Uncle Bill Puts on Uniform

November 5, 2024
HereHare
2024, DESTINATIONS, London, UK
0 Comments

A lovely autumn day. Took the tube south to Kensington Gardens. It’s an obligatory tourist thing. They ask you at immigration upon departure. If you haven’t been to Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens they fine you. I just didn’t want that on my record.

Mammoth green space in central London. Booooooring.

From Kensington Gardens swung up north into the Notting Hill neigbourhood. Wandered down, and back and forth, along Portobello Rd.

Pembroke Square, en route to the Portobello market

So many movies there in the 80s. Took Nan, in 1981, to see Fassbinder’s Effi Briest (!!!). Don’t say I never do anything for my mum…

After the market went over to the Museum of Branding, which is a sort of collection of marketing, sexism, consumerism and advertising trends. Very, very, very absorbing. For me.

A room dedicated to Johnnie Walker, who started a blended whisky line in 1867

That hospital carbolic was a game changer

Soap, believe it or not, is a pretty interesting subject. Sunlight was the first brand to “package” soap (as opposed to having blocks which were carved per client specs). And soap and margarine have an intertwined history to palm oil which ultimately has changed the planet’s landscape. But don’t take it from me, here’s a link to 5200 words on the subject.

Ned Flanders classic: Tide. Cheer. Bold. Biz. Fab. All. Gain. Wisk.

There was a time when “at toilette” really meant something. Sigh.

OMG were there a lot of displays of tea. And royalty. And more royals and tea…

Tea is all well and good, just don’t forget the sugar

Who can forget Fry’s Turkish Delight. Ugh.

Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker. And, at least with stout, healthy!

Hello caffeine, sugar and liquor. Down here with the modern tips and leaf tipped whiffs

John Galsworthy quote: “The French cook. The British open a can.” Enough said.

Wait, doesn’t she know how busy Santa is? And those leering toys, they are not helping.

I say Uncle Bill is well and truly tucked

Oh the great fun they all had in the trenches

A different idea of a model, if you will

Well I think all those pics show how captivating the time travel was. Right until that real downer at the end with Liam Payne. Jeesh. There was one GLARING omission at the branding museum. Despite all the British icons and iconography, despite what seemed like every “authentic” toy of the 20th century, there was no homage to Thunderbirds. Nada. Now that was a letdown. After that museum I wandered Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove; I’m not sentimental about London in the 80s, but when I get walking through an old ‘hood I do get curious.

November sun in Notting Hill. The rich do have all the luck.

If I was 21 I would definitely be wearing these crazy expensive clothes

Speaking of turning 21, celebrated my 21st at the original Julie’s, which I stumbled across while walking; and I think Prince C had his stag there. And Simon and I took Cynthia there on the eve of her leaving the UK. Bit out of my price range now.

I checked out the Design Museum. They had two shows on. I’ll let you guess what. I took a raincheck on both.

After a long walk and a pub lunch ended up on Kensington Hight Street at the Japanese House. They have the nose of the first high speed rail line (inaugurated in 1964! And the US is still considering high speed rail…). The gallery featured a fascinating display of the Japanese art of food recreation. What’s really cool about Japan is that before you go into a restaurant, with the menu, they display the food and drink you can expect inside.

A crab drinking beer! Now I’ve seen everything

All the ingredients required to make gyoza

Western style well-balanced breakfast. Well that’s a lesson in nutrition.

The gift shop was also a hoot. So incredibly expensive. £34 for a deck of playing cards. Don’t get me started on tea towels and napkins. After the food visit I walked deep west on Ken High St into Hammersmith and took dinner at one of the Master Wei restaurants; she’s a Chinese cook living in London who was featured in the Netflix series Chef’s Table. The noodles were great; everything else sort of meh. After dinner headed into the West End for a play. Although it had been a beautiful (November) day, dusk seemed to come on by 3 PM and by 6 it was pitch dark; but the lights looked lovely.

This evening’s play was a revised version of Webster’s (five act!) Duchess of Malfi. If Quentin Tarantino was a contemporary of Shakespeare, this would have been his masterpiece. You get killed. You get killed. You get killed. Infanticide. Rape. Accidental suicide. It’s got it all baby. And a packed house for Jodie Whittaker, of Dr. Who and Broadchurch fame, in the starring role.

The play ended at 10. I caught a Bakerloo at Charing Cross just arriving; transferred to a Jubilee at Baker St just arriving; walked out of Willesden Green station and caught a 260 just arriving. 35 minutes door to door, West End to Cricklewood; London miracle.