under another sun

Up to Elstree today, to the Waggon and Horses to meet Mum and Mas. A charmed journey, and I found myself outside the pub waiting for the door to open at 12 having walked along the former Roman road beside the fields to the pub.  I ordered a Guinness, and not long after I had begun sipping it, Mum and Mas appeared. Lovely to see them both on good form. I amused Mas by telling him that I have never been more manly than when sawing and bolting things together in the garden. Mum wearing her colourful jumper and very well colour coordinated. The barman knew what Mum wanted to drink, and Mas ordered a lager and some extra hot chicken wings and spring rolls, which was probably enough. But we had main courses too. I had a bean burger. Mum had a box for leftovers which the birds eat. Mum gave me a pressie for Lorraine.  The Waggon and Horses was extremely quiet today, it was as if we had the place to ourselves for most of it.  After a few hours, it was time to go home. Mum and Mas...

A good night's sleep. Off to meet Mum and Mas in Elstree at high noon. Packed my bag, and caught the train. Settled into faux first and worked on poems for a bit, and tinkered with a short story. Quite enjoyed working this way as the countryside slipped by and turned into London. A change at St Pancras, and stayed on the same platform off to Elstree and Borehamwood. The Borehamwood football team, is called Boreham Wood FC and are in the fifth tier of English football. Wikipedia says that Boredom Wood FC have a strong local rivalry with St Albans City. Anyhow, rather amazingly, they are now through to the fifth round of the FA Cup and are playing Everton in their next match.  I mooched down to The Waggon and Horses, and was let in just after 12 and was enjoying a pint of Guinness on their favoured table by the fire when Mum and Mas arrived. Mason said he had been watching a TV programme about modern sniping. He was a sniper in the Korean War so had more than a passing interest in it...

I got up before seven this morning to do a couple of hours work for my French clients before taking Lorraine breakfast in bed. There was a street party on Osborne Road today, but we had other parsnips to butter heading up to Edgware to see Mum and Mas. An easy drive up there, and we arrived fairly early shortly after 12. Mason showed me a video for a mansion that had taken his fancy in California due to a Great Gatsby style video being shot in it, to promote the sale. I phoned to secure table in the pub, however managed to phone one in some other part of London with the same name. I mentioned Mason and they said they knew him. I put in the postcode for this pub by mistake, which resulted in us getting lost en route. But we sorted it out eventually, but only after we had gone around a roundabout three times. The Waggon and Horses nice enough, and we were able to get a seat in it. We had a decent roast in there, and a quick drink. As we were leaving I saw a large spider, with a body ...

Up and off in the new car to Edgware. A speedy journey, able to listen to podcasts in a relaxed fashion. To Mum and Mason's house. The next door neighbours, those of the concrete dogs, artificial grass and leaf phobia have erected an ugly little fence between their door and Mum and Mason's. They have taken down their for sale sign, much to the gloom of neighbours nearby. Mum and Mas on good form, and after a cup of tea, and seeing John the carer, who came by and generally laughed and told Mason how good he was looking, we drove north to the Waggon and Horses pub in Elstree. This under new Irish management, and the craic there has definitely improved, along with the food. A Sunday lunch there. Mason ordered one of their good burgers, and Lorraine and I had roast chicken. Mum had fish and chips. Then as we left the silver tongued new owner telling Mas how much I looked like him, telling me how nice Mum and Mas were, and giving Mum a free bottle of wine to take home. Mason ...