London

The Natural History Museum once again plays host to the Shell Wildlife Photographer of The Year 2008 exhibition. A truly delightful way of spending an hour of your time. The above photograph by Wesley Cooper, was a favourite - creative and captures the essence of the animal without showing its face.

Photo by estaban via Flickr

For tasty, huge burgers and classy decor you shouldn’t look further than Automat, an uber-chic Mayfair (London) American diner without the chintz, neon signs and juke boxes one normally associates with such places. Went in for a lunchtime bite the other week and, whilst sadly full of hedge fund suits (it’s Mayfair, what did I expect?), service was prompt, I asked for a rare burger and that is exactly what I got. Truly delicious and the interior designer and chef both get full marks.

Automat, 33 Dover St.
London, United Kingdom W1
020-7499 3033

1. Get three heroes.
2. Put tinnies of Carlsberg in 7 tonne paddling pool.
3. Insert rosemary and garlic in the lamb.
4. Place leg of lamb from Borough Market on Weber barbecue.
5. Insert meat thermometer.
6. Let meat cook and heroes drink.
7. Consume with roast potatoes, mixed roast peppers in olive oil and Argentine Malbec.
8. Finish up in Dukes Head and add Pony John and shocked friend to mix.

So simple. So good. The result…

Last Thursday I had the opportunity of going to the Barbican preview screening of Notes on a Scandel (Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench and Bill Nighy), a film based on Zoe Heller’s novel about a new art teacher in an English school, who starts an affair with one of her pupils.

The highlight of the evening was not the excellent film but the ‘ScreenTalk‘ after, when Jason Solomons interviewed director Richard Eyre and oscar-nominated writer Patrick Marber (of Closer fame). The podcast of the talk is on-line on the Barbican site.

The film is running at the Barbican from 1st-15th Feb.

Not mine. Berkshire looked beautiful in October sun this morning as train sped through to Paddington.