Hampton Court Flower show

I am a big flower lover! I like to draw them, design prints around them, photograph them or just generally receive them as presents! So this show is a firm favourite in my annual calendar, as it’s an opportunity to take loads of cool shots and gather inspiration. Even though I didn’t think the show was quite as good as last year (the installations and flower marquee looked a little recession hit), it was still a great day out. There was a good ‘Best of British’ vibe… I just wish they had run with it a little more. Thinking of trying out Chelsea Flower show next year… Here are a few of my favourite pics from the day.

The South Bank Show…pt 1

The South Bank is quite possibly my favourite area of London and one of my regular haunts, so this will probably be my first post of many on the area. There is always so much to see/do and is a great place for people watching (one of my favourite pass times). I am loving the faux grass living room outside the National Theatre at the moment – the perfect place to soak up the sunshine. It is great to see such an eclectic mix of people – couples in love, friends chilling out with a beer, kids playing… this is London at its best.

Lunch in Soho

I decided to forgo my measly cucumber sandwich today and wander into Soho to find something more exciting to eat for lunch. Now this can be a little intimidating as there are so many gorgeous places, but I settled on Food Secret on Broadwick Street as I have walked past a million times and never been in. 
Well I wasn't disappointed! The concept is ‘’tailor made, fresh food’’ which is healthy, nutritious and I have to say very reasonably priced. There is a grab and go area for those on the run, however I decided to take the weight off and eat in, with a trip to the 'make your own' counter. The selection is fantastic and you can tailor make your soup, salad or sandwich down to the smallest detail. You also get an itemised receipt giving you a breakdown of ingredients and the nutritional value! Very cool! Will definitely be going back again soon.

I love Canary Wharf

Since my Uni days (when I would wistfully stare out of the library window at its awe inspiring view), Canary Wharf has always held a special place in my heart. There’s a real buzz there during the week and it’s a great place for dinner and drinks on a Friday night, when all the suits come out to play! Even though I have a slight fear of tall buildings (they make me want to fall over when I look up), I can’t help but be amazed at the impressive architecture every time I go there. It’s all so shiny and new!

Plus, I love the magnetic strip outside Waitrose in Canada Place, which stops trolleys from leaving the area… so classy and cool. It makes me feel like I am passing through some kind of force field – silly, I know, but that’s me!

Vamos!

What a weekend of sport! Wimbledon final today, so excited. I am still mourning Roger’s exit in the quarters, but like the football, I'm looking forward to watching this final without the nerves. The man and me are hosting a Wimbledon party with all the trimmings… crust-less sarnies, strawberries and cream, ‘power’ pimm’s (the man boosts the usual recipe with prosecco) and a mandatory Borg headband for all!

We will be cheering on Rafa Nadal, one of the nicest men in sport, loved by all. We were lucky enough to see him in the flesh at Wimbledon two weeks ago. Believe me, it was battle to sift through the crowd to catch a glimpse of those famous biceps and the infamous 'butt munch' move…and it wasn’t just the women with their elbows out!

The beautiful game...

Since my team were knocked out of the World Cup (Italy…group stages…enough said), I have been able to enjoy the tournament a lot more, as a neutral with no expectations. So this weekend has been fantastic, with all the skill, drama and goals every sports fan wants to see. The man is rooting for Germany (due to his heritage) so we decided to theme the day… Argentinean steak and my dad’s chimichurri recipe vs. kartoffelsalat (German potato salad) and a stein of their finest beer.

Well, the German’s thrashed Argentina, in their own ruthless way (how cute were Angela Merkel’s restrained goal celebrations?), so in celebration we dug out the German liquor we had in the back of the cupboard, from a trip to Bavaria 4 years ago. The bottle is just gorgeous, as were the contents! Pear drop flavour…yum!

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.

A day at the Globe...

The man and me carried on the theme of British institutions with a visit to the Globe today to see Macbeth. It was my first time at the Globe and it was the most amazing experience. Lucy Bailey’s interpretation was original, powerful and very bloody, with the three most sinister witches imaginable. The audience standing in front of the stage were encouraged to watch with their heads poking through a black canopy, to help evoke the dark nature of the play and encourage some very entertaining audience participation! The theatre, the play, the food… a perfect day out in the city.

Wimbledon… a British institution

The man and me weren’t brave enough to queue overnight for court tickets (I know, we are a disgrace to British society). But we did queue from early this morning to get a spot on Henman hill. The experience was well worth the 4 hour wait! I am not sure if I could have done it in the rain though.

We set up shop with a beautiful picnic and copious amounts of Pimm’s to watch the religion that is Federer. Roger Federer, one of my favourite ‘F’s’, didn’t let me down with his choice of outfit this year (although he did give us a bit of a scare with a five set thriller!). One of the first to champion the blazer in 2007, then came the ribbed cardigan of 2008 (my personal fave) and the topical military jacket / pressed trouser combo of 2009. Now for 2010, a beautiful polo shirt with pin tuck detailing and a sportier than usual tracksuit top, with his branded gold trim. I am sure his good friend Anna Wintour will approve!