Valentine

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.

It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.

It promises light

like the careful undressing of love.

Here.

It will blind you with tears

like a lover.

It will make your reflection

a wobbling photo of grief.

I am trying to be truthful.

Not a cute card or kissogram.

I give you an onion.

Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,

possessive and faithful

as we are,

for as long as we are.

Take it.

Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,

if you like.

Lethal.

Its scent will cling to your fingers,

cling to your knife.

Carol Ann Duffy

while the mices are away ...

Jive chum and I had a special day together. A little indulgent if truth be told.

To begin: Steak and chips (yes, greedy, I know) at the magnificent  

The Elk in The Woods 

I do love it in there. It has always been a firm favourite. Just perfect for a Sunday meet up, or an any day meet for that matter. The miss-match crockery and cutlery tick the box, the wallpaper, the wooden panelling, the antlers, all those mirrors ...

(oh, and a funny overheard conversation ... "I'm so sorry I'm late, I've been running around looking for ELF in the woods!") 

Then, I was persuaded by a camden passage stall holder and his two friends (who just happened to be there to ooh and ahh at everything I lifted ... employed??) to buy this DELICIOUS vanity case

It's in pristine condition, and I was "guaranteed" that I "would never" find a better case. Hmmm. Quite the sales team. I don't quite have the room to house this case, if truth be told, but as we enter production week with the play it will come in very handy! 

We wandered around a few shops, including Noah's Ark toyshop where I purchased TWENTY miniature soldiers for a little present project I have up my sleeve. More on that in a bit.

Due to a rain storm (light drizzle) we decided to take cover in Ottolenghi (287 Upper Street). Yes, that's right, not a bus shelter but Ottolenghi. How very grand of us. But, I did have the most scrumdiddliumptious chocolate fondant cake and peppermint tea. What an AMAZING cake shop (I mean, there are savoury options but who in their right mind is going to opt for those?). So many delicious choices and the staff were very helpful with my rather annoying nut allergy which can often be a nightmare in cake shops. They have a great website too. Have a look.

Ah. Joy. Time with a friend. Not something to be taken for granted.

A lovely day to set me up for what is going to be a roller coaster ride / potential nightmare of a week. I sort of expect some tears with the laughter. 

Head up and soldier on.

Me xxx

blooming busy

A crowded tube, full of agitated passengers at the end of the week.

And suddenly, a quite glamorous older lady provided a breath of fresh air 

and a flash of colour.

Ah,beauty.

Me xxx

My children are dead.

My wife is dead.

When I rode back to my castle and I found black smoke hanging above the halls I thought about riding hard away. I knew that if I went through the gates to see what was left for me a door would close behind me and it would never open again.

I went in.

I saw.

I could walk and walk now and until the end of time but I'll never find the end of that room.

I know it's now 'cool' and all

... taxidermy that is ... but I still feel a little bit shameful about liking it. Why? It's like I feel a bit bad about it all. For no good reason. It's an art form and an amazing one at that. 

The knight and I went to the Natural History Museum late night on Friday. Top tip ... last Friday of every month ... very gothic and a little creepy. ANYWAY. So we saw lots of exciting things. In particular, the bird corridor, a "beautiful and varied collection of preserved specimens, which began in the eighteenth century, ranges from exotic birds threatened with extinction to more common blackbirds and swans"

majestic

(unless you happened to have seen 'The Fourth Kind', in which case 'terrifying' might be a better description)

a little fearsome

And something that was a little reminiscent of Hitchcock ...

 

The visual experience reminded me of a couple of photos I took last week on Chesire street and totally forgot to post

Birds and jewellery. Together. Delicious.

Me xxx