Sunday 4th October
Sunday lunch really does go well as well as all day at the Electric on Portobello Road....infact I stayed for supper too. I had agreed to meet the mother of the head chef (Ben) who was over from Australia to see her son. A remarkable lady who has just finished her battle with breast cancer whilst simultaneously losing her job and house. Her courage and fortitude was wonderful.
My friend Murray Shanks, now a judge come and joined us and it was great to catch up with him and compare the week ahead.
Monday 5th October
I met the chefs mother for coffee at 10.00am. It was pouring with rain and dismal. I had promised her that I would give her a tour of the town, but not in the Bentley as it was in the garage - we where going to do it my all methods and impetiously on public transport.
The Haunch of Venison was as far as we had got to before my very elegant but rather too fine italian loafers disintergrated. I had to act as I felt like I was on the foredeck of a ship in a storm. Not wanting to spend a fortune I opted for some trainers on nearby Carnaby Street. The idea of shopping there suddenly appealed to me....being such cliche from the 60s and 70s. The very sweet and helpful sales girl from Somalia asked what my 'normal trainer size was'? I haven't got a clue I explained...I have never bought trainers. She looked at me with amazement as well as scepticism. 'What, you've never bought trainers...like ever in your life'?
'No, I can honestley say I haven't...' Whereuon she whipped out her new mobile and took a picture of me to show her mates a photo of ...'the bloke that came in today that has never bought trainers in his life yet'. She was charming and helpful and also sold me some socks designed to wear with trainers...these become invisible once the trainer was on. Oh yes, the trainers were bright red and i flounced into Carnaby Street looking like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ before that huge wooden hat that has been swept up in the tornado comes back and lands on her.
The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery for tea were perfect. Desmond MacCarthy called to say that two of my 5 paintings on exhibition in his gallery had been sold.
Tuesday 6th October
My Driver Youseff arrived at Kensington Park Gardens exactly on time. We collected our clients and drove out to Blenheim Palace. The weather was foul but the atmosphere and the banter was fun. After a very good fun lunch at the Bear in Woodstock we went on a drive to Morton in the Marsh, Stow on the Wold and Burford. It is an aspect of England that is a pleasure to show....we got back to town with my new friends wanting another dose on Thursday.
Wednesday 7th October
Mary Killen was on very good form when she called me from her new office at The Lady Magazine. We arranged to meet for dinner at the Electric in an hour. It was lovely to catch up with her and share a bottle of wine. We left in time to go to Rachel Johnson's, via the off licence, and sit with her in her Nottinghill home and watch Toby Young's When Boris met Dave. It was fun to be there with Mary and Rachel. Rachel came across very well and it was fun to sit beside her as well as opposite at the same time. It is amazing to think that she was told that she was being interviewed about Oxford days and not explained the context of the program which sounds unbelieveably naughty . The program was laughable and shallow but vaguely amusing and Rachel herself was good.
Sunday lunch really does go well as well as all day at the Electric on Portobello Road....infact I stayed for supper too. I had agreed to meet the mother of the head chef (Ben) who was over from Australia to see her son. A remarkable lady who has just finished her battle with breast cancer whilst simultaneously losing her job and house. Her courage and fortitude was wonderful.
My friend Murray Shanks, now a judge come and joined us and it was great to catch up with him and compare the week ahead.
Monday 5th October
I met the chefs mother for coffee at 10.00am. It was pouring with rain and dismal. I had promised her that I would give her a tour of the town, but not in the Bentley as it was in the garage - we where going to do it my all methods and impetiously on public transport.
The Haunch of Venison was as far as we had got to before my very elegant but rather too fine italian loafers disintergrated. I had to act as I felt like I was on the foredeck of a ship in a storm. Not wanting to spend a fortune I opted for some trainers on nearby Carnaby Street. The idea of shopping there suddenly appealed to me....being such cliche from the 60s and 70s. The very sweet and helpful sales girl from Somalia asked what my 'normal trainer size was'? I haven't got a clue I explained...I have never bought trainers. She looked at me with amazement as well as scepticism. 'What, you've never bought trainers...like ever in your life'?
'No, I can honestley say I haven't...' Whereuon she whipped out her new mobile and took a picture of me to show her mates a photo of ...'the bloke that came in today that has never bought trainers in his life yet'. She was charming and helpful and also sold me some socks designed to wear with trainers...these become invisible once the trainer was on. Oh yes, the trainers were bright red and i flounced into Carnaby Street looking like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ before that huge wooden hat that has been swept up in the tornado comes back and lands on her.
The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery for tea were perfect. Desmond MacCarthy called to say that two of my 5 paintings on exhibition in his gallery had been sold.
Tuesday 6th October
My Driver Youseff arrived at Kensington Park Gardens exactly on time. We collected our clients and drove out to Blenheim Palace. The weather was foul but the atmosphere and the banter was fun. After a very good fun lunch at the Bear in Woodstock we went on a drive to Morton in the Marsh, Stow on the Wold and Burford. It is an aspect of England that is a pleasure to show....we got back to town with my new friends wanting another dose on Thursday.
Wednesday 7th October
Mary Killen was on very good form when she called me from her new office at The Lady Magazine. We arranged to meet for dinner at the Electric in an hour. It was lovely to catch up with her and share a bottle of wine. We left in time to go to Rachel Johnson's, via the off licence, and sit with her in her Nottinghill home and watch Toby Young's When Boris met Dave. It was fun to be there with Mary and Rachel. Rachel came across very well and it was fun to sit beside her as well as opposite at the same time. It is amazing to think that she was told that she was being interviewed about Oxford days and not explained the context of the program which sounds unbelieveably naughty . The program was laughable and shallow but vaguely amusing and Rachel herself was good.