London, recently

London these last few weeks. A documentary about Japan, and beetles, in a cinema in an old horse hospital near Russell Square. Discovering sherry, afterwards, in a tiny bar behind King's Cross. The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, paintings, prints, photography, architecture, a mix of famous names and unknowns. The rest of that particular weekend spent indoors, prepping for an interview. The interview itself, the weight lifted of it being over, the utter longing to be offered the job in question. Dinner in Wahaca to take my mind off waiting for news, horchata and salsa. Another full day and night waiting, waiting, in which I go to the wonderful Prick Your Finger with the WI ladies to do some knitting, remind myself that there is so much more to life than employment. A phone call on an otherwise mundane Thursday morning, being offered the job. A weekend floating on air (still am, a week and a half later). An opera in a warehouse in Hackney, very enjoyable, engaging, and I am a complete Philistine when it comes to music. Discovering The Hackney Pearl accidentally beforehand, half wishing I lived nearer, just so it could be my local. Slutwalk London with the Shoreditch Sisters, with M, with my mother. Empowering, inspiring. Flowers in my hair like Frida. A party in North London, catching up with friends who are soon to be married, drinking gin and elderflower fizz, night bus home, a spring of jasmine plucked from over a garden wall in my hand. Giving blood at work, managing the whole amount (better than last time) but fainting afterwards, feeling a nuisance. An evening at the Open Air Theatre, picnicking in the park before the play, spanakopita made by me, cookies made by C, strawberries, late afternoon sunshine. The play, Lord of the Flies, is very good, and as the sky darkens and the shadows of the trees encroach the atmosphere is savage, sinister. Cheap pizza at Italian Coffee Company near Goodge Street, a late night opening of the Wellcome Collection, where we look at the permanent collection which we haven't seen before. Friday just passed, The Architectural Association's end of year show, to see a friend's work. Bedford Square in the rain, so different from last year. Inside, packed, dripping umbrellas, stepping on people's toes but J's work is beautiful. Later on, a bar through a fridge, speakeasy style, where we have ask furtively for Henri (when we find him he tells my friend ''it's Ian actually'', which somewhat ruins the tone) to be admitted. The cocktails are good, very good, but it is busy, and the music is too loud, which I feel detracts from the atmosphere. But I think I'd go back, for the basil and St Germain cocktail alone. Later, the four of us head to Rosa's for late night Thai, drink beer, crunch spring rolls. Breakfast the next morning, golden raspberries and juicy cherries, feeling virtuous.

Oh London, you do keep me busy.

(Phew, hope everyone feels sufficiently caught up! A note on photographs, the fuzzy ones are from my phone as my big camera hasn't accompanied me on all of these excursions, and M took a couple of the Slutwalk ones: Shoreditch Sister banner; me with Snog afterwards; geranium in my hair)