London Photographs

We spent Friday morning at the National Portrait Gallery, one of my favourite institutions in London. We saw two photograph exhibitions, one the work of E.O. Hoppé, and the other focusing on Ida Kar. Both constituted brilliant surveys of their respective cultural and historical milieux. Hoppé recorded some wonderfully human, candid portraits -- he was apparently interested in the diversity of

Oh to be in London, now that spring is here

This is the sort of delightful surprise that makes walking in London so rewarding. Camels as supports for benches?  All along the riverfront, these never fail to make me smile. . . . by the way, that's Pater just ahead. Here's a closer view  --  I think he looks rather dapper, dressing from his carry-on only wardrobe as well.  We'll see how the look weathers over the next six weeks . . . Our

What's in the Mailbox?

Finally home yesterday afternoon after almost two weeks away, thinking I'd stop in to my Pilates class on the way, having missed so many, but the weather turned nasty -- thick sloppy snow swirling wetly in gusts of wind -- and all I wanted was my big leather armchair and a cuppa. You know the feeling?And I got home, and there was this:A package festooned with wonderfully exotic stamps. From