Scrapbook

Got my friend Bill around on a Saturday to help me build this bbq/pizza oven table, ready for the Summer. I repaid him with beer. Nobody lost any limbs or digits. Result.

As well as the bbq table I found this zinc-topped garden table on ebay and got it vanned over to my house. The guy broke one of the legs off trying to get it out of the van on his own (plus, he only had the one eye), but I managed to screw it back on, no problem.

Light Over Liskeard, Louis de Bernières

A funny little book, that my mum recommended to me after she read it on holiday. It took a bit of getting into, but the last third was very charming and quite touching. It's about a quantum cryptographer holing up in Cornwall to await the apocalypse - but that's not really what it's about, obviously!

Just Buster looking like a renaissance painting.

For my friend's 50th we took him on a surprise trip to see The Conversation (also 50 this year) at this beautiful, tiny cinema in Hackney. It was a lovely evening, made even more special by the brilliant Ümit who you can read all about here.

A trip to the Donmar to see the classic Marber play. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to expectations. It hasn't aged well since the 90s and the performances didn't help to elevate it.

Another trip to Mauby's in Brokley, mainly to taste this incredible fried chicken again.

My first dinner at the legendary French House. Did not disapoint. Oysters, wine, steak, frites, madeleines, service, charm... all on point. Amazing.

A quick stop at the Photographer's Gallery in Soho to see thier Pete Mitchell exhibition. Plenty of photos of 80s Sheffield, which I loved, Plus Stanley Tucci was in there too. Weird.

A trip to the Imax with Mike to see the final Mission Impossible film. Not as great as some of the others, but worh thte trip to see those sequences on the biggest screen in the country.