Apologies if you arrived here thinking that you were going to read about Norman Collins's novel*. Its just that one of my favourite book titles just happens to suit this post. Because, for the past few years, whenever I returned to my home city, I felt that it didn't belong to me any longer. Although I never regretted deciding to move and live until recently in an area as beautiful as Exmoor, I was sad to feel a growing sense of disconnection with the city in which I was born and where I spent my first half century.
Not any longer. I went back yesterday and had one of those days that simply gladdens the heart and gave me enough sense of connectedness to keep me going until . . . . well, until the next time.
I arrived with a slightly daunting mental list of 'things I want to do, see, experience today' but accomplished everything on the list - and then some. Far too much for one post but the highlight of the day was meeting someone whose blog I have enjoyed reading and looking at - sublime photos - for some time. The very first post that I read over at Rus in Urbis was about buddleia growing in cracks in walls and in odd, unexpected places in the city. It struck a chord and C's writing and photos continue to do so. (Apologies for not being able to take you directly to that post but, if you haven't visited Rus in Urbis, why not click on the link and just start reading anyway?)
We met, lunched, talked and laughed here:
the glass-walled Serpentine Bar (formerly the Dell) in Hyde Park. Designed by modernist architect, Patrick Gwynne**, and built in 1965, its splendid views of water and wildfowl make it one of the most delightful locations of any of London's thousands of eating places, whether you are seated inside or out or simply lounging on a deckchair on the terrace. We could have stayed all day and it wouldn't have been too long.
*If you were in pursuit of Norman Collins, I am as admiring of the book as I am of the title (ditto the atmospheric black and white 1948 film starring Alastair Sim and Richard Attenborough); one of the best literary evocations of London at a particular time in its history.
** There used to be another Patrick Gwynne restaurant overlooking the Serpentine. I remember the excitement when it opened in 1964 and visited often over the next 25 years . . . until it was demolished. At least The Homewood, the house that Patrick Gwynne designed for his parents when he was just 24, has been saved. It now belongs to the National Trust.
I’m going back Saturday... shopping... Ronnie Scotts...a bit too much red, Somerset House maybe a posh hotel… just like a tourist
Posted by: Peter Hounslow | 17 September 2009 at 03:27 PM
Sadly, the movie is not available over here from Netflix, but I've put the book on my wishlist at Book Depository. I don't know what the original cover was but the new one is great. Thank you. I'm glad you had such a lovely day.
Posted by: Nan | 17 September 2009 at 04:56 PM
Peter: oh, Ronnie Scott's of blessed memory; the evenings I spent there . . . And Somerset House is very buzzy these days. Enjoy your weekend!
Nan: my copy is a very old, battered, book club edition, so has an absolutely plain black cover plain but, yes, that new Penguin cover is just right.
Posted by: 60 Going On 16 | 17 September 2009 at 06:00 PM
It was a fab lunch and so good to meet. I'm going to miss having the Serpentine on my doorstep when I move on from the Parks.
Posted by: colleen | 17 September 2009 at 10:51 PM
Our visit this past June has whetted our appetite for more London! And now you're encouraging me even further . . .
Posted by: materfamilias | 18 September 2009 at 05:24 AM
Colleen: on the plus side, you'll soon be able to come to Hyde Park as a fully-fledged visitor and make lunch last as long as you please.
materfamilias: I still didn't manage to get to Phoenix Gardens though. Never mind, next time. Talking of next time, be sure to let me know if and when you are visiting again - we can hold a blogging convention somewhere!
Posted by: 60 Going On 16 | 18 September 2009 at 11:26 AM
I'm glad you had such a good day! It's rare that we set out to achieve a list of things and manage to get them all done!
Always nice to meet a fellow blogger, of course, and that bar looks wonderful! Next time I'm in London (and near enough), I'll check it out.
Going to take a peek at that blog you linked to now.
Posted by: Jay | 18 September 2009 at 08:15 PM
I love that idea, 60 -- I'll be sure to!
Posted by: materfamilias | 19 September 2009 at 09:49 PM