A late start, but scouring the lanes for food, opted for the speciality pie shop where we ate pie and mash and drank ginger beers. MJ had a nice pie of chicken and butternut squash but balked at mushy peas.

Thence to the jeweller to collect the ring. The nice jeweller very accomodating, and took MJ into the back of the shop to show her pictures of him and his sister in Central Park. The new stone is sparkly and is nicer that the first one. MJ really happy with it, and it feels good to have this all sorted out. Just like the first time, we went from the jeweller back to the Quaker garden and sat there cheerfully for a few minutes till meanaced by a cloud of gnat-style bugs, and two small spiders.

From there to the sea, and onto the Pier where MJ had her fortune told by a man called Ivor lying in wait inside his gypsy caravan. Enjoyed watching MJ and the seer looking keenly into each other's eyes like two chess players. Ivor was extremely good value: a tremulous voice given to occasional swoops, and theatrical gestures. My favourite was a twice-repeated purposeful jab of his finger over MJ's shoulder towards the open door of the caravan and Brighton crying "it is out there!". MJ wondering if she was supposed to be owling her head around to look behind her.

An interesting reading, and from my superficial knowledge of Tarot, I thought he knew his stuff.

From there off to see the Lord of War which was rather good but somewhat depressing film about an arms dealer, which had MJ in tears at the end of it. Cheer rapidly established when we repaired to the nearby Heist bar and MJ had a martini and I had a Guiness.

Then in the evening, up the hill to see Anna and Anton. Had a really fun night lurking at their house eating a traditional Friday curry and quaffing sparkling wine. Anna and Anton gave me a birthday present too. A t-shirt to Anton's design which said VIRGO (I wish), and from Baby Klauds a packet of Turtley Nuts, which are chocolate Tiny Tasty Turtles.

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