London Happenings

Rain, Southbank at night, teeny tiny kite flying, pirate instructions, before the big day and a lot of Charlies.

The Museum of Broken Relationships

I visited the Museum of Broken Relationships last week, an exhibition of items that are left over at the end of a failed relationship and eventually given to the museum with a short description as to why the owner had held on to it and why now they were ready to donate it.

It makes for a strange collection of assorted inanimate objects that have been given a meaning and value beyond their purpose. At times sad or angry, amusing or hopeful it's overall poignantly nostaglic and well worth the visit.

It has found a temporary home scattered around various locations in Seven Dials and closes this weekend.

Huge fire in London today. Walking home Waterloo Bridge was closed to traffic so everyone could walk in the centre of the road. It's nice how that little bit of freedom cheers everyone up - I saw people dancing their way across the bridge. It's like a piece of sugary sweet rebellion but without the repercussions because it's been approved by the authorities.

Speaking of which, I got called stupid today by a policeman that thought Waterloo Bridge was called Embankment Bridge. Yup.

Favourite Places: The Enlightenment Room

On those days when I'm at a bit of a loss and in need of some ideas I love nothing better than walking around the Enlightenment Room at the British Museum. It's such a great place to think.

It's the first big room on the right as you walk in through the main entrance and it's beautiful; the room displays a vast array of objects documenting the way collectors grouped things, seemingly unrelated objects are placed together based on characteristics like size, shape or colour. When I walk around and look at the curiosity cabinets, the collections of things - coins, shells, rocks - and the floor to ceiling book cases, I want to be a part of it, to go out and explore and most of all to be awed by the world.

Imagine seeing the world for the first time.