Sketch, London

You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

I am currently down in London, visiting friends and doing some various productive things, and was taken by said friend to her newest and most favourite discovery.

Sketch is a parlour cafe, come members club come restaurant proper come nightclub.

http://www.sketch.uk.com/

i merely sampled the cafe section but that was enough to wow me. the decor is like something out of a grand stately home on acid, my table consisting of velvet arm chairs, and a large old fashioned writing bureau. others were large lounging sofas in decadent fabrics which matched perfectly to the bone china floral tea cups by 4POUND cup of tea came in. never have i ever wanted to steal crockery more, i feel it would probably have been completely justified as well, alas however my bag was too small.

on the wall behind my head was a large glass deer head illuminated by the soft glow of a naked lamp bulb, but the main feature of the room was the kitchen sink work top featurette of cakes and drinks.

the cakes and pastries are something else entirely, sculpted artistic creations- the eclairs looked precision made, square cut finely layered chocolate parcels and my friend sampled some heavenly blackberry cream chocolate sponge oyster shaped delight.

whilst this is all fine and well, and too amazing for words, i couldn't help but try and surpress a feeling that this was a world that wasn't quite mine yet. I am broke. this isn't really a point that needs to be expanded on because it depresses me too much to bear - hiya beautiful silver silk harem pants that amazingly actually fit my recently inflated curves, oh hiya 45 pound price tag that i cannot afford. etc etc. you get the idea.

so when i go to an establishment where it is 4 pounds for a cup of (although refreshing) really just tea served in aesthetically pleasing surroundings, i feel i may be overstepping my monetary bounds somewhat. the money aside, i do not on any level exude an impression of hidden wealth, as some people are able to carry off, i am left feeling in establishments like this a tad out of place. one day i have aims to be able to go to somewhere like this, order whatever i want without a consideration to money, and it not even have to be a treat. i want this everyday.

for the mean time, i can please my senses with less expensive pleasures. night time adventures in clapham had be stumble ( more realistically lead by a knowing hand) to the pepper tree http://thepeppertree.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=30- also understood to be clapham's most affordable thai restaurant. busy, fast paced, and simple basics make up somewhere i feel much more comfortable. and my overly loud vocal chords meant i could still be heard over the restaurants echoing noise levels. pad thai for 6.50 in the capital should never be frowned upon. as well as tasty fattening prawn filled filo pastry parcels to start (still in a deep pastry rut). whilst it was not me footing the bill at this outing, it was still nice to be reminded that the big smoke isn't all too much for me. drinks in an agreeably cheap bar after proved to be the north isn't as good value as i first thought - head of steam, you are more expensive than London!

Possibly my favourite discovery of the weekend was Borough Market, a foodies heaven. every possible bourg food you can imagine in one place, with free tasters a plenty. foie gras, chicken liver mousse, as many terrine's, jams and condiments as you could shake a large meaty stick at.a free lunch of things i may never have got to try before, like the most incredible serrano ham, my lord, those Spanish know how to cure some hams. and sell it for 20 pounds for 100g. again, one day, not today that is for sure. all i could afford was a goats cheese and red onion foccacia. too middle class for words.

Things i have learnt -

1. if you get the mega bus to london from newcastle which is just over 6 hours of your life you will never get back, make sure the driver isn't INSANE and turns the heating off otherwise you will feel like your dying.

2.oyster cards are great. but travel is still dear. walking is underrated.

3. too finally resist topshop and it's overpriced garmets.