home again home again.

early rise. instant coffee. and fly away home.






so much to unpack mentally from this trip. it has been full. more photos here.

Christie's

and a last walk around one of my absolute favorite cities.

PRIVATE

(not using any searchable key words here out of respect for those who still live here. but readers who actually visit this post and are curious are welcome dig in on their own. such an AMAZING home.)

The Henry Moore Foundation

GASP. That is all.













(I took a million pictures of the sheep pasture. And if you ever have the opportunity to visit this amazing property, do not hesitate!)

The Courtauld Institute

...

I'm in London for a workshop organized by the Institute for Artists' Estates. Very much looking forward to the opportunity to hear from some of the top people in this "industry" - as well as to visit some amazing artists' physical estates and talk about the more esoteric issues around the work I do.

looking back...

april

east coast history trip with some of the best 8th graders ever.

may

horse show!

june (so full.)

birthday girl 11

mom/daughter adventure in the big apple

and back to London

and I've left out culminations X2 and our island summer part I...

72 hrs in London

another in-and-out trip. this time to visit an exhibition at marlborough fine art - and to give a lecture on RBK in L.A.

lots of fun. lovely hotel. one very very good meal. a visit to two favorite museums. 13 miles of walking (and that was just today).





















tomorrow... back to paradise.

from London xo

i'm here on business for a few quick days. the energy. the history. i love this city and always enjoy my time here, no matter how quick.

i usually stay with friends, but due to a tight work schedule i'm staying at a hotel on the strand. fun to explore a neighborhood i'm not as familiar with. will make time to take in some theater, and visit favorite museums. (must see this.)

only wish the girls and d were able to join me this time. (miss you. xo)

last hurrah

i was privileged this morning to be able to have coffee with a dear friend, then receive a private tour of the recently installed "Saints Alive" by Michael Landy at the National Gallery. (Landy is perhaps best known for his piece Break Down where he famously documented - and subsequently publicly destroyed - all of his possessions: from his car to his birth certificate. some 7000+ items in total.) he speaks of being influenced by Tinguely and the notion that works of art can elicit laughter, and self-destruct. he was included in the 1997 sensation show at the RA that i visited - though i must admit i don't remember his piece (others were much more "sensation"al). anyway, this show is great. my friend - and organizer of this installation - talked about his desire to bring a younger audience into the national gallery. to show them that there is inspiration to be drawn from the collection. new interpretations. new excitement. it really is quite brilliant. saints meet steampunk so to speak. if you are in London go! (sadly again, no cameras allowed. but i'd suggested looking for it on youtube if you are interested!)

i wandered up to St. James's Square and enjoyed the tulips before being treated to a working lunch at The Wolseley. picadilly posh. and learned that we were seated at Lucian Freud's table. (a great painter-hero of mine.)

after that i tramped regent street (uniqlo, and superdry for the girlies, and of course liberty for me!) before heading back to hammersmith for a nap before dinner. sushi say.

all in all a pretty fabulous final day.

and did i mention that by mid-morning the sun was shining?

it has been a great week. oh how i do love london.

V&A

yesterday was work (the best kind of work mind you) with visits to the jewish museum and the british museum. (the shows at both venues look wonderful.)

today i'd set aside for play. on my first visit to London in 1991 i spent much time at the Victoria & Albert Museum (deemed "the world's greatest museum of art and design"). i fell hard. i'd decided i wanted to work in a museum, and this was it. strangely, i haven't been back since then. (the national gallery, and national portrait gallery, and the royal academy are my regular London stops - and I'll be visiting them tomorrow.) today was for the V&A (and a pop down to Harrod's for some souvenirs to take home).

maybe its the grey, but i haven't been taking too many pictures this trip. and those i am taking are mostly on instagram.












aside from the permanent collection which is just as great as i remember (e would flip over the fashion/costumes on view), they had a really great david bowie show. completely theatrical and over-the-top, as it should be.

scheming how to get us all here. soon.

mind the gap

took an overnight to london yesterday. navigating has become comfortable. i like that. {wishing my peeps were with me.} i can imagine living here.

mainly working in the city this week - but off to chichester tomorrow on pilgrimage to this (and to visit the cathedral as well).

looking forward to a good night's sleep.

books on London & Paris

debriefing a bit as we settle back in. for the trip, we prepped with...

for the girls:

Rosalie the Bird Market Turtle (a longtime favourite)

This is Paris and This is London (of course! love for all things M. Sasek!)

Monuments that Tell Stories of Paris

A Bear Called Paddington (another longtime favourite)


and it likely goes without saying... but all books Harry Potter.


for me:

Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris

(had read a review and hoped to read this - but alas, not out until September.)

**************


back home - a little article on our home office...

more here

this house :: good-bye London

when i first visited this house 10 years ago i fell in love.

still holds the same charms. so wonderful to share them with the girls.





waiting for the car to the airport. this has been a wonderful trip.