Greetings from London! So I have had the pleasure of England the last few weeks and the privilege of staying with some fabulous friends and families so thank you! Have resisted the internet for the most part but today wanted to share some things I’m thinking and seeing:

Banksy: I may be a bit late on the uptake for Banksy, a graffiti artist from England whose true identity remains unknown. I think I’m in love. Yes Yes I know there are some circles where this is considered vandelism but I think that public art can be beautiful! And I am a fan of things that make people smile and think, especially in concrete-ified areas. ‘Nuf said, as the English say and enjoy the images below. For those in the mood to see the real thing here is a banksy treasure map.

Good Coffee in London -  Like with New York it seems that London is plagued with terrible coffee. Seems ridiculous to me that Sydney and Melbourne can get it so right and these two amazing cities so wrong…and as part of my quest for great coffee and to spread the joy here are four places that do get it and are helping me cope with London. Enjoy!

Suburb - my first decent coffee in London was found around Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden. I nearly hugged the man making me coffee I was so excited by it! And when I told Gus, a friend who is equally dismayed with the coffee scene he went and verified the find. So yes, go there - it is worth it!

Flat White - named after an Aussie coffee between a latte and a cappuccino, this little espresso bar is run by NewZealander’s. With thanks to Gus, I found it offers great coffee with clearly trained baristas and also, the possibility of having it with vegemite on toast! What could be a better treat? (If vegemite is not for you they have other good snacks and sandwiches).

Monmouth - this is a delightful place (actually they have three) with good coffee and nice little pastry snacks - and if you go to the Borough one, which I recommend, go next door for a great cake slice from one of London’s best cake shops Konditor and Cook! And while you there on the weekend - pop into the markets too!

Carluccio’s - a great Italian place with locations around London (almost a chain but of the Le Pain Quotidien ilk so perhaps the word is not chain but rather - replicating something that is great) it has yum food and they know how to make coffee! My recommendation, get a latte and their almond croissant. You’ll be VERY happy!

Story - seems I have a niche afterall! With thanks to PWE it turns out that while I was thinking story is a broad topic and covers everything guess what - I have stumbled over my own niche. That thought excites me (I never realised I had a niche…though you may all have). Also exciting me is the opportunity to work with story. Which I was doing up North last week thanks to Barrie and the ever fabulous digistories and of course, the wonderful Gala Theatre, Durham. I also was able to make a new digital story of my own (will likely be uploaded at a later date). 

A key line that Barrie says that I think is critical: ‘you are the expert of your own story’. Have since been musing around inter-generational storytelling, leaders and their stories (personal and organizational), how to use story in large and small scale meetings/dialogues, and how to co-create story. Am also musing on telling your own story and who tells the story and what can you really call digital storytelling and so forth.

So obviously more on my love for story, a serious inspiriation, will be coming to this blog soon…

Hope this finds you smiling!

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 1st, 2007 at 1:01 am and is filed under children's books, digital storytelling, fun, knowledge & wisdom, misfit, re-name it!, responsibility - personal, think. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.