while I was watching Wimbledon they focussed in on the court thermometer - it was over 40C!

I can't believe the three months is over either, I still have lots of stuff on my list, good job my husband seems ready to move here!

Lateday - we are indeed on the same page, pity we haven't had the chance to meet in the same place, do give me a shout if you come to, or through, the Bay Area. We were fairly near Hardy's home when we were in Wiltshire as we were right by the Dorset boarder but we didn't make it down there.

Janisj - I really think you would like 18 Stafford Terrace, I found it fascinating and it's just around the corner from Leighton House. I can't believe how hot is is in Sacramento...

Dukey - there are indeed lots of shorts but here in the East End they are either short shorts (for women) or those slim mid thigh shorts for men, often worn with a belt and brogues, almost ironically. So, all very fashionable

Annhig- glad you won't be boiling in Cornwall! Seeing Wimbledon outdoors, on a big screen tv with St Pauls in the background was a hoot! I can't believe it was over 40C, crazy.

RM67 Viet Grill is on my list for next time, so close and yet I still haven't made it there!

Wait - you can't leave; I haven't finished reading it all and planning my September trip to London! Yes - very hot in the East Bay but watching Wimbledon where it is hot - worried about Andy. Up for an East Bay meet-up! Safe travels!!

Seeing Wimbledon outdoors, on a big screen tv with St Pauls in the background was a hoot! I can't believe it was over 40C, crazy. >>

going to be even hotter there today, apparently. it's slightly overcast here and about 10C cooler!

Gail - don't worry about Andy -

1. he trains in florida and is super fit, and

2. it's going to be cooler tomorrow when he is due to play again.

Hope everyone in the Uk is enjoying the sunshine.

It's gorgeous here in Helsinki, apparently there was hail two days ago so we've been pretty lucky!

gailscout - I'm up for an East Bay meet-up! I wonder how many Fodorites there are in Berkeley and Oakland?

"I wonder how many Fodorites there are in Berkeley and Oakland?"

Or looking for an excuse to be there.

WTB -- are you going to be writing about Helsinki?

Normal service was resumed this morning when it rained - but it's been a lovely afternoon.

Talking of Wimbledon, I'm watching Nadal v Brown this evening - a fantastic match. Where has Dustin Brown been all these years?

just to add to the list of places to visit in London, a new Titian exhibition has opened at Apsley House [no 1, london]; according to a feature on the Today programme this morning, a number of their paintings have newly been identified as being by Titian and they are now exhibited there.

I can't find a link to the new exhibition, but this gives a flavour:

http://onelondonone.blogspot.co.uk/2...ley-house.html

and as you might have guessed already, it's yet another place in London that I've never visited.

ANNHIG, thanks for that updated clip about APSLEY HOUSE. Such a fine collection of art. Looking forward to returning to London next spring...

Just signing in then I keep track of this. No time to read it all at the moment. From the quick glance I have had it looks like a wonderful long read.
Re the temperature in UK, I am at present in Manchester via Wales and London. It has been seriously warm this week, around 27C today. Do not need my thermals this time. Rain jacket is handy as there are thunderstorms forecast in the evenings.

welltraveledbrit - lets do it! Preferably prior to my trip in late August!

Gertie - glad you're enjoying the Uk without the benefit of thermals!
gailscout - we're on, ideally for me before I leave for NYC in mid-August.
Mmeperdu - feel free to join!
annhig - now you're just torturing me with things I'm missing in London!

Yestravel - I'm sure I will get around to a TR on Helsinki but it will probably go along with the posts on my blog and as I have a TON to catch up from on London it may take a while.

Here's what I can tell you so far... we are having a wonderful time and we really like HelsinkiI but I get why it's a city that doesn't appeal to everyone and many seem to be happy with just a quick look. Although it's an old settlement, the Helsinki you see today dates from 1809. It's a city of trams and flats with wide uniform streets, there's nothing like the atmosphere of the old town in Tallin. The town is built along the water but it has a starkness and even the Art Nouveau buildings are restrained in a very Scandinavian manner.

However, this is a splendid city if you are interested in architecture and design and you're prepared to head out looking for it.

Today we spent the day on a pilgrimage to the designer and architect Alver Aalto. We started at Finlandia Hall, then we went to the stadium he designed for the 1940 Olympics - because of the war it didn't come to Finland until 1952. Then we walked further out to his home (where we took a tour) and studio. On the way back into town we took the tram (thank God because I was walked out) where we saw another Aalto building the "sugar cube" and Artek the shop that sells his furniture and design peices. What a wonderful day and it really gave us an appreciation for Finnish Functionalism. We both loved the line and texture in Aalto's work.

We've eaten very well at Juuri, Huko and Wellamo and I'm relatively happy with the hotel, the Klaus K.

We are still in Berlin but I have a couple of new London posts on the blog.

Here's one on the Thea Porter exhibit which was at the Fashion and Textile Museum, probably only interesting for those who are interested in fashion or the 1970's in London.

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...d-textile.html

One of the first things I did in London was visit the Werhner Collection at the Ranger House in Greenwich. It's somewhere I'd never heard of but it was very interesting, Werher made his money in gold along with Beit and Rhodes in South Africa. Anyway lots of info and pictures here.

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...ers-house.html

I've just posted on some of the incredible street art we saw in thee East End...
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...in-london.html

love the hare and the bees, WTB.

looks like the area has changed a bit in the last 20 years!

It's changed in the last six months never mind the last 20 years! I really enjoyed the changing nature of the street art which we sought out.

I'm wading through tonnes of photos and have quite a few posts coming up on the blog, catching up on all that I saw. I'm off to New York in a couple of weeks so I don't want to get too distracted! I will try to do a summary post but probably when I caught up on the blog and can provide relevant links.

So here's my latest blogpost on a visit to the Sir Percival David Collection at the British Museum. Chinese Porcelain anyone? It really is a lovely collection and some of you may have seen it when it was in a townhouse on Gordon Sq. I was really quite take by both the collection and the beautiful presentation. Its fascinating how much it goes beyond the blue and white exporter we are so familiar with...

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...ection-at.html

My Journey through every obscure museum in London took me to the Estorick Collection in Islington. It's a great place with a super collection of Italian Futurist Art, in a charming setting. Lots of photos and link to information on Futurism on the blog.

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...ck-museum.html

For me this was one of the hidden gems in the London art scene. Highly recommended for art lovers who have the time in London or have made multiple visits to the more famous venues and are looking for something new.

I still have lots of restaurants, walks and museums to blog about but this week I've been thinking about all the social housing developments we saw in London including Keeling House where we stayed and the Barbican among others. I'm not sure if too many of these places would be on most tourist itineraries but it's fascinaing for anyone who is interested in architecture, urban planning and design.

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2015/...modernist.html