Those people who foolishly visit this webpage quite often may remember a previous post about a Russian ex-wife of my former boss, who used to insist that I call her “Space Angel”. Those who are unfamiliar with the tale may wish to acquaint themselves. (Feel free to scroll past the rubbish about the egg roll).

In that entry I mentioned that she now calls herself simply “Angel”, and she appeared to have married a former champion boxer who owns a boxing / exercise studio above the Half Moon pub in Herne Hill. What I didn't mention is that when she lived in Russia, she built scenery for a living. She's very good with powertools, making stuff, being creative with wood and paint. So, imagine my horror while coming down Herne Hill the other day, to see a garish sign above the Half Moon. Even from a couple of hundred yards, I could tell immediately that it was Angel's handiwork. The name of the studio has been cut out of plywood, painted bright pink and stuck on the outside of the building. To the right of the sign is a 2D plywood figurine, in a boxing stance, black, wearing shorts and vest, and presumably represents Angel's husband. And to the left, another figurine, female, also in a boxing stance, with 2 bloody great enormous wings sprouting out of her back. No guesses as to who that might represent.

Highly incongruous, garish, utterly inappropriate for a boxing studio, but somehow rather marvellous nonetheless. If you're in the Herne Hill area, do go and have a look. I believe that it might become a tourist attraction.