It don't last a second

Summer doesn't last a second in London. These photos were taken on Monday. Today I wore a wooly jumper and nearly got blown into the canal on my bike.
A moment of elation and utter freedom after handing my portfolio in for the Linbury Prize. The Southbank never fails to amuse me in summer as Britain desperately clings on to the possibility of a city beach holiday.

Enjoying a generous breakfast with one of my favouritest person in the world.

Smile.

PS > dear beautiful cafes. I love spending my time and money on you. You notice it is now light until close to 10pm. Please stay open past 6!

Bruxelles Midi

Mum sent me a link to Design Boom's latest 'reportage' from Brussels: Jean Nouvel's plan to remodel the capital's infamous Midi Station. It's an important and iconic place from many respects: the Eurostar terminal is found here, and is by far the most misleading and disappointing introduction to Brussels (especially that dreadful exit down those stairs and that endless search for the right bus to take only to find out the W operates once a decade...), the Saturday Marche de Midi is still one of the city's best - I have fond memories of incredible loaves of crusty bread, bags of seasonal cherries, and that bike market (my first and last old fashioned city bike, loved and left to rust for €20); and of course the anthropological feast and patriotic foire that relentlessly comes to town every summer - best chips and beer encountered. BREF I love Midi, especially for its beautiful inadequacies, the fact that it appears so unappealing. It's another one of those things about Brussels that is almost a best kept secret.

WOW renderings @ Jean Nouvel. Still not sure about it though. A slick Midi just doesn't feel right.

My Midi.

Berlin be my baby

Dear Diary,

Guess who I have a crush on...

Berlin, ich liebe dich. After a more-than-eventful few days exploring scenographic magic and medieval sites in Prague, I decided to hop on the terribly convenient night bus to Berlin. Arrival Kaiserdam 4:30am. A quick kip on the lush plastic seats of the station and I was ready to hit the U-Bahn East. I was surprised to hear of all too familiar engineering works...But arrived at a magic hour to Rosa Luxembourg where sweet Franziska offered her humble abode which I quickly fell in love with you. Berlin Love, take it away...

Kreuzberg night out reminded me of the time my brother and I crashed a New Year's Eve party in Tel Aviv. We heard music blasting from a top floor apartment and decided to find out more. Friends were made, Berliner Kindl was consumed.

Sabine and Linda playing along for tourist satisfaction...

...til dawn.

\

Aforementioned humble abode

A wee overdone on the Berlin blogs but the street art really is shit hot.

                                YOU KNOW THE DRILL

A perfect light lunch at Anna Blume. Fish soup.

  

Happy cheap sushi

A perfect ending. Verdict: New York cheesecake LOSES, it's all about the Käsekuchen.

New city, old friends! Indulging in a local Friedrichlain Vietnamese with the Kostucki brothers, cousin and Seb.

Mais c'est bon la vie...divine breakfast and cakes in that wonderful place I've managed to forget.

Tschuss and I can't wait to go back.