and feeling much better now, so we had a lot to talk about before going back home again.

Yesterday we took four more pictures to Linda Blackstone's house in deepest Hertfordshire. I have become very nervous of driving, and if Mas is driving I feel the same, except on our usual driving routes. Anyone else could drive and I would have no fear at all, which is very unreasonable. We managed to deliver the paintings to her and get back to Stanmore, with me white knuckling it all the way. I had to have two restorative alcoholic drinks to get over the stress, despite it only being midday. We went shopping afterwards, and I walked past two friends without seeing them until they called me. We returned home, me feeling sheepish, and I spent the rest of the day trying to tidy up my studio.

Monday we seemed to be doing chores all day, we renewed our travel passes and got shopping, and I began to do a little emergency spring cleaning so that we could walk safely through the house without tripping over things that were in the wrong places.

On Tuesday we did worse chores and paid bills which seemed to take up most of the day.

Mother's Day flowers and garden centres

Mother's day, and Pete sent me some lovely flowers! Talked to Pete on the phone, and Mas said afterwards that I had been laughing all the time!

After breakfast Mas and I went off to a garden centre in Mill Hill to look at plants for conservatories. We had a look around, and decided to resuscitate our own plants; before we left we had a coffee at the centre and looked at the aquarium fish which is always colourful.

Some of Pete's flowers.

On FORM with Christiane and busing home.

As planned I met Christiane at Hendon and we travelled by tube to Olympia and went to the FORM: London exhibition. There were lots of interesting things displayed : ceramics, pottery, furniture, jewellery, sculpture, beautiful and striking felt carpets, http://www.feltrugs.co.uk/ and all kinds of art. We stopped midway and had a coffee and mini biscuits, then continued looking. I think we saw everything!

Before we left we shared a pizza at the Pizza Express then decided to go home by bus. We took the 27 bus and took the scenic route to Chalk Farm, but instead of the bus stopping at the station it stopped by a large supermarket. We asked the directions from a friendly man, and soon we zipped home on the tube. That was an interesting and fun day out!

Toby phoned in the evening to let us know he would be arriving from Canada very soon which is exciting!

Banana bread with Taggart, after breakfast with Margaret.

Yesterday Mas was late getting home, so I took the opportunity to recycle some bananas and made banana bread. All went well until I was washing the blender. I poured hot water into it and it burst into about eight pieces which is odd as I am always blending boiling hot soup in it. Maybe after so much soup blending it had glass fatigue! The house smelled nice from the cooking though.
Mas came home exhausted after his meeting and trailing through all the tube labyrinths of St. Pacras and King's Cross. We had dinner and watched a violent Taggart episode (just the kind of TV show to give you pleasant dreams!) before going to bed rather early for us.

Margaret called round after breakfast today and we had a coffee and cake and talked for a while. We live in the same street, but had not seen each other for a month or so. After this Mas and I did a few chores locally.

Camellias in our garden.

Tudor buildings in Pinner high street

Today Mas went off to town early to go to a business meeting. I took myself off to Pinner again to see the friendly framing people. I also took some photographs, remembering to take my camera this time.

The Qeen's Head pub below is supposed to be the oldest building in the street.

The doorways in this passage way get lower the further back you are, from the road ahead.

The last one is less than shoulder height.

Nitwits with blinds and other misadventures.

We had a very humiliating time today.
We have a conservatory attached to our sitting room, and it is fitted with blinds which we pull up rather like the sails of a boat, except for one blind which is pulled up by a small motor. The motor for this blind ceased working about a week ago, so we thought the remote control gizmo's batteries had gone, and we bought some new(expensive) batteries, but when we tried it the engine still did not work.

We phoned the company who had fitted the blinds, and they said they would fix it for us. On cue, one of the men, who we knew, arrived, and we explained our problem, and also told him that the spring on one of the blinds was not working well.

The man looked at the motor for a few moments, then looked at the electric plug on the wall, and turned it on! Of course the blind worked immediately. He then tried the blind with weak spring, and that worked perfectly as well!

Mas and I were overcome by our stupidity and could have given ourselves a good kicking! Needless to say, the blind man laughed, and was still laughing as he left us and drove away.

In the same vein, here is a worse story that happened many years ago: Various heads of department in a large London hospital were having a board meeting when one of them fell face down on the desk with what appeared to be a heart attack.

Someone rushed to get a stretcher, only to find that the poles had been stolen from it! They managed to get him into a treatment room to treat his cardiac arrest by electric shock. The electric pad terminals were placed on his chest and he was zapped, except it did not happen! All were stunned; someone then turned on the electric plug, and tried again, and he was saved! Phew!

In the evening I went with some friends to an introduction to the Landmark Forum. We did not sign up for a course, but it was fun catching up with each others news and talking for a while.

