Quilts ... cont

I thought the Quilts exhibition was fantastic! As we went on a Saturday afternoon, it was rather busy - but not so much that we couldn't have a good look at the exhibits. I was amazed at the vibrant colours of the quilts made in the 18th and 19th centuries. There was also a modern quilt by Tracey Emin and another made by the inmates of HMP Wandsworth in 2009.

Of course I couldn't resist picking up some (over priced - but this is the V&A!) fat quarters with prints taken from quilts made in the mid 19th century.

We then headed to the lovely cafe (the first museum cafe in the world!) for tea and cake before heading home.

V&A Quilts Exhibition

This afternoon I am meeting some friends at the V&A for the Quilts 1700-2010 exhibition. I have read some very good reviews of this exhibition and am really looking forward to it! It may even inspire me to make my own patchwork quilt .... well, now that I have mastered the art of cushion making - there's nothing stopping me!! Right???

Shall we go to Metro-land?

Last night I went to a very interesting lecture at the London Transport Museum. The theme of the talk was Betjemen and Suburbia ... the main part of the talk was given by a museum curator - with poetry read by an old chap from the Betjemen Society.

I love the old transport posters - and it was great to have some of them put into the context of the expansion of the Metropolitan railway and the building of suburbia. There are a series of talks and I have got tickets booked for another one in February:

Home Comforts

The style of the new suburban interiors and the changing role of the housewife in the 1920s and 1930s. This talk focuses on the wives and mothers who found themselves in charge of their new homes, in Metroland - far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Emmanuelle will explore how homes changed dramatically after the First World War, through the boom in technology and labour saving devices, and in their decorative schemes. She will compare the sleek ideal 'moderne' interiors that featured in magazines and promotional material, with the ubiquitous reality of mock Jacobean sideboards and floral wallpapers. Drawing on women's magazines of the time she will also discuss the woman's role in the house, where she shopped and what she bought.

You can purchase tickets here

London is so much more bearable when I remember to do lovely things!

I will be visiting the Suburbia exhibition soon!

Hey Presto!

This morning Mr Plum headed off for his first lesson in magic! He will be heading to a strange, dark shop hidden away in the maze that is Charing Cross underpass (it is like something out of Harry Potter!) for three hours tuition in the art of magic tricks! The course will last for three Saturdays - he was very excited this morning!

I am enjoying a nice lie in with a cup of tea (Yorkshire) and a pile of toast and marmite! I haven't got anything planned for this morning, so will probably do a bit of housework before heading into town to meet up with Mr P and some friends for dinner.

I'm still feeling the "Christmas Bloat" and now that the snow has melted, I no longer have the excuse that it is too cold to go swimming, eat healthily etc! I have managed to bribe Mr P into going for an early morning swim tomorrow with the promise of a Wetherspoons brekkie ... we will also be plugging in the wii fit to burn off some Christmas calories!

What are you up to this weekend?

Afternoon Tea!

Oh what a lovely day!! Today was the annual Winter afternoon tea ... where me and my three friends from work (well, only two friends this time) take an afternoon off and head to one of the lovely London West End hotels for tea.

I love having afternoon tea ... and will find an excuse to go whenever I can! Some people are happy spending £50 every weekend down the pub on cheap gin - I'm happier spending my weekends at home with Mr Plum and the Kittens, and then treating myself to a posh afternoon tea (two or three times a year!)

This was the first time I have had tea at The Dorchester ... and it was lovely! My favourite part was the "pre dessert" - blackcurrant coulis with whipped cream - delicious! mmmmmm

After that we popped in to see my brother who works nearby, and had a quick drink with him ... and then headed home, ready to face a Thursday back in the office.

Mr Plum is taking me to my all time favourite afternoon tea venue, Claridge's, before Christmas ... I'm looking forward to that!!

Borough Market, Today's Harvest and a bit of Cliff!

I'm feeling a bit sad today as I have to go back to work tomorrow ..... I have had a lovely weekend with Mr Plum though (although, for I did feel like an extra in Dawson's Creek for a bit of it ...but that's another story!)

Yesterday we got up very early and headed to Borough Market. I love this market ... I know that it is quite overpriced ... but it is nice to walk around, taste a few things and pick up a bit of cheese ... some olives ... salami and bread!

We met our friends at Maria's Market Cafe - I would recommend this cafe as a good starting point on a cold Autumn morning. So full of two mugs of strong tea, a bubble and egg roll for myself and a bacon and sausage roll for Mr Plum - we wandered around a picked up some goodies for lunch!

