More Coronation fun

London always has new experiences for us and on Sunday our young Londoners Ally and Cat took us to wander around Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market, the first time that we have visited these vibrant areas. There were stalls selling just about anything that you could possibly wish for, and a vintage clothes market which was fascinating. We had a delicious brunch in The Breakfast Place, and went to browse around Eataly, a huge Italian delicatessen which I loved. I have never seen so much Italian produce in one place outside Italy! Ally and Cat headed back to do some work at their flat and James and I went in to Piccadilly to get my bracelet adjusted, and bought macarons which we ate sitting in the sunshine with coffee in the courtyard outside the Royal Academy of Arts. Blissful. James and I then walked through Hyde Park all the way to Notting Hill, which took just over an hour, and had drinks in a nice wee wine bar. Ally and Cat joined us for dinner in a great wee restaurant in Notting Hill called The Tartine. I had a three-cheese and pear risotto which was really wonderful. 

This morning James and I went to the David Hockney immersive exhibition at the Lightroom near King’s Cross. It was very interesting and colourful, as Hockney in a voiceover explained his aims and techniques as he experimented with different perspectives. It was a bank holiday Monday, so lots of parents had decided to bring their young children along. I don’t object to this; we took our boys to all sorts of museums and art galleries when they were wee, but oh boy some of those children today were feral! Later we popped round to Ally and Cat’s flat. What a difference! Their kitchen is nearly fully installed and it looks brilliant; I love the colour of blue that they have chosen for their units. There’s still quite a bit of work to do but it is going to be fantastic. Ally and Cat then took us to the Coronation Big Lunch in St Dunstan's Churchyard in Stepney in the sunshine. It’s only about 15 minutes walk from their flat. As well as lunch in the churchyard, suitably decorated with bunting and Union Jack flags, there were childrens’ races, an enthusiastic local brass band, and a dog show. The dog show was hilarious. As well as obedience and performing tricks categories, there was a category for pet that looks most like its owner. A grey haired man accompanied a dog with curly grey hair. A lady with long red hair in plaits accompanied a long-eared spaniel. The winner was a toddler with her hair in two little bobbles on top of her head who accompanied a Yorkshire terrier with the same hairstyle. The worthy winner of the final and most popular category - fancy-dress - was an Italian Spinoni wearing a very regal crocheted cape and crown. I’m making it sound like Crufts but in fact the same eight or so dogs competed in every category! After a look around the interior of 10th century St Dunstan’s Church, and a chat with a local historian who recommended some upcoming historical lectures to Ally and Cat, James and I headed to Paternoster Square to meet Neil for a drink. Ally and Cat went back to their flat to do some painting, and then met us and Andrew at La Figa restaurant in Limehouse for a slap up traditional Italian dinner. We had a lovely evening; great chat in great company. Andrew and Ally are so funny together; when Ally told Andrew that he and Cat had passed famous Limehouse resident Sir Ian McKellen in the street the previous night, Andrew responded “No!” in just the right tone of awe that Ally was hoping for!