_-__-_ meet me at the Barbican

Saturday was a day with friends

Gina travelled over from Essex 

and we surprised her with a magical mystery

tour of exhibitions and wanderings

after coffee in Shoreditch

we walked to ABP Autograph

to see Zanele Muholi's first solo UK exhibition 

Hail the Dark Lioness 

beautiful striking self portraits

taken across Africa, Europe and America

using materials found 

connections made

we walk through Brick Lane 

and onward to Tayyabs

for a delicious vegetarian punjabi lunch

messaging friends to co-ordinate a 

meet up for a cocktail at Osteria

{free wifi is something else I have missed!}

great views and good company

some had never met each other

and some I'd not seen for too many years!

then onwards to meet a lady

I had not met in real life

but had followed her work for a while

luckily she was part of a group show at the

Strand Gallery

so cool to meet Alison Rylands

and hear about her journey so far 

she allowed me to take this piece 

after we'd rearranged her interactive work!

before waving goodbye 

we passed a bustling alleyway

and found Gordon's Wine Bar

an amazing subterranean space

that served us a chilled bottle of Picpoulet

which we enjoyed outside

as we watched people passing by with 

huge platters of charcuterie, cheese, baguettes

and pickles

a little taste of France in London