Dear Char's birthday on Wednesday - dinner Chez Ruth plus the four former Knowsley Road flatmates et L'Harper. Much mirth, much merriment, much munching, much prayer and love shared. Thanks for a great dinner Ruthy.

As fair a bloom as any that flowers in the kitchens of Hammersmith... fab roast chicken and excellent Nigella impression!

Here's the gang, clockwise from top L: Char, Alice 'Bobby' Robertson, Petruta, and Ruthy.

Harper Hall has been requiring painting for a couple of years and I finally screwed my courage to the sticking plate and got around to it. Yes: it is a bit eccentric, but once you're there it's very peaceful and several folk have said as much. Dinner with Maria Bonet was the official unveiling and lighting of the lamps...

Since which time the kitchen and bathroom have had similar treatment (without the crenelations that is). There was also a dinner with Alex Stewart Clark and Charlotte B D and Mattie Dwyer, ostensibly to discuss Passion plays but in the end just to marvel at 6 degrees of separation...

Further to comments last posted on this blog about azure sky syndrome, I've been sky gazing again, and can't believe what a fool I've been to not be doing this as much before. There have just been some amazing skyscapes of late over Battersea. Haven't particularly photoed any of them but caught a whisker of something once or twice...

Clapham High Street this morning at 7am

View from the bus going over  Chelsea Bridge: often wonderful at sunset.

Last Saturday, Aaron Harry, Michael Cayton and I spent 5 hours plus in the studio at Basstone music laying down two piano parts for the forthcoming Harmer album. Well done guys, and Michael in particular: that keyboard part is really tricky and you did fantastically! Yesterday, the Rebel Chorus was rehearsing Ben Till's London Requiem in preparation for our concert on Saturday at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington. There are a few standing tickets left if anyone's free: it's also being streamed live at 7pm and will be up on the net for the forseeable. www.thespace.org

You can buy copies of the recording via www.benjamintill.com

An excellent present for the avid collector of contemporary music... may I 'umbly suggest 2 copies...


Grazie mille!