Favourite Places - Whitefield

The road though Whitefield, north of Bangalore, India. Click the photo to get a proper sense of this timeless scene

Sadly, since this photo was taken, some time in 2007, there has been a huge road building project through Whitefield and most of these great trees have gone.

Sucker for Sunsets

The sunset gives an ordinary school building in a neighbouring street a starship quality

Number 22 Jermyn St

A dear friend, Henry Togna had a hotel in Jermyn St - Number 22 - as did his parents before him. It sadly closed in October 2009 as its long lease (from the Crown Estates) was up and the building (known as Eyrie Mansion) was to be rebuilt.

Number 22 was particularly favoured by Americans who returned to it year by year, loving its old-fashioned charm and more recently under Henry, its carefully refurbished comforts. One of those was Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, who has written a most beautiful piece in praise of the hotel and the streets of London around it. You can read it by clicking the heading. And if you have time, don't miss some of the many comments below the article, added by other American visitors to London who clearly hold it as dear as he does, sometimes in as fine a prose as his.

The Joy of Breakfast

On these still dark winter mornings, breakfast is a singular pleasure, particularly when taken in the warm kitchen full of the smell of toast and coffee. It is a still greater pleasure when the weather allows it to be taken in the garden under the apple tree. And when travelling, though I subscribe to the view that 'breakfast should not consist of things bizarre', foreign breakfasts can also be a joy. Click the heading for some more photos.

Breakfast on the terrace of the Hotel Eden, Rome

Lying to Your Boss 2010

Click for large

Royal Hospital Chelsea Dinner 2010

A dinner at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea given by the Governor, General Lord Walker and Sir Michael Craig-Cooper, chairman of the Friends. Brigadier Edward Butler (grandson of 'Rab' Butler), gave a talk on Afghanistan, where he had commended 22 SAS and 16 Air Assault Brigade. Click the heading for some photos and videos from the evening.

See also
The Royal Hospital Carol Service 2009
The Margaret Thatcher Infirmary
The Royal Hospital, Chelsea

Shizue Futatsumori

Shizue Futatsumori, mother to Ayako and her six siblings, died in Aomori on 28th January 2010. She was the respected wife of a school headmaster, Juro Futatsumori, who died in 1984.

The Van Gogh Exhibition

Lucky enough to get early to the Van Gogh Exhibition at the Royal Academy. A very fine collection, accompanied by detailed interpretations of his work drawn from his letters - made the more fascinating by the brief trajectory of his life. Click the heading to see more paintings and drawings from the exhibition, taken necessarily surreptitiously.

Watching Friends from Afar

Not going skiing, but can at least see where some friends are and follow them by webcam

Britain in Winter

Wintery weather covers Britain. Click the photo for a more dramatic view. In the Deep Midwinter seems the most appropriate carol.

We seem to have forgotten that it was it was almost as snowy last year. Click here for a reminder and the Flanders and Swan song of the weather