We had planned to head to Spitalfields Market after lunch ... but full of cheese and cava, we just sat in my friends lovely Barbican flat and talked the afternoon away!

Another early morning today! We headed to the car boot sale at Crystal Palace ... no goodies to be found there today ... which was a little disappointing! Anyway, after a quick dash around Tesco we are home reading the Sundays. I have just picked the last of my peppers and a few tomatoes, fed the kittens and am now watching Summer Holiday!

ps: how does anyone manage to knit with two kittens running around attacking the wool? Any tips welcome!! (have tried shutting them out of the room - but they cry!)

Step In Time!!

New shoes!!! Yes ... lovely purple new shoes!!!!! I have had my eye on these beauties for a couple of months - and today I bought them!!! Don't they look like something Mary Poppins would wear while dancing on rooftops with Bert? Nice socks too (thanks Nicola!!).

Had a lovely Friday ... a morning of sorting out my wardrobe and drawers, I took two bags of clothes and shoes down to Age Concern. I then popped to my local vet and registered Pansy and Twister ... they will need to have their jabs very soon, poor little kittens. I will have to ask Mr Plum to take them to the vet ....

I then popped to the shops to pick up a few bits and pieces (see above!) ... while sitting in Clarks waiting for my shoes to appear, I happened to see a friend of mine walk past! Now, this does not happen here very often here so I quickly phoned her as she disappeared up the escalator and we went off to our local Fullers Ale and Pie house and awaited the arrival of our husbands! A very pleasant and impromptu evening! Lots of plans were made ......

Tomorrow we have an early start as we are meeting other friends at Borough Market at 9am!! So I am off to bed (after Family Guy!) ... good night!

Out and About....

Today I decided to drag myself away from the kittens and head into town to do something "cultural" ...

I headed to the Victoria and Albert Museum - I haven't been there for a while and wanted to see the 80 years of Faber exhibition and have a look at the frocks - always my favourite bit! I love the V&A shop ... I treated myself to a pair of button ear rings! They also had earrings made from zips!

After the V&A, I headed East to the Geffrye Museum over in Shoreditch (I don't venture to East London very often!). This museum specialises in "Living Rooms" and had rooms from various periods of history. At Christmas they have a Victorian themed living room decked out in all the lovely Victorian decorations! I must head back for that!

I picked up the latest issue of Time Out so that I can plan some other trips out for the rest of my week off ... I'm looking forward to reading about the markets as I am meeting some friends for a wander around Borough and Spitelfields markets at the weekend!

I will be sending off this little package to Greedy Nan tomorrow .... I hope that she likes it!! :)

A Splendid Afternoon in London

It has turned into a bit of a tradition.  Every November/December, me & a friend take a half day off work and do something "Splendid"...in past years we have had cocktails at Claridges, afternoon tea at The Ritz, very posh martini's at "Duke's Bar" .... this year we went to "The Last Debutantes" exhibition at Kensington Palace followed by tea & cake at Fortnum & Mason's and followed by cheese and champagne at the Plum Brewery!

We had a lovely day! I would like to think that if I had turned 17 in 1958, I would have been presented to the Queen, had a wonderful blue dress (as recommended in Tatler) and had a diary FULL of social engagements.  Mr Plum would have been a dashing "Debs Delight" waiting to meet me at some cocktail party, informal luncheon or at home!  

Fortnum & Mason's was decked out in all its Christmas finery ... we had a lovely pot of tea and piece of Victoria Sponge cake ... then headed home (via the M&S 20 % off day!) to consume lovely champagne and cheese.  A lovely day ... unfortunately it is Thursday and tomorrow I have to get up and go to work .... but the "other" me will be out and about in town, going to exhibitions and taking tea in splendid places .....

Jolly Days In London - Part One

Had a lovely day out yesterday. Dragged Mr Plum out of bed at the ungodly hour of 9.30am! We jumped on a train to London Bridge and had a walk around Borough Market, stopping off for breakfast where I had lovely eggs florentine and Mr Plum had a ham & cheese croissant!

Borough Market was packed, as always. We got a nice piece of Comte and some mozerella...and made plans to go back on a Thursday nearer Christmas!

We had originally planned to go to the Tower of London, but as it was "Open House" weekend in the city - we took the opportunity to look around some buildings which are normally closed to the public. We went to the Vintners Hall, the wonderful Art Deco old headquarters of "The Express", the High Court, and the Freemasons Grand Temple (another fine Art Deco building).

We took advantage of the lovely sunny weather to grab something to eat at Giraffe on the South Bank - it felt like we were on holiday! Then headed to Waterloo to catch the train home....makes a change from an afternoon shopping in Plumdon!