Pinner and parking fine, Mex and the London International Art Fair

On Friday Mas and I went to Pinner to find a picture framer, we did find one, but not the one we were looking for, although we will take future work to him as he and his wife are very nice people. Pinner is an interesting place to visit, and has some beautiful medieval buildings in the High Street, but sadly I had forgotten to take my camera. While we were there we had a coffee, and bought some china, which we did not need at all. Later we found that we had inadvertently got a parking ticket for £50. When we got back to Stanmore we consoled ourselves by having a pub lunch.

Yesterday I met Mex at the Royal College of Art, in Kensington Gore, right beside the Albert Hall, and we went to the International Art Fair. We had an interesting time, and there was some very unusual art that we liked, and both of us liked Simon Garden's paintings; he has a very original style.

We had some tea and cakes, and lots of chat before leaving, and also bought some art books. I was feeling quite tired as I seemed to have had nightmares and restless sleep the night before, but it was a lovely afternoon and I really enjoyed it. We walked to the station together before going off in opposite directions. Luckily I got a seat on the tube, even though it was Saturday evening!







......and another one!

Springy feet in St. Albans, shopping and Sasio's

Today we woke up to a foggy day with temperatures of 3° and feeling chilly. Robert and Tania could not meet us for lunch as Robert seems to be suffering from the same illness Mas had over Christmas.

We went to St. Albans and did a little shopping, and as we walked through the market we saw these springy feet extensions being demonstrated. I have seen them in a TV advert, but did not know that they were available to buy. I would have liked to try them, but in a secluded place, as I am sure I would fall on my head with terrific loss of dignity. Supposedly they are good for toning up muscles.

As usual, click to enlarge.

There is a good art shop in this arcade, and I was looking at fabric paint (thinking of shopping bags). The arcade looked warm and cheerful compared to the grey streets outside.

We snuck in to Sasio's and had a nice lunch, and Mas charmed five extra almond cookies from the friendly waitress to have with the coffee. We left feeling really warm.

Lunch with Pete and considering making bags

Today Pete called and said he would collect the illustrations I had done for him. He was with us by midday, so we all went to The Man in the Moon, and had a cheerful lunch together before he left for a meeting, taking the pictures with him.

I have been tidying up my studio trying to get rid of things I no longer need, and looking at some material with the idea of making some shopping bags for sale. It seems a good idea as we are all being encouraged not to use plastic bags, and cut down on waste. Here are some designs I made a while ago, and sold.

Relaxing in technicolor with good fortune birds

When I am relaxing with my eyes shut, the insides of my eyelids are washed with colours that float and change shape, and as I watch this display I become more relaxed. When doing this and listening to Vivaldi Glorias being sung there was a wash of bright turquoise with a network of purple, and when the male chorus was singing there were shots of maroon as well. I must try this with other music to see what happens.
Today I was thinking, with my eyes shut, and could see a wash of lavender and Potters pink. I wondered what would happen if I prodded my solar plexus, and when I did, everything turned lime green and turquiose. What does it all mean? There is probably a life time of research here.
Getting back to more practical matters, here is a picture I painted recently called Birds of Good Fortune.

Hospital appointments and walking around Hampstead.

Yesterday I had to go to hospital for some test results. The doctors in the clinic where I had my appointment were off sick, except for one, consequently I had to wait there for two hours before being seen. Afterwards I walked around Hampstead, while I waited for a different appointment at the same hospital, and looked at the children playing in the playground of the school that my mother arrended. It was a crisp but sunny day; I took these pictures as I was walking.

I went back to the hospital to the Medical Appliances area as I was ordering some more arch supports. The man who runs this department is very nice, and very cheerful; I always leave his office laughing about something . The first time I went to see him I had almost forgotten the appointment, so I said that as well as the arch supports I needed a new head. He turned to me looking very serious and said that he couldn't supply one.......I would have to go to Head Office!

Photograph of Ontario's February woods and minicards.

Most of today I spent trying to paint a Jake picture for Pete.

I had a nice e-mail from Joan who sent me a photograph of the woods where they are, (in Ontario,) in February, as a contrast to our local woods! Cats and dogs join in the walking as well.

These are some mini business cards that Mex had made for me as a gift, using sections of some of my paintings. The cards are made by moo.com and come in their own rigid plastic box. They seem too nice to give to strangers!

Lunch in Soho with Mex and China town decorations

Yesterday was a bright sunny day, and after the frost disappeared, it became quite warm. As arranged I met Mex in a bistro in Soho. We had a wonderful meal, which was reasonable and very good value. We had a lot to talk about as we had not met up for a long time, lunch time passed too quickly before we had to break for Mex to go back to work. I had really enjoyed talking to Mex, and it was really nice to be strolling around in the sunshine, so I took a few pictures of the Chinese decorations which are put up to celebrate the new year.

I took the tube home, and walking from the station I met the vociferous cat who belongs to a neighbour who, after I took the photo threw himself onto the pavement and rolled about so much I could not take another picture of him.