Of course, I intended to continue blogging from my daughter's place in London but you know how it is.
Friday - London is this strange place where they sell mangos at 49p each or 2 for £1 ! And they ruin landmark architectural sites by adding grotesque inflatible athletes (I think its Kelly Holmes). I'm not against a bit of street art/theatre and am happy for them to host the 2012 Olympic games but tasteful it ain't.
I was in Trafalgar Sq because thats where the National Gallery is. I didn't spend a lot of time in there actually. It was very busy and its all old stuff. Of course, its great old stuff, I saw Titians , Botticellis and Bellinis but I always think, well it'll still be there next time. I'll have a proper look then. I did my usual trick of studying the Visitor Guide after I'd left and realised I was very close to seeing Van Eyck's 'Arnolfini Portrait'. I really should have looked out for that. Its also a shame I'm just a few days too early for the starts of the big Caravaggio exhib which starts on 23rd.

Just round the corner is the National Portrait Gallery. I spent more time here, especially in the Contemporary area where there are several recognisable celebrites, Dame Judi Dench, Germaine Greer and Sam-Taylor Wood's video of the Sleeping Beckham. Also had a look at the Schweppes Photo Portrait Prize.
In the evening I went to the ICA to watch the film about Bob Moog, the inventor of the Moog synthesizer. An interesting film and the director Hans Fjellestad was there to answer questions. The only problem was I was there with my daughter, son-in-law and their young friends who all thought the old footage of the likes of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman was hilarious! Laughing at the rock heroes of my generation, tut!
Saturday - Tate Britian to see the Anthony Caro sculptures, excellent. Plenty of other stuff there too of course, like Antony Gormley and Tracey Emin but didn't bother with the Turner/Whistler/Monet extravaganza - too many queues, too crowded.

Then onto the Barbican for the Christian Marclay and Tina Barney exhibs. Highlight is Marclay's Video Quartet (2002). Spread across 4 large screens, there's nearly 700 short musical clips from films such as Psycho, Sound of Music, Barbarella, Back to the Future etc. There's different clips on each screen and it runs for 15 minutes and somehow all fits together. All his work here is music related. This drum kit is 4 metres high and there's a 7 metre long accordian. Go see, if you can - finishes May 2nd.