{quotable thursdays}

I apologise--I've been absent from the blog. Or at least I feel like I have. Life has been busy with starting a new job, moving house & countries etc... I just got back from a very long day of meetings and realise it's Thursday & I should do my duty!
I have photos of the flat that I haven't had time to post (apologies)...along with the busy-ness of work, & move, life is just busier in London because there's so much to do! so when I'm not working, I have a long list of fun things I can do, like antique shopping in Muswell Hill, or museum visiting or pint drinking at a pub, or walking along the New River,or discovering some new neighbourhood. The choices are endless.
Anyway, all that to say, there are some good blog posts ahead when I find a relaxing moment to just sit and write, but for now, the quote today will be on art, as I'm attending the Masterpiece fair this Saturday with a good friend. I got complimentary tickets through the Courtauld  as an alumni, which I was thrilled about (since they're 20 quid otherwise). a recent review in the Huffington post raves about it with the headline of "Masterpiece is a Masterpiece." In a discipline that now questions the notion of the 'masterpiece' and as an Art Historian who often deals with 'objects' that fall outside the canonical works of Art History, it seems a bit ironic. But who can pass up a chance to see these works in the flesh & for sale!? a hint of nostalgia of bygone times when antiquities were really on sale to the Isabella d'Estes of the world, where the studiolo allowed for visitors to caress, hold, touch, and even sniff works of art, where Mantegnas and Michelangelos sketched from real works of art,  rather than looking at them behind glass... and as someone who works on the art market of the 15th century, I suppose it's not that off mark...
I digress.
here's one of my favourite quotes on art by Berger (not a trained art historian, I might add, but who has produced some splendid books in the field of At History) :

“ A painting ought to change as you look at it, and as you think, talk, and write about it”

--Harry Berger, 1994

{ticket & flowers from my garden}

a bientot, 

L

{quotable thursdays}

I have moved into the flat, but things are very hectic here, so pics to follow soon once I've settled.
Today the quote is about the provisions necessary for a 'home':

"A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body."
Benjamin Franklin 

{food for the mind}

{warmth}

{stunning house}

xo, 

L

{Basildon Park and more}

Well I'm finally in my flat! It's taking me a while to get settled considering I've got lots on with work...but I'm super happy.

My last weekend at my cousins we went to some lovely estate homes.
We started the weekend of at Greys Court, a lovely 16th-century mansion that was lived in until the 20th century, with amazing gardens:

From there we went to lovely Basildon Park, the site of the newest adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley. You'll recognise it from the Netherfield balls (I couldn't help saying repeatedly "Netherfield has been let at last!"):

{such a grand façade}

and from the film:

{glamorous!}

{a little less pomp!}

{standing here I wished I had my four sisters to accompany me, like in P&P, below}

{5 Bennet sisters}

The grounds were stunning as well:

We then went to Henley on Thames and strolled along the river: 

The weekend finished with pimm's and a round of croquet with the Weatherups: 

Pics from my flat soon, 

xo

L

{quotable thursdays}

{you can buy this print Dickens Ink on Etsy}

Yes, indeed, as the quote goes:
“Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” ― Samuel Johnson

I move into my flat in N. London this weekend. I'm SO excited!!!

{spring in London!}

Currently, I'm reading Craig Taylor's Londoners. It's really good--giving brief insight from all types of people who live in London:

{london love}

{on the map!}

{Londony things}

{old fashioned}

This town is impossible to get tired of & I'm so happy to be living here!
Stay tuned for more on life in London...+ I had a lovely weekend exploring some old historic houses, so will post on that soon too!

xoxo

L

{quotable thursdays}

{change}

I started work this week. Change is certainly present in my life. I'm excited though. As I was riding back into London on the train passing the English pastures green, with the bright yellow rape fields, & the sun shining, I felt a sense of happiness and accomplishment, that I'm finally in the right place. It has taken a long time, but I'm really content with where I am. I know there will be loads of challenges (I have loads of big responsibilities in the new job), there will be times where I feel low, stressed, and unable, but right now I feel ready to meet those challenges full force!

Change certainly is a good thing.

baci from merry ol' England, 

L