Bank Holiday Awesomeness

Apologies for having gone AWOL for a while. I’ve been so busy, it’s unreal. If I tell you that I haven’t even had time to finish the newspaper every day, those who know me would faint from the shock. Yep, it’s the first cogent sign of the coming apocalypse; veritably worthy of its own Bates cartoon. The only time off I’ve had was the bank holiday which was actually quite groovy as we say @AlaraApothecary. It was my nephew’s birthday, and they got his cake from Violet. Gasp! Amazement!! Yes indeedy, the very same Violet who is baking the ROYAL CAKE (definitely needs capitals) even as we speak (definitely needs bold font). Many more exclamation marks.

The Famous Cake

If you don’t give a damn one way or another, why, you must be a Londoner 🙂 Not that Violet needs any more publicity, but that cake was delicious. Her buttercream is a bit dodgy, I could still differentiate sugar crystals, but the cake itself was a wowzer. I got a party pack to bring home, sat down the next day, made a nice cup of tea, opened the foil….. and found barbecued chicken. I could have cried. If one of the partygoers pulled a switcheroo on me, I’m going to hunt that sucker down.

Bank holiday highlights apart from the party…… The guy with a huge beer belly outside the Devonshire Arms next to Camden tube station. Logo on his T-shirt? ‘South London Scum’ Now, that’s class, that is. He was accompanied by four equally gorgeous pals flaunting their bellies with their unbuttoned shirts. It was so funny, I nearly crashed the car. Other highlights included watching Londoners turn to the sun after 6 months of deprivation. It should be our motto: “Londoners, 50% sunflower, 50% lizard, 100% sunworshipper”. Some hardy souls were disporting themselves on the South Bank ‘beach’ as per my pics. Personally, I’d rather go to the source and drink a pint of Hepatitis B viral particles. Saves time.

Went to the Tate Bankside. Amazing, as usual. I’d forgotten that Boccioni’s beautiful Unique Forms of Continuity in Space is there. The last one I saw was in MOMA. I love that sculpture; my heart rate actually increased as I happened upon it unexpectedly. I think I need help.

Best new find? Cildo Meireles’ ‘Babel 2001’. It’s perfect. You have to experience the installation in situ. It’s unusual to find a recent work that is so clear in concept and execution. Frankly, the notes on the wall should be removed. I’m with Mattise who said, ‘artists should have their tongues cut out’. If you have to explain it to me in 500 words, you haven’t done your job. Go and see that installation, NOW. It’s really good. Other faves… El Anatsui’s ‘Inksplash II‘, that gorgeous Gerhard Richter painting ‘The musing of my mind‘, the Bridget Riley ‘To a summer day 2‘ artwork,  André Fougeron’s ‘Atlantic Civilisation‘, Victor Vasarely’s ‘Supernovae‘, Carlos Criz-Diez’s ‘Physichromie no 113‘. When modern art is good, it’s very good indeed. However, my newest crush is not in the Tate. Step forward Ndidi Ekubia. Her silverware is astonishingly beautiful. If I ever find some loose change behind the sofa…..

Have a wonderful, beauty-filled week.