A day in London

On Wednesday I was in London for the day and what a perfect day it was - the sun was shining and everyone was out and about enjoying the early summer temperatures - travelling down on the train the 2 ladies opposite me were also ready to enjoy a day out and one of them said they might go to........ The Garden History Museum in Lambeth - well my ears pricked up as I was also on my way to Lambeth for a meeting - during my meeting later that morning The Garden Museum was mentioned - it was suggested that I might like to go there after the meeting as it was just around the corner

AND I DID! - WELL I HAD TOO didn't I!

And was I glad I DID - what a marvellous find - I didn't have my camera with me (always a mistake to decide to leave it at home - this image is from their website) - it is a gem of a place so if any of you find yourself visiting that part of the London (it is on the other side of the river almost opposite the Houses of Parliament) - there is a fantastic cafe inside the converted old church that houses the Museum. I didn't go inside the Museum but enjoyed a lovely cup of coffee and homemade cake sitting in the garden after a ramble around - the salads, in enormous bowls looked delicious too! And it must be the best value lunch in London! I will be back the next time I am in London - so if you want a quiet shady corner with mouth watering food after the busy London streets this is for you! You can even buy plants and they have a lovely gift shop. I will be back there next time I am in London which will be soon as I was not aware that there is a big exhibition at the Hayward Gallery until 25 May of Annette Messager, work - another of my favorite artists. Just need to find a cheap rail ticket!

From Lambeth I rambled along the river path - under the London Eye (another wish for my camera) past the Royal Festival Hall, the Hayward Gallery, South Bank and British Film Institute wishing I had more time, finally ending up at Tate Modern to see the Roni Horn exhibition. It was disappointing which was a surprise as I was looking forward to seeing it - I'm still trying to work out why I was disappointed. I just did not connect to the work - is that what it is about - connection? the work was beautifully presented and her process and subject matter is similiar to my own themes and processes. I should have been bowled over but I wasn't - I felt detached from it - as I said there was no connection. I would love to have your thoughts on this.

Later that day I ended up in South Kensington at the Conran Shop housed in the beautiful Michelin building (this photo doesn't really do it justice - again taken from the website - there is the most beautiful flower shop in the foyer which spills out on to the pavement - the smell is wonderful!) I coveted a huge beautiful aged table, the top looked like it was made from old polished railway sleepers sat on an industrial iron base - it looked perfect for displaying the contents of the disintegration project!

I ended the day with a glass of red wine on St Pancras International Station and caught the train home - exhausted and happy!

I will be posting the REVEAL of my disintegration project later today!!