My West London Life

Helen Bagnall

March
5

Award-winning writer, curator and director of Salon London, Helen Bagnall on drawing dreams, an uncomfortable dinner and getting in trouble

Where is your hood?

Westbourne Park, the canal, the Queensway end of Westbourne Grove and of course, the mighty Portobello Road.

What inspired your science, art and psychology event Salon?

It was inspired by wanting to know more science, about different kinds of arts, to pick up new skills and to find out how we, and our world, works. There wasn’t a night that gave me what I needed, so it had to be invented.

What has been your favourite event to date?

We did a Salon as if it was 1649 at Banqueting House – we covered 13.8 billion years in a Salon on Time for Tate Britain, and we did a virtual autopsy in a field at Latitude. They’re all favourites, but our Jungian Dream Matrix is the personal favourite because we had an animator draw everyone’s dreams and set it to music as a film – and you don’t get to do that every day.

You’re also an award-winning writer of screen, books and online. What are you most proud of?

Having a book published feels really good. Hearing your words in an actor’s mouth is a very close second.

How do you chill out?

Brad Inness’ Jivamukti Yoga at Frame, or any of Frame’s dance classes. A swim in the Lido at Parliament Hill (only 30 minutes by bike!).

What’s your favourite London park?

Hyde, because Henry VIII used to hunt there, and who doesn’t love the Tudors? Also you can run, swim, have pizza, lie on blankets with friends, and look at art there – it’s got it all.

What’s your favourite local haunt?

I love La Bodega on Tavistock Road – it feels like Spain. You can show off speaking Spanish to Antonio and he pretends to understand. Everyone’s happy.

What’s your tipple?

Sherry; whisky; cocktail desserts – all in moderation of course.

What’s on your bedside?

A photo of my nana, my mum, and my girl god-children in a antique frame, a kind of personal study of women and love, so I think about them every day even if just in that moment of getting up. I don’t know why the boy god-children don’t get the same treatment.

A lot of books, currently Animals, Emma Jane Unsworth, Clandestino: in Search of Manu Chao by Peter Culshaw, Naomi Wood’s Mrs Hemingway, Julian Baggini’s The Virtues of the Table, and Richard J William’s Sex and Buildings. There’s space for the new Michael Faber.

What was the last play you saw and did you enjoy it?

Abi Morgan’s Mistress Contract, and yes I did like it. Who wouldn’t love a two-hander about how the sexes negotiate unspokenly about their sex lives? Thanks for the uncomfortable dinner afterwards Abi.

This summer sees the launch of Salon’s outdoor festival, also, in Warwickshire. What can we expect?

also will be a tiny festival with its own serendipity machine and lake, both of which will ensure tranquility if you need it. We’ve got 40 acres to roam about, the best food ever served at a festival, bands to rock out to, stuff to get involved in, a long peaceful lake side to relax with a sun downer, and a gin and philosophy area.

Plus, lots of brilliant speakers whose big and exciting ideas could change your life or make it richer, and if not we’ve got rockeoke, and an all-night disco shed which will be a right laugh. We’re like a brilliant house party but one where you feel no pressure to be nice.

What’s in your secret address book?

The bar food at E&O is under-rated – you can even take a vegan there. Hello Tokyo at the top of Notting Hill Gate, Beirut Express on Edgware Road in summer. Books for Cooks on Tuesdays  – the veggie day; three courses for £7 and the pleasure of Eric’s company. Books and Kitchen on All Saints Road are putting on some really interesting night-time events; their supper clubs with James Knight are superb.

And there’s a new hidden deli/restaurant in a greenhouse set back off Portobello Road opposite the Spanish supermarket, so hidden even google can’t find it.

What’s your life motto?

Always take the more positive action. (Warning: this has got me in a lot of trouble.)

What’s next?

More of the same, just bigger, brighter, better and forever.

Check out the next Salon event and details on the upcoming also Festival at www.salon-london.com

Sarah Campus, founder of LDN MUMS FITNESS

March
19

We chat sleeping, eating, hydrating and moving with pre and post-natal fitness expert, Sarah Campus

Sarah Campus is a highly experienced women’s personal trainer, a nutrition coach, wellness expert and a busy mum of three. In 2016 she founded LDN MUMS FITNESS. She is a fitness and wellbeing panellist for Women’s Fitness Magazine and often appears on television as a holistic health specialist.… Read more →

Amy Nairn, Personal Chef

January
5

Personal Chef Amy Nairn on her favourite restaurants, high-profile clients, & cooking to impress!

Where do you live and why?

Having grown up between Islington and Scotland, I’ve lived in Parson’s Green most of my adult life. I love village atmosphere, the mix of ‘country’ pubs, young families, and its proximity to the King’s Road.

How did you get into cooking, is

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