sep, 10th - good timing....

day 210:

i think that we timed it well that Limi has all these fantastic, older cousins who can show her how it's done. 

sep, 9th - T3L: the whitechapel gallery....

day 209:

T3London - Whitechapel Gallery (East London)

(*for a description of what T3London means, click on day 160)

East London draws the hip crowd, if you're in search of the creative heart of London then you will find it here. After all, this is where Banksy came to make his mark when he moved from Bristol to London. 

Solidly set in its' midst is The Whitechapel Art Gallery. Founded in 1901, it went through an expansion in the 1980s and then more recently, was combined with the library next door to create an impressive and modern exhibition space, while still retaining its' heart and historic facade.

[Unfortunately, photography is not permitted inside the gallery...so these pics are mainly of Aldgate East tube station which is the closest station (right next door to the gallery) and one of my favourites for it's medicinal-meets-butcher-shop vibe.]

The Gallery focuses its' energy mainly on contemporary and 20th century artists. Recent exhibitions have included: Elizabeth Peyton, Alice Neel, Sophie Calle. Richard Wentworth filled it with string, Fiona Banner performed a description of a nude who had posed for a painting, Leon Michener and Aleks Kolkwski redrew Iannis Xenakis aural graphics....it's an interesting place Whitechapel Gallery.

we went to see portraitist, Alice Neel's works today. her honest portrayal of her subjects is not always flattering but she seems to capture the emotional vulnerability in each of them. some favourites were a portrait of a semi-naked Andy Warhol, stripped of his celebrity status bravado and a painting of a family, father, mother and daughter showing their closeness but also their individual awkwardness. if you get a chance, her work is definitely worth a closer look.

Basic Info:

Whitechapel Gallery

77-82 Whitechapel High Street

London

E1 7QX

Recorded Information: +44 (0)20 75227878

Closest Tube: Aldgate East

General admission to the gallery spaces is free 

but featured exhibitions require tickets and cost approx. GBP8.50

Highs:

- beautiful space and funky part of town

- interesting exhibitions focused mainly on contemporary and 20th century art

- not crazy-busy like some other galleries in town so you have the chance to really take in the works with space around you

- good cafe with freshly made salads and delicious coffee

- small treasures in the cabinets

- London bus signs

Lows:

- no photography inside...anywhere (understandable...but makes this post tricky)

- exhibitions split over different levels

- lots of doors (only a low if you're pushing a pram)

Tot Tips:

- closest tube is Aldgate East which has loads of stairs and no lift (but very helpful strangers today)

- take a sling if you can as there are also stairs up to the exhibition spaces inside the gallery and the cafe is on the mezzanine level

- there is a goods lift that you can use with a buggy but you need assistance from the staff

- a high chair is available in the cafe but bring your own baby food

- changing facilities are available in the bathroom on the ground floor

See you there!

sep, 8th - milk pout....

day 208:

this pose is the sleeping-milk-pout....it only happens after a bottle....

sep, 7th - todo list....

day 207:

i love making lists.....but is it the making of lists that i love or the incredible down-in-the-belly-satisfaction i get when i cross something off that list.....yes, i have been known to write something on a list, just to cross it off again....it makes the whole list look so much more successful.

but my ToDo list at the moment is exhausting.....before i've managed to cross something off, i'm writing another thing onto it......it's becoming less of a ToDo page and more of a ToDo fax-roll (where on earth do you even buy a fax-roll these days). 

[how i feel about my list at the moment. limi, 7 days old]

first of all...i hate my own paperwork...and now i have Limi's paperwork to deal with....and babies come with some complicated forms....plus the Shoe-box has decided to reveal all renovation flaws this week....we've had water pouring down the-most-expensive-windows-i've-ever bought...on the inside; lights suddenly not working (yes...we have changed the bulbs); a heated towel rail trying to escape the wall and a fridge that would prefer to be a swimming pool....and that's after my long list of things to do before i go back to work.

my ToDo list is now growing claws and chasing me in my dreams.........i will have to attack it with a pen  and hope that i win this battle. please have the plasters ready for those paper-cuts.

sep, 6th - never enough....

day 206:

even though Limi thinks that one of my eyes has a permanent camera fixed to it.....i still look back and think that there are not enough pics of her.....and especially of the three of us.....so i guess you can never take enough....although, i'm going to give it a shot!

sep, 5th - is that a real lion.....

day 205:

missing home and the smell of the African bush....

.....so, in the absence of African soil beneath our toes, we took Limi to see the stone lions at Chiswick House.

sep, 4th - tea for the girls....

day 204:

today. Limi and i headed off to enjoy high tea at The Langham, London....(it's been serving high tea, to those-who-can-sit-down-and-enjoy-a-scone-or-two-in-the-afternoon, since 1865)

we met up with wonderful friends.....

in honour of the beautiful bride-to-be,

Flea.

The Langham, London

1c Portland Place,
Regent Street, London, GB W1B 1JA
Tel: (44) 20 7636 1000
Fax: (44) 20 7323 2340
london.langhamhotels.co.uk

sep, 3rd - so long chez kristof....

[chez k in the sun]

[chez k in the snow]

day 203:

our beloved, (took us in and fed us when we were renovating and had no kitchen), neighbourhood deli, coffee shop and restaurant, Chez Kristof (affectionately known as Chez K.), has closed its' doors. sob....

[bare shelves]

it's been sold on to another restaurant chain.......and they are renovating before they re-open (hopefully sometime soon....)

the deli/coffee shop is where A. and i took refuge when we were renovating our Shoe-box and didn't have a kitchen....

[this was the state of the kitchen at the time]

in fact, or a lounge.....it's where we would stumble down on a Saturday morning (okay...afternoon) pre-Limi, after a big night out, seeking caffeine.....it's where I waited out my ever expanding bump when Limi decided to delay her entrance 

[37 weeks]

and it's where we have spent many a day since.....when i was in desperate need of caffeine, adult conversation and a break from the 4 walls at home.....it was our neighbourhood community and we are decidedly lost without it.

the restaurant next door, spoilt us....we could skip down at the end of Long day, sit on the terrace and they would serve us amazing French cuisine, delicious red wine and the best Tarte Tartin in the world (it has to be......but feel free to send me yours and i will compare).

[day 3 with Limi]

the staff all got to see the Before and After....and from day 1 (okay day 3...we didn't quite manage to go down on day 1)...they have cooed and gurgled at Limi and made me feel cocooned in hot chocolate with my brand new baby.....plus there was free WiFi and a power cord.....I only had to go home to sleep.... really.

[the wonderful people at chez k]

it's left a gaping hole in my days......and i can't help but wince when i walk passed and see the stacked tables inside, lights off and doors firmly shut....so long chez k. you will be sorely missed.

sep, 2nd - inspiration....

day 202:

this is unbelievably beautiful....it's a good thing that this couple have passed on their amazingly creative genes....lucky eliza!

completely inspired.....going to give my own 'burst-mode' movie a go.....

(reblogged from Dear Baby)

(via PlemonStudios)

sep, 1st - brand new nephew....

day 201:

introducing my gorgeous, brand new nephew, Calvin, who was born today....

he has a fantastically, mischievous namesake...