My excellent night out

Last night I had an early dinner with The Actor at our friend Elaine's fabulous restaurant - A Little of What You Fancy.  I know I keep blogging about it and it certainly doesn't need any publicity as it's packed every single night.  I can barely get a table and often have to get take-away.

I drank Sipsmith gin and tonic and The Actor had red wine

We both had the roasted red pepper, tomato and chilli soup - Amazing.

The Actor couldn't decide between two main courses so Elaine gave him half and half of each, not wanting to be left out I had the same.  This is Mezze with her fabulous home made flatbreads which have whole fresh herbs inside with charred aubergine, sumac, chili roast tomatoes, tabbouleh, salad and spiced lamb kofte AND a huge slice of roast belly pork with summer slaw (white cabbage, apples, sultanas, caraway and sesame).  It was absolutely delicious.  The Actor finished everything I couldn't manage too.

And we had a side of the best beetroot ever.  After all that we couldn't manage pudding.

The Actor had an early call so he went to bed and I went for a quick drink at my friend Jo and Jon's before heading off to a comedy night that the fabulous John Hassay had been raving about.  I always trust his recommendations.

Off to the Southbank of the Thames.  We asked someone at the Southbank centre where the venue was.  They said "Just look out for the purple cow"

Here we go

I wasn't expecting a GIANT inflatable purple cow.

We couldn't exactly miss it.

There were bars and food all around it

An aerial shot from the London Eye - How mad is that for a venue?

Here are my friends Jamie, Daisy and John.

We went to see Spymonkey, a comedy physical theatre group whose new show is called Love In.  I had no idea what to expect.  Don't bother looking them up on youtube - you need to see them live...  It started off quite calmly

Then it all went bonkers.  It was absolutely hilarious.  I've not laughed so much for ages.  Spymonkey are a definite must see.  They remind of my friend Dom after a big night out when he tries to dress up in his girlfriend's swimming costume and does a lot of mad dance moves.

We came out to this.  There's the London Eye lit up behind.

I love this little garden with a another bar inside.

There was a fairground but it wasn't open yet.  We didn't have time to stop anyway.

We headed back East - I didn't take this picture of the South Bank but I think it's great

We were off to my friend Hollie Cook's album launch at Hoxton Bar and Grill.  Hollie was totally fantastic, she has a brilliant voice and great stage presence.  She's a star.  The press are saying it's the reggae album of 2011.

I saw Hollie performing last year with The Slits

Hollie and the late, great Arianna (aka Ari-Up)

Gorgeous Hollie and her dad, Sex Pistol Paul Cook last night

Paul gave me a copy of Hollie's album - I LOVE it.

Check it out, it's class.

Joe and Barnzley

Then onto for drinks for Simon "Barnzley" Armitage's Birthday.  Barnzley has been at the forefront of every musical movement since punk and he now designs menswear for his label A Child of The Jago with his long-term friend and partner Joe Corre (founder of Agent Provocateur and son of Vivienne Westwood).

This is their shop in Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch selling their menswear label A Child of the Jago, named after William Morrison's book on the East End Victorian slums.

What a great place

Their office is inside a disused tube train above the shop.  How cool is that?

Anyway enough of that it's Barnzley's birthday drinks in great little hidden bar in Kingland Road.  I didn't many pictures but I saw lots of people including my frend Pam Hogg, Dave Dorrell, Marco Pirroni and artist Tim Noble.

I took a quick snap of the lovely James Jeanette who'd just come from a shoot and art curator Stefan Kalmar

Barnzley and his girlfriend the fabulous Karlie Shelley.

Happy Birthday Barnzley xxx

I never get pictures of myself so here's a snap when I got home.  I'm wearing an Antik Batik kaftan mini dress that I bought on Ebay a few years ago for £30 and flat sandals left over from my holiday.  And my Husam el Odeh silver spoon pendant which I love.

I have deliberately made no plans for the weekend for once.  It's such a treat to do nothing.  The Actor is on his best friend's stag weekend in London.  I shall enjoy having absolutely nowhere to be.  At last I'll have a chance to catch up with everyone.

Have a wonderful weekend whatever you do xxx