We arrived late Thursday night in London at Milene and Gabriels. It’s always fun when we go. While Michelle and I hung out with our friends and the kids Joe was off visiting London – doing the bus tour thing, getting to know the locals, the customs, and I’m sure – the drinking culture. Saturday we all bussed down to Portobello Rd markets. Just as we arrived it poured with rain so it was a mad scramble to keep kids, clothes and cameras dry. It stopped a few minutes after it started thankfully and we had a lovely morning in and out of shops and market stalls. We had a good (albeit expensive) lunch at The Cow near Westbourne Park. The specialty is seafood which looked very good, even the Razor clams which are quite unusual – me, I took the bangers and mash, probably not the best option considering the specialty is seafood, but tasty anyway….

A bit of shopping to prepare dinner, then a stop at the Spaniards Inn on Hampstead Heath for some Pimms and Bombardier Beer (apparently quite difficult to source) in the garden. What a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The evening was a seafood risotto on the back balcony, lots of wine, Bryan Ferry playing in the distance at an open air concert, and later, an in-house DJ and floor show. We didn’t even need to go out!

Yesterday we managed to get down to the National Portrait Gallery to see the BP Portrait Award exhibition which was excellent, as well as the Sam Taylor-Wood commissioned piece of David Beckham sleeping. There is a little plaque explaining WHO David is – as if anyone doesn’t know – and then the video. He moves a lot in his sleep and his eyes flutter consistently, I don’t know if that’s because he is dreaming or not, but really it’s quite intimate. So much so it’s almost uncomfortable to watch, almost like you’re a voyeur or something…

A so-so dim sum in Chinatown, a walk through Soho, a drink at the tiny Dog & Duck pub, and then back to Hampstead where we came face to face with Jamie Oliver again in his new Porsche (Cayenne?). He didn’t look too happy trying to get his family organised in the car, so Michelle – for the second time, didn’t take the chance to express her admiration. Nevermind. A beer at the Holly Bush and then we were back to the family and getting ready for an evening departure back to Glasgow.

Another lovely trip to London. I don’t mind telling you if I was to live in London, and could afford a big enough backyard to house a swimming pool, I would definitely live in Hampstead. As well as being close to the Solomons/Vachons it’s just a beautiful, villagy place to live in London…

We had to leave in a rush so I didn’t have time to wait for a CD of the pictures Gabriel took on his digital camera. Whenever I’m there, I only ever take B&W photos of the kids (of which a few should soon be hanging up in pride of place in the house – my very first exhibition!) so Gabriel kindly makes a copy of the latest photos for me. When I receive it by post, hopefully later in the week, I’ll try and post some for you to see.

Today we are back in Glasgow for Glasgow Fair Day – a public holiday which no-one can explain – a bank holiday, where most shops are closed but the banks remain open??!!? Tonight is Joe’s last night and so we’re going to celebrate by eating a big Aberdeen Angus steak (he IS from Arizona!), and then possibly go for a last dram at the Wee Pub on Ashton Lane.

I’ll have one for you if you like?