Wake up and hear the music

Monday morning alarm calls always seem to hurt that little bit more. So imagine how gorgeous it must have been for East Londoner's yesterday morning,  when they were serenaded from sleep by seven musical hot air balloons, floating over the city. This unique project is a collaboration between the London Sky Orchestra, the London International Festival of Theatre, and the Mayor of London's office, marking yearly countdown to the Olympics. So listen out tomorrow morning for a wake up call you won't want to sleep through!

Images from REUTERS/Andrew Winning

Columbia Road Flower Market

I love London early on a Sunday morning. The streets are eerily quiet and all the more beautiful for it. The man and me decided to take advantage of the free parking on a Sunday and have an early morning drive to Columbia Road Flower Market.
This is a great London experience with a feast of delicious smells, sights and sounds of the East End. The stalls are stocked with a gorgeous array of flowers and plants at very reasonable prices and there is a really friendly atmosphere. I recommend you get there early to beat the crowds (the market is open from 8am to around 3pm), however if you can hang around until later you are sure to bag even more of a bargain. Make sure you leave time to explore the charming independent shops that line the streets, everything from antiques to cupcakes. It's also another great place for people watching!

My purchases...

Alfresco dining

When I casually told the man last week that I fancied a good fish supper, he delivered with a surprise date at A Grelha in the Docklands. This gorgeous alfresco restaurant is part of The Gun, a cute little pub with great riverside views of the O2/'Dome' and Canary Wharf (Oh I love Canary Wharf).

The restaurant offers a great Portuguese menu with fresh fish supplied from Billingsgate market around the corner.  The food was delicious but even more impressive were the blankets that they offered as the temperature dropped and dessert was served. Check out the menus here.