Well you know, the things that I haven't written about: a packed out, sweaty and exciting gig by Heavenly at the Islington Assembly Rooms. I must write about that properly in a couple of days time! I watched from the balcony with Rachel Dollymixture and Jessica Wouldbegood (it seemed like the least humid part of the venue). Gideon Coe and his wife were behind us (in on the secret of how to see without melting); Ian Damaged was there with Alison Wonderland, Caryne and Dave were there, and in the distance were apparently hundreds of people that I knew.
Over the past couple of weeks I've had a couple of brutal biopsies that have resulted in total exhaustion from a combination of terror at what was going to be done, and physical recovery. I read five dog-eared detective novels last week from the various charity shops around Barnet from the comfort of the sofa, where I sat in elegant misery. I did manage to do a tiny smidgin of recording which I'm about to revisit in a minute.
At the weekend, I met Offsprog Two to read through an essay she's been writing about Chris Steele-Perkins' photography at Holkham Hall in Norfolk; afterwards we wandered up to Trafalgar Square to see Jeremy Dellar's chaotic but very imaginative installation. There were Strong Men and Women lifting stones, women Morris Dancers from Dundee in fetching printed collage tea-towel outfits, with huge 'boulders' dancing with them, quite a feat in the heat. We met Adam and Eve nestling in hyper-green foliage in a tent, and went into a William Morris tent to look at a large bust of Sir, surrounded by his florid designs.
I've just rescued a Beryl Cook biscuit from my bag: there was a free tea and biscuit tent, and a huge inflated Beryl Cook in the fountain. There were scary woven wicker masks, which were my favourite of the whole shebang along with the steel pan band who were really great, and who performed in front of a huge wicker canopy. It was fun, and free, and full of people having a nice time. What a fabulous use for a public space in the centre of London!
It wasn't far to wander up to Portland Place, where the Trans March was setting off. Again, the mood was celebratory and really inclusive: there were families there and people from every culture in London and beyond. A chap wearing a a yarmulke was there with his son, and there were a lot of older trans women who circulated with sunny expressions on their faces.
I gather that later on the march met the installation, which would have been a great things to see.
The humidity became too much for me, and I headed home for Come Dine With Me and a bag of crisps.
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