Not a bad journey there, fast train, tube, and slowish train from Victoria. The boys played on their tablets all the way, with wifi for most of the journey too, modern life is quite good sometimes. I read a little of my book1.
We had eaten our lunch on the way so had a relaxed afternoon really, drinking tea and watching Top Gear. The boys watched this many times. Thing one has been into it for a while but thing two just got obsessed with it.
Walked to The Delme in the evening with Dad. Atrocious weather made it seem further than it really is, but we had a nice sit and a couple of pints of Old Rosie and then walked home. We could have done more here, we were early, I could have completed Febrewery even earlier in this trip. I already spoiled it in the title, but Febrewery is now DONE, though at this point in the report we're only up to number twenty-three.
Another relaxed morning but then we booked a table and spent the whole afternoon at Dice gaming lounge2, and it was great. A huge library of games to play though we probably didn't make the most of it. Being two children and three non-gaming adults we settled on Star Wars Monopoly, and then a few short games of other things. We all had a great time, and what do you know there is a bar there, so Febrewery level up achieved again!
We had dinner in The Seagull, at the youngest's request. We all know it is not the best but it's cheap and they are happy with it. I had vegan "fish and chips" and it was OK. I would say it was convincing, I think it is mostly tofu, but I would have said these were like big fish fingers. Also, Febrewery.
I got them to drop me off at The Cormorant instead of going straight home, I'm really on a roll now. This is the nicest place in Portchester but being that bit further we don't normally go there. We must make the effort. I thought I was there on my own but then Dad came back which made it much better. There are loads of pictures of Portchester Castle in this pub, different views from differnt times, photos and drawings. Nice pint of ESB too, though it's £4.50 here, probably the most expensive pint in town. From there walked to The Wicor Mill, and while not expecting much were very pleasantly surprised. It's bigger and brighter than I remember, lively, big screens, two different sports on. Pool table, darts, garden, bargain food, and a pint of Theakstons. Again not a very late night.
Saturday we went into Fareham to get some school shoes and new books, and bumped into more family while we were there.
Saturday night out proper with the boys! Started at Dave's house, then on to West Street Ale House for four pints, then to BBQ Boss3 for some burger and chips to take back to Dave's again. So nice to see the friends and chat and catch up. Did not finish too late and the Wetherspoons was still open and welcoming as I walked home so I went in there too. I said I was not going to a Wetherspoons again, and this is not even the good one, but it completed Febrewery for me. Tried to get a Black Dragon, assuming it was a stout, and listed at £2.19. It was a cider, they were out of it, I got another Old Rosie for the same sort of price.
Yet another lie in on Sunday, I have never slept so much. Smashing roast dinner, with Mum and Dad and Kez and Rob and a suprise appearance by Jack. Nice to have a relaxing dinner. Even though we had one eye on the train times, with not having to drive back I wasn't worried about overeating or turning down that final cup of tea.
Did not go back laden with stuff, as we were on the train. Still more than we came down with, what with new books and shoes. I only managed to shed a magazine and some snacks from the outbound journey. I would have taken those Brexit commemorative 50ps but I fear they would make our bags just that bit too heavy.
Quite a long journey home, four different trains, and we missed one connection. The boys played on their tablets all the way back again, though with wifi for about half the journey. Didn't spot my Network Card had expired, Clare bought the tickets with her Network Card, but one guard on the way home did. They let me off as it was the return journey, I must remember to renew that before my next trip. Even though it was longer, and we did have thirty minutes hanging around at Ashford because of a missed connection, I preferred the train to driving.
The car was waiting for us at the station, even if the driver wasn't, she was in the pub still. We picked her up from the Inn Doors and got the boys home to bed. I nearly didn't get a takeaway from Nine Dragons, but then I did. We watched Death In Paradise and I was not the one snoring before the end for a change.
Horrible weather today (Strong winds and light rain showers, high 11° low 4°) the drizzly rain is horizontal because of the wind. Neither boy keen to get back to school today but thing one particularly so. We traipsed off down the hill anyway, doing our best to avoid the dog poo on Hospital Hill. I see thing two has smashed the "accelerated reader" programme, logging the school book and other Dog Man4 books we bought in the half term break. This is normally thing one's top priority when he gets back into school. I'm very pleased with both of their reading, they are away ahead of the game, but I'm particularly proud of thing one in the past couple of weeks for picking up entirely new books, new authors, new kinds of stories, and powering through them. Given the choice of a new book book, thing one went for Dog Man again4, but thing two chose One Of Us Is Lying5 and the sequel One Of Us Is Next6. Sounds like The Breakfast Club with murders. He's picked up a couple of new series recently, instead of revisiting the same old.
What's my challenge for March going to be then..?
Paul Clarke's weblog - I live in A small town, Kent. Married to Clare + father to two, I am a full-stack web engineer, + I do javascript / Node, some ruby, other languages ect ect. I like pubbing, parkrun, eating, home-automation + other diy jiggery-pokery, history, family tree stuff, TV, squirrels, pirates, lego, and TIME TRAVEL.