One stone two sparrows

To London today, on a mission to kill two birds with one stone. Trains to Mill Hill Broadway station, reading Greek Lessons by Han Kang on the train a bit. Hopped on the 221 and got off the stop after Mill Hill East. Reaching Gordon Road paused by a fence looking into the allotment and fiddled with my camera. A deep and violent baying from an unseen Arthur Conan Doyle style hound from inside a van right behind me made me jump out of my skin. Then mooched about a bit and this time went down the alleyway at the back of the house my paternal grandparents lived in when I was a little child. A bit eerie and overgrown, with mostly disused garages. Snapped a couple of shots and left again. Somehow having a camera lessened the feeling people would take me for a mature burglar. 

This obscure mission completed, off to meet Mum in the Jolly Badger, pausing at Costa coffee for a much needed perk. 

Mum had just arrived at the Jolly Badger when I got there and had had a wretched morning. A scammer had called her first thing claiming to be from bank security, and giving her a complex and horribly convincing story that would require her to send cash to an address. Luckily Mum did not do this, but it had her wrong footed and stressed.

However, once this sorted, we had a nice meal. We knew our waitress a lovely kind woman, who could even remember what Mum like, despite us not being there for months. She told me to download an app and in doing so we were able to get 50% off the meal. A cheery time and mum tucking into ribs with gusto. 

Then fond farewells. I am going to go up to stay overnight with her in the next week or so -- rather than just seeing her for a couple of hours.

Then the three hour trip home to boof onto the gold sofa with Lorraine. Did a cheeky 13k paces today without even trying. 

Below snaps in an alleyway.