February scrapes by
Joined the walking group for a rather uninspiring trek around Wooton Bassett, but good chats on route.
Spent last weekend up in London for a good friend's 50th - a gathering of folk I have known for thirty years.
London always has a cross section of life: I saw the Egyptian protesters as the bus passed down Park Lane on Friday, past the glitzy car showrooms and hotels.
Saturday morning brunch in Lincoln's Inn Fields, which I can't remember visiting before - home to London's law elite.
Saturday afternoon we were all ten-pin bowling in a subterranean venue that could have been on the set of Grease - it had that dated feel, whether intentionally or not. Managed a bad rendition of 'Walk the Line' with a friend in the 'Karaoke Room'. I'm sure that the beer helped.
Whilst various children were whisked off to babysitters, one of the party (who has a history when it comes to doing London walks) arranged a little excursion around London. It took in Coram's Fields named after Thomas Coram who set up the Foundling Hospital for homeless children in the 1740s - funded by his trade with the American colonies. From his statue, he was a well-fed chap. We passed the pitches filled with youths playing sports, and slightly incongruous wafts of a spliff from the sidelines.
A decent pint in a homely little pub. A wander through Bloomsbury, passing the blue plaques of the various notable writers that have graced the area - Dickens and Brittain included. As the light dimmed we passed the Mount Pleasant sorting office and followed the path of the hidden New River that was built to direct fresh drinking water into the centre of London. Journey's end was Islington, (passed the house where Orton and Halliwell met their end), to a characterful pub where our party concluded the birthday celebrations.
A little more time to chat with friends on a relaxed Sunday before heading home to the mundanities of the week.
Spent last weekend up in London for a good friend's 50th - a gathering of folk I have known for thirty years.
London always has a cross section of life: I saw the Egyptian protesters as the bus passed down Park Lane on Friday, past the glitzy car showrooms and hotels.
Saturday morning brunch in Lincoln's Inn Fields, which I can't remember visiting before - home to London's law elite.
Saturday afternoon we were all ten-pin bowling in a subterranean venue that could have been on the set of Grease - it had that dated feel, whether intentionally or not. Managed a bad rendition of 'Walk the Line' with a friend in the 'Karaoke Room'. I'm sure that the beer helped.
Whilst various children were whisked off to babysitters, one of the party (who has a history when it comes to doing London walks) arranged a little excursion around London. It took in Coram's Fields named after Thomas Coram who set up the Foundling Hospital for homeless children in the 1740s - funded by his trade with the American colonies. From his statue, he was a well-fed chap. We passed the pitches filled with youths playing sports, and slightly incongruous wafts of a spliff from the sidelines.
A decent pint in a homely little pub. A wander through Bloomsbury, passing the blue plaques of the various notable writers that have graced the area - Dickens and Brittain included. As the light dimmed we passed the Mount Pleasant sorting office and followed the path of the hidden New River that was built to direct fresh drinking water into the centre of London. Journey's end was Islington, (passed the house where Orton and Halliwell met their end), to a characterful pub where our party concluded the birthday celebrations.
A little more time to chat with friends on a relaxed Sunday before heading home to the mundanities of the week.