Trafalgar Square at Night

Trafalgar Square at Night
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk

Trafalgar Square at Night

Weekend with Jill

Had a great weekend with Jill, we met at Paddington on a cold and grey morning; we walked across Hyde Park and over towards Pall Mall, warming up with a hot Salt Beef sandwich (with loads of English mustard) as we made our way to the National Gallery. Hands and halos were a talking point, photography was also another topic for discussion. I was set upon for taking shots inside the gallery and demonstrators outside were protesting their right for a free press in Iran; I sympathised.

We crossed the water and followed the Thames walk toward Monument via Tate Modern and Borough market. One was an over hyped collection of well, nothing special and the other a fantastic free art gallery. After, I had a few errands to run: getting my old LG phone unlocked and replacing my aging footwear. Five pounds and five minutes later my phone was done and on the street markets of Whitechapel my feet were very soon happy as well. In an area where Halal is so important for food, I wondered if my new shoes were special too, just knocked off Clarkes as it happened.


Evening came and after consulting TimeOut we came across theatre 503 on Battersea Park Road. Fearless New Writing was staging: Decade

At the start of the new decade, Theatre503 presents 5 days of theatre looking back at the past 10 years. Created by ten of the most dynamic voices in British theatre, each night Decade will look at every year from 2000 and ask: ‘is this what it felt like?’

Brilliant! Comedic, challenging and highly thought provoking work from a strong cast. I could go on about the performances ... but really, you had to be there.

A few doors up cocktails, and Mexican food concluded the night. A great evening out.

Sunday we walked past the Power Station and through Battersea Park, across Chelsea Bridge to South Kensington to the V&A. What Sundays were meant for. Had a great time, thank you Jill xx

My Acer Apple McPC

My Acer Apple McPC
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk

My Acer Apple McPC

Why on earth do Apple give you stickers with their products; what are you supposed to do with them?

NEW FORD

NEW FORD
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk

Renault and Ford are working on a new small car for women. They are mixing the Clio and the Taurus, and calling it the "Clitaurus." It comes in pink, and the average male thief won't be able to find it, even if someone tells him where it is.

Get Your Gourmet Gob Round This

Gourmet Hot Fish Soup
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk

Gourmet Hot Fish Soup


Maybe it was the restaurants we visited or perhaps spending a day with a chef. Or maybe Mr Ramsay could have once held the very steering wheel I was behind today! What ever it was, when I finished I wanted to create something, so I stopped by Balham street market to see what inspired me. And tonight it was fish on the menu.

Gourmet Hot Fish Soup (serves 2-3)

Ingredients:
500g cod
100g broccoli
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
3 green chillies (Sainsbury's 3 hotnesses rating)
bouquet fresh thyme
600ml fish stock
lemon juice
splodge single cream
lump of coconut cream



Method:
You know, just do it in right order.
Onions, garlic, chilli [CHOP]
Water [BOIL]
Stock cubes, thyme [COOK]
Broccoli [ADD] - you get it! Simmer.
Cream, coconut, lemon juice [CHUCK IN] [STIR]

... and made Ingrid a special starter!

Pimentvert sur Tomate
(Slice of chilli on Cherry tomato!!)

Trafalgar Square, London

Trafalgar Square, London
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk

Sent by the agency once again to deliver for Gordon Ramsay Logistics, traffic was really bad today, Heathrow and back took 2.5hrs and the rest of the deliveries throughout the capital took an age.

Had a good day with Andy again one of GR's Chefs; who was off to the staff party tonight to see the man himself.

Nelson's Column on a grey Jan day.

More images on www.flickr.com

London Bridge

London Bridge
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk

Mind The Gap!

HMS Belfast

HMS Belfast
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk

Grey Day in the city, Belfast was well camouflaged. London Bridge very cold.

Gordon Ramsay Logistics

P080110_05.51[01]
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk

Jan 8th, had a day working for Gordon Ramsay Logistics.

6am and off to Heathrow, then Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Pall Mall, Claridges, Camden, Bank and nr Canary Wharf.

Great day delivering and exploring London.

More images on Flickr

Wint & Kidd Necklace

I was looking around the Royal Exchange Building at Bank, 'Luxury Shopping': watches £2,000, cuff-links £200 etc. A necklace caught my eye. I had already been politely told by the man at Tiffany's not to photograph the jewellery. At Wint & Kidd I asked permission. The man happily took the necklace out of the window and found a good light, his colleague congratulated me on being only the second person to capture the handmade work in a good light.

I said I'd like to show it to a friend, 'A special friend?' he asked, 'Yes, an X actually, it's complicated'. He gave me a knowing look. I couldn't believe he actually thought I was going to buy it, I was dressed casually smart and he asked for my details, I paused and then gave him my email, he was moving shop soon and wanted to keep in contact with me, as he was open to offers on the price. And at that point I felt I had to inquire how much it was. 'It is handmade and has knife-edge platinum bars, connecting the diamonds. 11.86 kt in all sir. It is £22,300'. I thanked him for his time as he handed me the carefully written out quote sheet.

Pall Mall Cars

The cars of Pall Mall as you would expect are big and mainly German: BMW and Mercedes dominate. Also there are Bentlys and other top marques.

But the surprising new kid on the block is the G-Wiz. It is smaller that a post box, it takes up hardly any parking space. You can get two in a normal parking space unlike the 6.9 litre AMG Mercedes ooozing out over the path (inset).

It is so small, if you had a drink after work you could just put a stamp on and send it home in the post.

Buckingham House

Went to register with another agency today in Victoria, Buckingham Palace Road in fact. So after interview I wandered to have a look.

Thought I'd get a quick bite, so next cafe I saw. Six and half quid for a sarnie! At some dodgy looking cafe calling itself the Palace something or other! I thought again.

Bar Salsa

John Lewis Roof Garden

Lovley Day in the Capital Again

On the way to work for John Lewis on Oxford Street Sat 2nd Jan