pumpkinstrokemarrow

Coincidentally, I had chosen the same day to honour the Oxford Circus memorial to the rolling back of public interference in private affairs. I was able to show respect by making my very own choice of exactly where to step off the side walk into the path of oncoming buses, entirely unprompted by elaborate and expensive iron work.

Followed up by a visit to the worldwide headquarters of the retail part of the Filofax empire in Conduit Street. A shop which stocks every line coming out of the Filofax production facility. Binders in all shapes, sizes, colours & etc. Stuffings ditto. And what is more, unlike other shops, you had the choice of buying a binder stuffed or unstuffed, with £10 off in the case of the latter. Filofax have worked out that the faithful are irritated by, when renewing their old and much loved binder, having to pay for a whole lot of stuffing which they do not need. They just want to move the old stuffing from the old binder to the new binder. My old binder is about 20 years old and cost around £45 at that time. This particular line was stopped about five years ago, but there were other offerings of the same sort for between £40 and £50. Leather work not quite as smooth but we have to allow for inflation. Or if I was fussy about the leather work they had some natty items at £100 plus. Then the sales girl trotted out a £60 one with 30% off but no further discount for unstuffing. Sold. Some bits of the stuffing proved to be useful, notably a fold out map with the political world on one side and the time zone world on the other.

She seemed inclined to make a bit of a performance of the sale, not quite understanding that as a Filofax user of some 50 years standing I did not need, or at least want, much instruction on how to drive the things. I got the impression that I was the first customer she had had that morning. In fact, can't see the place surviving. Prime retail site just off Regent Street. But it will be a shame to see it go. Nice to know that there is always somewhere which will stock that particular bit of stuffing that has become so important.

Foiled later in the day when I wanted to visit the church somewhere on the eastern side of South Audley Street. Unlike the church at Mudchute in the depth of the Isle of Dogs, the doors were firmly closed and the steps up to them were decorated by sundry down and outs. We learn that keeping churches open in the heart of the Isle of Dogs is a better bet than keeping them open in the heart of Mayfair. Perhaps there are too many people of other faiths in Mayfair to make keeping a Christian church open worthwhile. Tried to run the church down on the Internet and failed. Mr G. suggests that it ought to be the Grosvenor Chapel but the detail seems wrong. Should have taken down details when I was there. Must take a closer look next time I am in the vicinity. Looks worth getting into.

Occupied the luncheon hour with the Wigmore Hall where I heard Jansen (violin) and Golan (piano) do a Bartok violin sonata, a Beethoven violin sonata (Spring) and a Bartok rhapsody. Full house with the queue for returns far outstripping the very modest supply. Spiffing stuff, especially the Beethoven. I prefer my music with a bit of order and control; quite enough madness and fury in the world without having to manufacture same gratuitously. Interestingly, the violinist, dressed in a rather fetching off the shoulders gown (if that is the right technical term) seemed much more alive and physical when playing the Bartok than when playing the Beethoven. She looked well excited by the end of the concert, making me wonder how she was going to spend her afternoon. I wound down with a drop of the warm black stuff at the neighbouring Toucan (present on Google but link down).