Familiarity breeds liking

This isn't the kind of building I usually paint, I know.

This 1960s housing tower is just across the road from my bedroom window. At first I hated it, especially in the winter when the bare trees didn't hide it.

But over time, looking out of the window, I started to like it. And then I thought I'd try to paint it. By drawing, you appreciate the intention of the architect. The lay-out of the windows, contrasts in textures and colours, the geometry of it.

Maybe I should start a new series of urban watercolours?

Book of the Month: November

This month's book of the month is a bit unusual.

The Marlowe Papers by Ros Barber is a historical adventure thriller about the playwright and spy Christopher Marlowe. He's on the run under the assumed name of William Shakespeare.

Now, I'm not one of those Shakespeare deniers, but this is a great book.

The unusual thing; it's written entirely in verse, like Marlowe and Shakespeare's plays.

Guest Post: Continental Feuilletons.

Today's guest post comes from an old book at one of the places I work. The volume of bound fashion periodicals is called 'World of Fashion and Continental Feuilletons'.

Featured here the outrageously puffy, flouncy, big hair and enormous hatted fashions of 1830. This is 'New fashions for January 1830; Ball and Dinner Dresses'. I like the blue one best but feel that hat is going a bit far for dinner, really.

Book of October

Book of October is a short, fun novel about political thought. Sounds unlikely?

A History of Capitalism on the Jubilee Line by John o' Farrell has a group of people stranded on an underground train. The line will flood, but which way should they escape, down a tunnel built by public funding or one from private initiative?

It's very amusing and has a cast of famous political characters from times past.

The book is part of a series themed around various lines on the London Underground.

Moroccan not Afternoon

Following on from a previous post extolling the virtues of Afternoon Tea...a new discovery, Moroccan tea.

While in Paris (on annual anniversary holiday) we always go to one of my favourite restaurants; Chez Bebert on Rue Montparnasse. It's a slightly chaotic, crammed place that serves amazing Moroccan food.

Couscous, tagines, north African wines and to finish off, insanely sweet, strong mint tea in a glass with a selection of baklava (pastries) teeny marzipan fruits, marzipan shapes and dates stuffed with marzipan on an exotic cake stand.

Paris Rooftops

This picture of rooftops in Paris is dedicated to my friend Sarah Rooftops, who especially likes these things (rooftops).

This is the view to the extreme right, leaning off the tiny balcony of our hotel room on the 6th floor. A proper Paris attic with a slopey ceiling, lovely.

We go to Paris for our anniversary every year and it is my favourite city in the whole world. I am becoming a bit of a massive Francophile, actually, the food...the style...the architecture...

This time we went to many of our favourite haunts such as the comic shops, Notre Dame, Luxembourg Gardens and also to some new places: The Musee Nissim Camondo, Fontainebleau Palace and an exhibition about the history of underwear at the Musee Arts Decoratifs (I shouldn't have laughed at the codpieces, I know.)

Glimpsed while Driving

A few weeks ago we went on a holiday with the in-laws. This involved driving to Troon, through Ayrshire. Ayrshire features some fabulous existing castles, such as Culzean Castle, but also many ruins, especially of stately homes from the C18th and 19th. I don't know why so much is lost and abandoned in this county?

As it was a family holiday I didn't have any conspirators to trample through mud and over wire to reach derelict stately homes (next time Dalquaharran!), but I did stop to get petrol (cunningly) and photograph this one from the garage forecourt.

Loudon Castle is a ruined C19th house which was the centrepiece of a now abandoned amusement park. Find out more here: Loudon Castle.