exhibition: Quentin Blake - As Large as Life

There can't be many people my age, in the UK at least, that haven't had their ideas of illustration informed in some way by all those Roald Dahl books adorned with Quentin Blake's drawings.  Yesterday I went to his new exhibition of hospital commissions at the Foundling Museum. My favourite works were those, like the ones above, depicting circus scenes.

Fatboy's Diner

all photos Claire Evans

They've probably been around for ages but I've only just discovered these Moleskine postal notebooks. They are such a tremendous waste of money but I want one nonetheless. Better still, I want someone to post one to me.

Regent's Park

Cherry blossom on a rare hot day in Regent's Park.

all photos Claire Evans

at the airport

all photos by Claire Evans

fan-banner

One of my oldest friends is getting hitched in a few weeks and so it has been full steam ahead for the hen party. A few of us got together to craft a huge, surprise, handmade tea party with lots of personal touches - we made a suitably cringeworthy teenage playlist, arranged for letters to arrive from absent friends and cut heaps upon heaps of streamers in her favourite colours, that were later used as grass skirts. The one thing we were most excited about was the apparent invention of the fan-banner, a little banner made from doilies, folded into heart shapes and concertina fans.

all photos by Claire Evans

reading: Patrick Hamilton - The Slaves of Solitude

watching: Midnight in Paris

Last night I watched Midnight in Paris, it is sickly sentimental but funny and charming. I laughed throughout. Owen Wilson almost becomes Woody Allen.

All photos: Roger Arpajou

Lake Bled

A drive to Lake Bled, past snow capped Alpine peaks.

all photos by Claire Evans

cinema: Kinodvor, Ljubljana

I couldn't go a stay in Ljubljana without a visit to the wonderful Kinodvar cinema. I dropped by for a late night showing of Shame. It was one of my favourite places in the city, I spent a good hour browsing the film bookshop at the back of the cafe (where you can pick up a coffee for under a euro and lounge about on beanbags). Many of the books onsale are English language and the staff were happy to let me read through the books at leisure.

On a slight digression, I just love this Shame poster.

reading: Flann O'Brien - Futher Cuttings from Cruiskeen Lawn

Molly

all photos by Claire Evans

Ljubljana

One day spent in Ljubljana - hunting down postcards, heart windows, the flower market, walking uphill to the castle for sunset and finally watching Shame at Kinodvor, a small art house cinema in the Old Town. all photos by Claire Evans

Wapping Walls

all photos by Claire Evans

reading: Seamus Heaney - Beowulf

The Lake

all photos by Claire Evans

snow

all photos by Claire Evans