Bakary Cafe

The RSPB is conducting its annual Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend.

I hear a lot of birds. I see no birds!

Red velvet cupcake from the Hummingbird Bakery.

I was tipped to the opening of the latest branch of the Hummingbird Bakery in Angel today.

Yesterday, a friend of mine pointed me to the direction of Londonist and to the new Hummingbird Bakery story in particular: ”Another Hummingbird Bakery Opens, With Free Cupcakes For The First 1,000 Customers.”

And so today… I went. I queued. I got my free cupcake.

Delicious.

We made bread. We made this soup. We read. Lazy days. In the warm.

Oh alright then.

It’s one of these silly things…

I cannot walk past this ‘Visit Finland’ advert in the DLR without smiling. I know. But what can I say? I smile and go ‘Oh alright. I shall. Soon.’

Not long to go now. My trip to Finland is on the horizon.

London to myself.

Unthinkable I hear you say… Hmmm.

I got Quiet London for Christmas. Amazing gift. It’s full of new places to explore and a few known ones. All of them little treasures of quietness.

I can’t wait to get exploring.

Now… don’t you go and think that I’m so keen on my 2012 resolutions that I’ve already gone out there and done loads. A friend of mine mentioned this gig to me way before 1 January!

This was my second venture to The Slaughtered Lamb and I’m beginning to think that it doesn’t matter when you go or what’s on, you’ll have a great time. Although having said that, the event was, once again, promoted by Pull Up The Roots… so may be that’s the winning combination.

I had made a point of listening to a few tracks before getting the tickets… but that was a long time ago and I couldn’t remember much about it. By the time Jonny and Lucy took to the stage, I didn’t really know what to expect.

Endearing. Funny. Sweet and melancholic. Lullabies with a slight dark undertone. Amiable. Cruel.

Great evening. The wine was decent and reasonably priced. The food tasty. The Slaughtered Lamb is a kind of busy but comfy and friendly pub. You don’t quite feel at home there… but almost.

The last few days have been gloomy. Slight damp in the air. Everything taking a grey outlook… a bit like looking at life through a grey filter.

Days when you feel someone forgot to switch the light on.

The sun is desperately trying to break through. Please keep trying.

End of years always bring self-reviews. May be not consciously, but I know that these last few weeks, I’ve scanned 2011 for highlights and lowlights. The New Year always brings new hopes and promises. You hope to learn from the errors and the  mistakes made. You set yourself targets for the new year.

The New Year resolutions.

Traditionally, these are meant to bring you nothing but pain, anger and frustrations. Cut down on your drinking; eat less; exercise more. Diets are synonymous with January. Resolutions are kind of forced on you. Deep down, you will inevitably rebel against one or more resolutions and as you do, you will feel a sense of failure.

So here goes. I have learned from the past and resolutions are not worth making.

Yes I’d like to be fitter and yes I’d like to have a great year… but I don’t have to make myself miserable achieving these.

So no resolutions for me… but recommendations. Semantics I know. But I feel a lot more comfortable with recommendations:

• Continue to travel and explore.  Adventures are everywhere.
• More weekends away (that weekend break to Finland last August opened up so many possibilities!)
• Eat good food (and if the portions are smaller, that’s okay too) and try new recipes. Bake more.
• Walk up to my desk, don’t take the lift (and no, I’m not on the first floor!)
• Try new things each month - a new restaurant; a new pub; independent cinemas; sights; etc. (no matter how big or small)
• Make the most of London
• More free time to do nothing

So… the opportunities are there. Let’s go get them.

(Picture: Patrick J. Endres/Visuals Unlimited; Bing - 1 January 2012)

I know exactly how that bear feels…

To me, nothing signifies the arrival of the festive season more than the Christmas Past exhibition at the Geffrye Museum.

It’s magical. The traditions and the decorations. The food. The social gatherings.

The beautifully rooms are in chronological order and it is sobering to see how simple and meaningful Christmas used to be (my favourite room is the Georgian one) and what a consumer affair it is these days.

(Picture: Geffrye Museum)

What particularly amuses me is when you reach the most recent rooms… and you recognise decorations, toys and furniture you grew up with!

Christmas Past: 400 Years of Seasonal Traditions in English Home at the Geffrye Museum from Tuesday 29 November 2011 to Sunday 8 January 2012. Admission free.