Jan Garbarek Group: 'Mission: To Be Where I Am'

I have been seraching for a video of this for years - its a modern jazz classic and beautifuly played - originally its on Jan Garbareks' 'Its OK To Listen To The Grey Voice' album on ECM....enjoy:)

Central Park Yesterday....

Thanks to my good friend Mike who was walking in Central Park NYC yesterday afternoon. He kindly sent this beautiful picture of spring flowers outside the restaurant where we had lunch when I got married in Central Park in 2006.
Many Thanks for this MIke, it is so different to when I was there just 6 weeks ago and Central Park was weathered from the winter...

L'Epicerie - A New Deli/Cafe in E5... and Kangeroo's!

I am sat in a wonderful new French cafe/deli in E5. This place I think has been open around 6 months and is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood. They have a few seats outside and in and also a takeway deli for great cheeses and pastries, bread etc. I have been here a few times now its really great, they always have chilled music either classical or jazz and the quiche is a real highlight for me especially the vegetable. Today I had spicy parsnip soup with fresh bread the coffee is really good too. I am vegetarian and there's plenty of choices its great!

Staff are friendly and the owner/manager Remy looks like he cares a lot about his new venture which adds to the pleasure.
I believe they are starting cheese and wine evenings with their suppliers soon which should be well worth it, and soon they will offer a cheese or meat plate with wine during the day.
We bought some tasty piccalilli and took quiche and fresh bread (really well sourced) back home for dinner. The quiche to eat in is a bargain at 3.50 which comes with a little salad. They have a few good quality provisions - sun dried tomatoes and for this kind of place I found their prices to be reasonable, and because of the French connection it seems a real authentic experience.
They have free WiFi too, very fast and its a great place to go, have coffee and pastries or lunch, very relaxed.
I wish them well and I really recommend a visit

Also I commend Remy for managing to organise (Fairtrade) kangeroo's to run past the shop on the hour, every hour which must have been a nightmare getting the authorisation from Hackney council for this, (you can see in the top picture Hackney Council have gone to considerable trouble adding kangeroo warning road signs to Chatsworth Road).
I want to see more kangeroo's roaming freely around Hackney its adds even more to the atmosphere and helps enhance all our lives - why should Australia be the only place to see these things regularly? we all need to exercise our rights to bring more of these to E5 and possibly even E8, one day.

L'epicerie@56
56 Chatsworth Rd
London
E5 0LS
+442075038172
www.lepicerie56.com

The Day I Met Brian Blessed in Hackney....

At last I have met a real man! - Brian Blessed is narrating the excellent 'Peter & The Wolf' at Hackney Empire until next weekend. I caught the show today well worth a visit. I met Brian after the show - a true Gentelman he even gave me a big kiss on my forehead! and signed his autobiography. What energy for a 71 year old WE NEED MORE BRIAN BLESSED'S! - in this age of banal celebrification!

Colin & Me In Search Of Woody Allen....

Had to make this trip to New York with Colin my free range size 4....

A REAL Man Coming To Hackney Empire 12-20th April - Brian Blessed!

I am so glad to announce that one of Yorkshire's finest sons is coming to Hackney Empire (so fine he lives with his wife and daughter in Surrey!) - Brian Blessed, Yorkshire's answer to Orson Welles!!!
He is narrating Peter & The Wolf more details here http://www.londontown.com/LondonEvents/PeterandtheWolf/d08df