黑洞社区

Inside the waiters look bone-weary already, and it鈥檚 only 6pm. 鈥淭his must be like new year鈥檚 eve for them,鈥� muses David. The table considers what to give up for Lent. Kate is going to stop checking work emails in the evenings. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like crack,鈥� she says, shaking a well-used iPhone. David is going to give up reading free newspapers. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e always just sitting there on the train, and it鈥檚 too easy to just pick one up and start reading. They鈥檙e a complete waste of time,鈥� he says. Much better to stick to weekly subscription titles, I say.

Steve makes a snap decision to give up drinking. 鈥淭his will be my last beer,鈥� he proclaims, holding up his glass. David looks dubious. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 worth emailing the whole company about that,鈥� he says. Steve frowns. 鈥淲ait a minute 鈥� there are no awards ceremonies during Lent, are there?鈥�

The table considers what to give up for Lent. Kate is going to stop checking work emails in the evenings. 鈥業t鈥檚 like crack,鈥� she says

Only the 黑洞社区 Awards, Steve, but they鈥檙e usually a fairly sober affair. Honest.

David is making the journey to Mipim this year, and says teetotalism would be a tricky act to maintain at the annual Cannes knees-up. 鈥淧eople say they can do it, but they鈥檙e always drinking champagne by the end of the week,鈥� he says.

Only one company in the world makes this marvellous machine. The only problem is, he can鈥檛 remember the name

Victoria, after some pressing, reluctantly agrees to give up ready meals. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so late after getting home and putting the baby to bed that it鈥檚 just easier to pop something in the microwave,鈥� she sighs. What would Jamie Oliver say?

Talk of abstinence leads Steve to his favourite topic 鈥� energy reduction. 鈥淪teve鈥檚 building his own house,鈥� explains David. 鈥淗e likes to tell people about it.鈥� Steve says he is searching for a complicated piece of Japanese machinery that can heat your house by drawing energy from the air outside. 鈥淲hat, even when it鈥檚 winter?鈥� asks Victoria. 鈥淚t can heat radiators even with an outdoor temperature of 鈥�10脼C,鈥� boasts Steve. 鈥淥nly one company in the world makes it.鈥� The only problem is, he can鈥檛 remember the name. 鈥淢itsubishi, perhaps?鈥�

David says Grand Designs has given self-builds a difficult reputation. 鈥淚 think everyone should build their own homes.鈥� Kate disagrees. 鈥淔rustrated architects build their own homes.鈥� Chat of frustrated architects bring us to the work of Le Corbusier, an exhibition dedicated to whom has just opened at the Barbican. Kate talks of a visit to Ronchamp and seeing Corb鈥檚 celebrated chapel bathed in early morning light. 鈥淚t was just magical. You began to understand his inspiration,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he only problem is, you have to park about five miles away from the thing.鈥