Village people

Amongst the otherwise conquering conurbation there are still pockets of residential resistance in what can only be described as 'villages'. Visiting Highgate last night revealed art galleries, chocolatiers and second hand bookshops rather than the usual high street chains and kebab shops... although I notice that not even Highgate Hill has escaped the onslaught of the Tesco Metro war machine.

Wimbledon village is similar: a proper bakers, florists and butchers all of which are usually pushed, processed and packaged into supermarket counters throughout most of London.

These village havens, further defined by tree lined avenues and prestige cars, are protected by a scattering of parks and inherited land values. From Highgate Hill you can look down on the vast sprawling capital in more ways than one.

State of the arts

Caravaggio at the National Gallery

Either it's a new trend or I'd just never paid it much attention in the past but London galleries seem to experiencing something of a renaissance thanks to headline-grabbing exhibitions.

This week Caravaggio at the National drew to a close drawing in box office queues more akin to an FA Cup final than a display of fine art. Quota-controlled, time-stamped tickets required clamoring visitors to do a day of shopping, sightseeing or, at the very least, take a Gallic-style luncheon before returning to see 16 or so exquisite paintings.

I still prefer my Turners, Whistlers and Monets at the Tate a couple of months ago which also brought rock concert profile and critical acclaim.

It would be all too easy to overlook those galleries' main collections, most of which London is blessed with free access to. I guess even the art world needs a little hype to bring in the punters.

London calling

In the twilight of its life?

Do I kick off my London blog by talking about a cannister of CS gas being set off at a tube station or the news that the London Eye, the most inspired and popular tourist attraction in the capital for a generation, has been threatened with an eviction notice?

Yes another day brings another security scare and another crazy planning scenario, both of which were probably met by the populous with little surprise and a slight shake of the head.

This time it was 'just' CS gas and in an above-ground underground station, not the subterranean toxic terrorist attack Londoners are conditioned to expect these days. As for the Eye, well it's probably, and hopefully, just a cynical attempt to extract a higher rent. What a crime if this 135metre icon of the south bank and of the city was forced to up and move?

The craziness begins here.