I want to share 5 things I’m grateful for and have enjoyed this week.
1. Herzog & de Meuron Exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts, London.
In 2019 we took a trip to Hamburg in Germany for a few days, predominantly to visit the new Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall which had just opened. It sits on the river Elbe like an iceberg glistening in the light. Designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, it had attracted a lot of attention, both good and bad, and we were interested to see it and to experience a concert there.
Fast forward four years and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn more about the Swiss architects behind Elbphilharmonie, Tate Modern and many more amazing buildings at an exhibition at London’s Royal Academy of Arts. The exhibition focuses on the fundamental relationship between architecture and people. It was a wonderful insight into the design process from concept to completion, using augmented reality via your smartphone to explore detail. Beka & Lemoine's documentary film about a H&deM designed rehab centre was a fascinating exploration of how careful design can hugely enhance wellbeing and recovery. I was grateful to have been fortunate to experience the concert back in 2019, as well as having the opportunity to learn more about the processes behind the creation of such incredible architecture.
The exhibition is on until 15th October, tickets from £13.
2. Lunch at Noble Rot - Lamb’s Conduit St, London
Diana Henry is one of my favourite food writers and she frequently mentions the restaurant and wine bar Noble Rot as being one of her favourites in London. Naturally, for several years I have wanted to go. It’s not cheap, so I was delighted when I was presented with a voucher as part of my leaving gift from my teaching job (see previous posts for my career change story!). Noble Rot is probably most famous for it’s vast selection of interesting wines sold by the glass, but also for its Parisian style food and focus on seasonality.
Upon arrival we were led to our own cosy booth which felt like we’d gone back in time to Dickensian London. We’d opted to go for lunch last Saturday, to experience their set menu which recommends wines to drink with each course. It didn’t disappoint. We savoured every mouthful and took our time. The whole baked plaice with tomato butter (below) was probably the food highlight, even though I am not skilled in eating whole fish and dealing with bones! Of the wines, a delightfully full and creamy white from Burgundy’s Cote d’Or was the perfect pairing for the fish. The service was exceptional; friendly, warm and encouraging. I left feeling grateful for the kind gift from my old colleagues, and a little merry after a few glasses of wine!
3. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
I finished reading this a couple of days ago, and thoughts of it keep returning. I’ve read and enjoyed several of Ann Patchett’s books and essays and was therefore eager to read her newest offering, Tom Lake. A curious title and a very pretty cover, but neither gave away much to suggest what it is about.
No spoilers here, but I loved it. It is gentle, with moments of devastation. Set on a Michigan cherry farm during the pandemic, it focuses on the youth of Lara who is now a woman in her 50s with three twenty-something daughters. She tells her daughters the story of her relationship with a Hollywood movie star when she was a young actress, omitting certain details. It was the ending that really stayed with me, and I can’t stop thinking about it! I’m grateful for Ann Patchett’s evocative descriptions of place which made me feel like I’d been transported to a 1980s summer by a lake in Michigan
I’d be interested to know your thoughts if you’ve read it.
4. Holland Park
For the past few weeks, I’ve been doing some tutoring on Wednesday mornings in Notting Hill. It’s not an area of London I know particularly well, so after each tutoring session I’ve used it as an opportunity to explore a little further. This week I spent some time in beautiful Holland Park. A little reading, a coffee, a few emails and some people watching. The weather has improved significantly in the past week so I was able to take a brief pause in the flower gardens watching the bees. It was a truly joyful moment, and I was grateful for the solitude and calm.
5. Figs
We have an enormous fig tree in our small garden. It is somewhat taking over but for the first time in the six summers we’ve lived here, it is bearing a lot of fruit. In the sun, a wonderful perfume of the leaves fills the air. Every few days, I stand on a chair and hunt for ripe fruit. It takes a while to get my eye in, but after a few minutes the swollen brown candy reveals itself.
We’ve eaten them as they are, made a fig and thyme clafoutis, grilled them on the barbecue for a salad…and I’m in the market for other fig-based recipes. Do you have any fig recipe recommendations?
I’m so grateful for all of these things, and much more. I believe it’s important to take time to reflect on what we are grateful for. I was inspired to start doing this by the brilliantly talented interior designer Eneia White, who often posts a ‘grateful list’ on her Instagram stories (she has a highlight reel of them). Find her here.
The final part of my career change story (up to the present day, at least) is coming later this week, though will be for paid subscribers only. Sign up to become a paid member here - you won’t regret it!
What are you grateful for this week?
Hannah x
I love figs and wish I had my own tree. Maybe one day!
Love this! Figs bring me so much joy.... I like to do figs on toast with goat cheese and balsamic glaze drizzle.