Blog ≫ 2026 ≫ Exhausting relaxing
Got my jobs out of the way on Friday, yes another day off, and headed off for a nice healthy walk at about 2pm. We walked to The Bouverie Tap, and then to The Firkin Alehouse, and then to the East Cliff Tavern, and finally to The Curry Garden. A lovely day and not home late because we'd headed out early.
Saturday morning up early, but no parkrun, as we were heading to London for the day. Still aching slightly from the run on Thursday and the walk yesterday, I am getting less and less fit I think. Anyway a bit of excitement to start the day, I booked the wrong train tickets, booked singles instead of returns and so was looking like being out of pocket. Couldn't cancel them online so drove up to the station at half seven while the others were getting ready. Lady in the ticket office sorted it out for me, just another forty pence to pay to turn my tickets into returns.
Back home, shower, and back to the station with wife and boys. Nine O'clock train was busy but we did get seats near each other, and I got to ask someone to move their coat which had been arranged to look as if the seat was taken and someone was returning to the seat, hmm not having that.
Changed our plans at the last minute and jumped off at Stratford as the main focus of the day was buying a new coat for T1. He had an eye on one from Barbour (it's not all farm wear) but we hoped to find a cheaper one. Nothing in Stratford, so tube to Oxford Street and he's seen another Barbour one in John Lewis. He offered to contribute to it bless him, so we said no but got it anyway. Shopping done, time for a sit down!
First to The Argyll, very nice old pub with a very dark traditional interior. Actually quite hard to see in there. We wanted Italian for dinner so thought possibly go back to Stratford again at the end of the day to go to Figo which we had enjoyed before, and so booked it just in case it was busy. But still plenty of time to spare in central London. The only other realy plan was to go to Forbidden Planet, where T2 bought no Pokemon cards and a book, and I got that 2000ad t-shirt. Just T2 and I shopped here while wife and T1 waited in Craft Beer Co round the corner, then we joined them. Nice cafeish sort of bar but with good choice of beers. Wife thinks we have been there before I do not remember it. I don't think it is very old so maybe we went when it was called something else. We played lots of cards.
We had basically completed our missions, spent all the money, so back to Stratford to try and move our dinner resolution earlier. No chance, Figo is super busy. So we had to wait in The Cow, what a shame! Another lovely beer and luckily got a table perfectly positioned to watch the rugby. England losing to Italy for the first time ever, but still interesting to witness.
Figo was packed with dinners either on their way to see Abba Voyage or having already been to the matinee show. Lots of fancy dress. So glad we'd booked so we weren't shunted to a table outside under a heater. Very good food, but there was not the vegan ravioli starter that I thought I'd had last time, still really nice though. I had crumbed artichoke starter and some pasta main, T2 and wife had lamb ragu and T1 had a pizza.
Very nice, not cheap, it was a treat day though following pay day, the tax rebate, and the premium bonds winnings.
Quick trip back to the station to make sure we didn't miss the nine O'clock train, via Waitrose to get puddings. Taxi home and then fell asleep in front of the TV. I will have to watch that episode of How To Get To Heaven From Belfast again.
I'm up early because that little nap. Waiting for shopping delivery, then walking to pick up the car.
Still war. I see there was an attack on the US Embassy in Oslo, where a friend is visiting. Just heard from him he was nowhere near it and is on his way back now. I saw "live now from Portsmouth" on BBC News and thought the worst, but it was footage of that big aircraft carrier which is starting to move.
Light cloud and a gentle breeze, 6 - 10℃.