B Movie

Enzo and I went to have a look at how Brian is getting on with his new pastels (bought from a quant little art shop the size of an aircraft hanger in Islington - not the Marais).

Chien Interdit

B and I promised ourselves a bit of a lie in on Saturday morning: after last weekend with everyone arriving early for the Crown Paints shoot and a week of getting up at 6.30am to get the kids to school and the house ready for work I was really looking forward to it.. 
Saturday morning 6.35am.
Brian: I think I might try a portrait in pastels. A bit like those pictures we saw at that exhibition last night.  Dark, a lot of black, very loose and quite big.
Me: What?
B: I saw some programme with Waldemar Januszczak about this funny old shop in Paris that still makes pastels to the same recipe that they did in the 17th Century. All the impressionists went there: they use a much higher ratio of pigment to binder so the colours are really vibrant. It's hidden away somewhere in the Marais and hasn't changed in years. 
Me: Right.
B: We should probably go and have a look at the Degas in the Courtauld Institute at Somerset House too, except they'll have all been moved to the Royal Academy for that Degas Ballet show thing and you have to book tickets and they'll be coach loads of those people that go to that Country Living Fair. That's annoying.
Me. Okaaay.
B. Anyway, I fancy going to the shop in Paris.
Me. I'll get up then.


So, I went and fetched my coat; the 1950s one with the fur collar, the passports, the dog's passports and leads, poo bags, a few odd Euro notes and coins left-over from the summer and a flask of tea. We were all set. St Pancras International is only a 5 minute ride away. 
The dogs were impeccably behaved on the train (unlike an uncouth bunch of rugby fans) and got lots of attention. It was heavenly strolling around the Jardin du Palais Royal in the sunshine. 

We had lunch on Boulevard St Germain. So lovely that dogs are allowed right inside to sit next to us on the banquettes; Enzo had a fried egg. Then off in search of the Maison Du Pastels. Drawers and drawers of pastels of every hue. We chatted away in perfect French with the grand-daughter of the very shop-keeper that served Degas......


Course we didn't. We never went to Paris because dogs ARE NOT ALLOWED on the Eurostar; even though we can take them on buses, trains and tubes here in London. Dogs and cats can travel with you in your car through the tunnel to France, they can go on ferries, they are welcome on train networks covering the rest of Europe, they can even be flown all-over the world in the hold of planes without posing a danger to fellow passengers, SO WHY CAN'T THEY GO ON THE EUROSTAR?? 



   

Another Day, Another Dog Walk

Walking the dogs in Clissold Park for an hour every single day does, sometimes, get a little monotonous, so we have to dream up ways of amusing ourselves with whatever comes to hand - usually a dog and an iPhone.  

Dog on a conker

A whippadoodle

Enzo on mind-expanding drugs

Return of the Eddie

Sarah and Ed returned from Greece late last night. I hope Ed doesn't miss the sun and sea too much. Apparently, he got in with some Greek kids and thoroughly immersed himself in the local way of life - I don't want him moping around the house dreaming of sunnier climes....

Anyway, I think Sarah will be pleased with the way I've coped single-handedly with running a business, looking after an ever- shifting number of unruly teenagers and two mental whippets.
Now, where's the instructions for the washing machine? Oh, and where can I get my hands on some dog make-up to cover that nasty scar Enzo???

Summer Breeze

Brian just opened the back door to let the dogs out for a pee and a waft of jasmine-perfumed air flooded the kitchen. I took my glass of wine and had a wander around the night garden. Capri was lying on the trampoline looking at the moon and Enzo was studying a snail. The jasmine is in full bloom and although it's not a balmy evening (I have a coat and scarf on) it is very lovely out there, with all the flowers glowing ghostly white in the twilight. Its more breeze than summer but it still makes me think of my favourite song of all time. (Don't switch off before the guitar bit.)

Bunch of Tossers

Take 2 eggs, 200 grams of self raising flour and 200 ml milk. Mix together but don't worry if it's lumpy. Heat a tiny amount of butter in a non-stick frying pan. Add 3 teenage boys, lemon and sugar. Oh, and a whippet on guard to clear up any spillages.

Short Shopping

Whippets welcome.
Part One of an occasional series featuring whippet-friendly shops.


Shopping for shorts is Brian's least favourite pastime - I won't go into the reasons why - but Hub made the experience far less painful this season by having a really great selection. He had barely crossed the threshold when a pair of Dr Denim's in Army Green caught his eye and the whole transaction, including trying on was completed in under 90 seconds. 
Despite the speed shopping Capri managed to find herself a comfy spot and dozed off, so everyone was happy...

.... except me, so we crossed the road to the ladies Hub where Enzo made himself at home while I had a browse.

ps. The wedding was fantastic fun but the rain and hail stones were so torrential that we all scrammed in search of rum punch instead of posing outside for photos. Lots of sunny colours inside though.