Monday, October 12/2026

 London is one of our favourite cities and Kilburn one of our favourite neighbourhoods in London. Love the little corner markets there every day except Sunday. Usually produce that’s slightly cheaper and somewhat more attractive than the fruit and vegetables in the supermarkets. And both better and less expensive than the same produce at home in Canada. Though the comparison is not quite fair. London is a big city and Canadian comparisons should be to Toronto or Montreal or Vancouver. 

We spent some time in the village of Seascale in Cumbria about twenty years ago. Population something under two thousand, with variety significantly less than in UK cities and prices quite a bit higher. Plenty of seaside charm, though.

Lemons, of course, much cheaper in Cyprus, though avocados, which also grow there, surprisingly aren’t.

Sunday, October 11/2026

 On the way to the tube station we pass the occasional object seeking a new home - as well as some only fit for the bin men. Should probably say bin persons, but somehow that sounds silly rather than egalitarian. As well as the child’s toy, which has been there at least since Friday, there’s an electric fan on a stand. Think that it would have been helpful to put a sign on it saying “WORKS” - although perhaps it doesn’t.

We’re off to have lunch with Jenny and Doug in Thames Ditton. Lovely being able to see them each time we’re in London. Much catching up after a cheerful Prosecco and during a roast gammon lunch. They, along with their daughters and families, are booked on a Christmas cruise to the Canaries. Celebrating Doug’s eightieth birthday as well as their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Pink toy still by the roadside as we return, although the electric fan has gone. And in front of a shop that has closed there is, along with uncollected rubbish, a mattress in pretty good nick. It was there yesterday as well, but then there was a man on it, lying face down, presumably sleeping - or possibly worse - and I felt he deserved some respect and didn’t take a photograph. No protection from rain or cold, but definitely better bedding than some city homeless achieve.

Saturday, October 10/2026

Our first day in London coincides with marches and demonstrations in London and other cities in Europe and around the world expressing solidarity with Palestinians as protestors mark three years of the Gaza genocide and call for an end to arms sales to Israel.

Speakers note that the deaths of Palestinian children are now well in excess of twenty thousand. Thousands of bodies, including those of children, are believed to remain buried beneath the rubble in Gaza and the latest mass funeral for 105 victims occurred last week.

Numbers of demonstrators pretty hard to estimate. Press references to “thousands” certainly not wrong but imply a smaller crowd than that filling roads on both sides of the Thames. On the other hand organiser estimates of two hundred fifty thousand may well have been optimistic. 

The tone is sad but peaceful. Police recorded about twenty arrests - and some news sources lead with this - but most were for minor infractions. The crowd, notably, is not composed of the kind of people one expects to see at a rowdy political demonstration.

Sunday, May 3/2026

 Banksy revisited. Couldn’t resist Barrie West’s Facebook post showing the Banksy statue as it’s so much better than mine. Actually fairly difficult to get an angle that shows how the flag is totally obscuring the man’s vision so that he is about to step off the precipice. Into the abyss? Interesting how many FB commentators are sure they know which flag is intended - not that they all agree with each other. And there are, of course, the others who say that any form of nationalism, or indeed any ideology can lead to blindness.

Last day in London. Still my favourite city in the world. Dr Johnson famously said (in the days before gender neutrality was an issue) that when a man is tired of London he is tired of life. Certainly endlessly stimulating, always changing yet full of old favourites.

Saturday, May 2/2026

The latest genuine Banksy is in London. Just went up under cover of darkness in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The figure, mounted on a plinth, is a man in a suit carrying a flag which has blown across his face, leaving him sightlessly stepping off a ledge. A commentary on politicians blinded by nationalism leading to disaster? It has taken its place in an area full of imperial monuments. Banksy won’t tell, though he does take credit for the work, admitting it was his. Pretty impressive installation team, referred to by one man as operating at a level similar to those who can set up a Metallica concert in 24 hours.

Westminster authorities not consulted,  obviously, but seem to have no plans to remove it. Meanwhile we and many others head down to Waterloo Place to admire the new statue and take its picture. 

Friday, May 1/2026

 

Return to yesterday’s plan. No fire on the tracks and a day that’s even warmer and sunnier. So back to the Saatchi Gallery. And we’ve hit it lucky. Two of the free exhibits are excellent, and another one very good.

Best is an exhibition of fabric art. First work is a portrait of a woman with dementia, one of a series done by Jenni Dutton of her mother, accompanied by an explanation:

“The work explores new perspectives on her mother’s dementia and the erosive, as well as the transformative, effects of this illness on the self as well as the mother-daughter relationship. Every fine woollen thread sewn brings the body, particularly the female body, in relation to the threads that tie generations of women together and make tangible the emotional, as well as the biological ties between them.”

The works, by a number of different artists, are quite varied, as are the philosophies of the creators. Like Ian Berry, whose large and complex work The Secret Garden needs to be seen both from a distance, to appreciate the scope, and close up in order not to miss the fascinating detail.

He works exclusively with reclaimed denim and is interested in sustainability and the “shifting textures of contemporary urban life”.

Not entirely two dimensional this work, either. You can walk between the elaborate hanging on the wall and the sculptured denim fountain in front of it.

Not all trips to the Saatchi are equally rewarding but the best we’ve remembered for years.

Thursday, April 30/2026

 A serendipitous afternoon. The original plan was to go down to the Saatchi Gallery, one of our favourites, but as with any plan involving the London Underground, changes can happen. Jubilee line to Westminster fine but the Central line going west clearly in difficulty. Eventually struggle one stop on to St James’s Park, but it transpires that the problem is a fire on the tracks at Kensington High Street so we bail out.

Lovely sunny day as we walk down to Parliament Square. Lots of sightseers including a large group of Muslim schoolchildren, aged about eight or nine. A passing pedicab decorated with hearts asks if we want to hop on. Do we actually look like tourists I ask J. But of course we do - who but tourists would be taking leisurely strolls round the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey on a sunny afternoon. 

J points out the bronze statue of Churchill wearing a naval greatcoat and leaning on his walking stick. The sculptor was Ivor Roberts-Jones and the image was based on a photograph of Churchill inspecting the bombed out chamber of the House of Commons in May 1941.

Think it’s the first time we’ve actually looked at Big Ben since its renovation was completed in 2022, though we’ve been in London many times since. It really sparkles - and so it should after £80 million ($147,835,460 CAD) worth of cleaning and repairs.