under another sun

A leisurely start to the weekend. Then back to the gym for me. Hard work, and a week or so of gormandising and boozing certainly took their toll in terms of fitness. Good to do some sweating though. Met Lorraine afterwards, who had been shopping, and we scampered home in the rain. Curiously, both of us in need of a holiday after our holiday. In the evening Lorraine and I sauntered down to the Duke of York Picture House to see Philomena,  starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. A film in which the Irish Catholic Church and nuns come out of looking particularly poorly, selling children to American couples in the 50s. Based on true events, and a story covered by journalist Martin Sixsmith, who is played by Coogan in the film. Lorraine and I both enjoyed this. Back in time for Match of the Day too... Although Chelsea mysteriously lost. A single glass of sherry with my wife on the sofa. All well.  

Into town with Lorraine most of the afternoon, dodging out of the rain into a few clothes shops, having coffee in a new cafe called Berties, buying a card for Pat's 80th next week. Then on to look at wedding rings. Window shopped for some time then were dragged into one place and shown various rings by a very annoying woman who spoke in a false sing-song voice, and didn't listen to anything we said. I thought it was just me being critical, but Lorraine leant forward in a moment of respite and hissed she's so annoying! We made our escape. Luckily there are many jewellery shops in the Old Lanes and we found one where a man took us through our options clearly and with some charm.  Lots of decisions to be made about wedding rings, such as their thickness and what they are made of, and what sort of cut they are. Seem to have found a very nice one for Lorraine, and I think I have chosen one for me. While so doing learned about palladium, which is a Russian metal newly classif...