juicy spook gear

Yesterday's post was about spies and I'm keeping the theme today. Last Sunday, whilst we were in the Blue Elephant I was describing the Juice Box camera and everyone thought I was mad. So today I'm showing the evidence thanks to Zazzafooky. You'll see the camera looks just like a fruit drink but - Ahah!

Its really a camera. Great for blogging!

Tag: spy, camera, photography, juice

spooks

A journalist arrives at the home of an ex-MI5 officer for an interview. He sees the officer in the garden with a plastic bag over his head and two men standing by him. The journalist escapes and visits security service friend Ruth's house to tell her what he's seen. She calls boss Harry to hear the story and the journalist explains that the ex-MI5 officer was writing a book, revealing state secrets. Once Harry realises it was murder not suicide, he orders an investigation and sets up a safe house. There's a lot more.

Be an agent - check out the secure website or

MI5

Tag: spy, spooks, MI5

Italian evening

This evening, Sheila had arranged for us gather in a nearby Italian restaurant. Unlike yesterday, we found this without problem, but arrived to find our table for twelve, but only three of us! A few text messages later we located the pub where the others had met and heard that they were on their way. Sheila, Ed and Nick arrived next and then Elizabetta, so we sat with some Borolo and chatted whilst we waited for the others - who had been waylaid with the offer of some free Fosters lager. We ordered pizzas and various fancy dishes and we chatted in the midst of an increasingly lively restaurant.

Much later, a few of us moved to the nearby Red Lion until the bell sounded the end of the evening.

Tag: restaurant, pizza, pub

Fox and Hounds

Drove round in a few circles this evening looking for the Fox and Hounds near Englefield Green. I've been there before, but had forgotten the last 100 metres of the route, causing some ribald but patient comments from Roger and David. We found it eventually and then spent an entertaining evening.

Tag: pub

Cheltenham

A quick visit to Cheltenham the Regency spa town. Also the birthplace of Gustav Holst, composer of the Planets suite. I met Dave for English breakfast of coffee, bacon and eggs and then we met the others for our day close to the Cotswolds.

Tag: Cheltenham, England

now thats what I call a minibar

The minibar at the Bag. was off the scale. Instead of a tired kettle and a few instant coffees, there was an Illy expresso machine, with a fancy dial and lots of switches. Now that is what I call coffee!

The rest of the room was pretty swish, too!

Tag: hotel, minibar, london, coffee

Baglioni's

Dannii Minogue had been in Baglioni's Friday evening whilst Melanie and John were at dinner and a banker had racked up a drinks bill of £36,000 in the bar. The hedge fund manager just earned £3m from one deal and put his card behind the bar saying he'd buy everyone there whatever they wanted all night. Aside from champagne, customers duly obliged by knocking back 851 cocktails.

We decided this was the place to head back to and rounded the afternoon off in the bar. Kate decided to get into the groove with the right fashionista look.

And we all debated things such as 'what is the emergency cocktail you'd order?' (Neil felt compelled to try this out for real) and 'what is the most interesting fact you know about nuts?' - Mine was about hazelnuts and Strontium. As you can tell, as the afternoon turned into the evening, things degenerated somewhat.

Tag: bar, london, squiffy, fashion

Blue Elephant

So here is Melanie just before the moment of realisation that ten Thai waiters and waitresses are descending to sing a birthday song.

And John, Kate and Neil enjoying the moment, shortly after Neil had consumed 'that' drink that no-one else could drink.

Tag: london, restaurant, thai, Blue Elephant

Kensington Sunday

Ambushing Melanie and John at Baglioni's before heading to meet the others at the Blue Elephant in Fulham.

Unusually, the taxi driver didn't know the restaurant, but the concierge immediately flipped a card from his pocket with the address. Clearly, we were following a well trodden path!

On the way, passed the fabled Kensington High Street Oxfam shop, which must have some of the funkiest cast-off clothes in London.

Tag: london, kensington, hotel

ferocious blog guard installed

Beware now we've acquired a blog guard named Tig.

He is patrolling the end of the blog.
Scroll down to say "Hi".

Even better, mouse over him with the button down.
So that he purrs, as he gets to know you.

Tag: blog, blogging

Mrs Henderson presents

Gaining recent praise in the Toronto film festival and already Oscar-bait, "Mrs Henderson Presents" tells the story of one of England's eccentric society figures, Laura Henderson, who founded the Windmill Theatre to win back audiences from 'talking pictures'.

Set in World War 2 London, Stephen Frear's film shows how Henderson's influence in society took advantage of a loophole permitting the theatre to show entirely nude models on stage - provided they didn't move a muscle.

Hence the 'Nude Revue,' a musical extravaganza which became a roaring success and ensured the Windmill Theatre's place in history.

Stephen Frears has created an entertaining musical to recreate the era and quirky story - prepare for cinema visits in November - or December in USA!

Tag: film, movie, london

have you seen the stars tonight?

I was elsewhere picking out a cloud when I spotted the series of photographs of the Minotaur rocket launching a new satellite. They are great photos and show the wonder of us linking to space in a more personal way than watching a Space Shuttle on TV.

We all need to find time to look up and wonder at infinity.

Tag: cosmic, wonder, stars