Anish Kapoor @ Kensington Palace Gardens

Skyline

The changing skyline at London Bridge: Borough
Cathedral dwarfed by the Shard.

Misato

Misato is an amazing little Japanese restaurant in Chinatown, serving big plates of chicken katsu and a selection of bento boxes. This one, including 8 pieces of salmon sashimi, 2 rolls, 2 warm pork dumplings, fried chicken, seaweed salad and rice was only £8.50. Throw in some warm sake to share and you can eat your fill (or more than) for a tenner. It's usually packed and staff are run off their feet, but it's worth joining the queue for one of the best lunches in central London.

Fading

The darkening colours and papery textures of fading flowers are a thing of beauty.

Amethyst into gold

Transforming some old fabric into something new for spring.

Dawn

I haven't felt very inspired to update the blog recently but this morning I feel very positive about the week ahead.

Happy New Year!

2010 has not been the easiest year - especially with three bereavements in the last nine months, the most recent one just this week.

However there were also lots of memorable times: seeing my family and friends in Brisbane; visiting my NYC 'family'; hearing the news of sister C expecting her first baby girl and sister K meeting her soul mate and getting engaged; celebrating my 7th wedding anniversary and starting a shiny new job; re-connecting with high school friends; music-related group trips to the hot (Barcelona) and cold (Berlin); and getting healthy by swimming at twice a week (even through winter) and having my first cigarette-free year since 1999.

Thanks to everyone who reads my random posts and has contributed throughout the year: I love reading your comments. And here's to 2011!

Red and white

Taking shelter at the Union Chapel in Islington

on the first day of the snow blizzard.

Fashion @ GSK Contemporary

I visited the GSK Contemporary exhibition on a lunchtime jaunt to Mayfair with Miss A. It was a well-edited show with works from fashion legends including from McQueen, Margiela and Yamamoto.

The gown pictured on the stairwell is by Grayson Perry, and the embroidery detail was exceptional. The transparent gown is made from material which slowly degrades in water and looked like something for a selkie. Unfortunately I couldn't take any more pictures - even without a flash - due to a staff request.

Covent Garden

Giant reindeer sculpture from greenery:

a festive version of Jeff Koons' Puppy.

Borough Market

Nothing like a Saturday afternoon at Borough Market; sampling bread and truffle oil, cured salmon, and about 30 different cheeses. Dinner sorted!

Fiona Banner @ Tate Britain

As part of the Duveens Commission, Fiona Banner has brought two fighter planes into the Tate Britain galleries. This is one of the most thoughtful and arresting installations I've seen in a long time.

Sunday markets

The best hot pork roast with crackling, rocket and warmed apple sauce from the Hog Roast stand at Clapham food markets. This was followed by a huge raspberry jam-filled lamington from a French baker. Demolished sans picture.

Brunch

Weekend papers + homemade bacon/egg muffins.

900 years

Chichester Cathedral, completed in 1108.

Cloisters

Last week, I went to Chicester University for a conference, the content of which was mostly very dry but I met some interesting people and the Cloisters building was lovely.

Greenwich

The Draft House @ Tower Bridge

On Sunday, a few of us headed south of the river for lunch at the newly opened branch of The Draft House. It's a top class pub serving a comprehensive list of draft and bottled beers and classic bistro food.

Staff were not only friendly but genuinely excited about the venture and happy to recommend their favourite beers and best dishes of the day. We shared a couple of starters: cured arbroath salmon with watercress and a couple of the mini burgers. The burger meat was very good quality although it was a little cooked for my liking. The mains were excellent: my pork belly with creamy mash dotted with small chunks of black pudding was comfort food perfection. Mmm, crackling.

With 50% off, our food bill came to just over £50 for six people. Great value indeed. Will be back.