under another sun

Off this morning to Trafalgar Square to meet Bob under the usual lion. However the square had been cordoned off and there was a big stage there where people were rehearsing songs from High School Musical. An affront to human decency I called it. I was early, and it was hot, but luckily Bob was already there and we hopped into Pret for a cold drink of water and a sandwich. There after a good deal of catching up, we decided to go to the Zurbarán exhibition in The National. It was rather fabulous, full of imposing and brilliant paintings, loaded with meanings, and I write  more about it here .  We went ambling about having beers and catching up. We'd not met up this year, so there was loads to discuss. He was in top form, however, and we had a good laugh. We visited the Salisbury, which of course is a trusty favourite, then off to The Seven Stars, which makes me think of Bleak House because it is deep in the legal part of town, then to the Cittie of York, where we sat conspirator...

In the Cittie Another night full of vivid dreams, and then up craving for a damn fine cup of Joe, once this and toast needs sated burned the Armenian flute music on Mum's laptop to take home, and Mum and I travelled into town on separate missions, saying goodbye at Baker Street. I went off to Tavistock Square and had a lunchtime beer with Pat and Karam. A good gossip and lots of laughs. Pat going into a school next year too, to talk about advertising to 16 year olds. Then a pleasant couple of hours wandering about in London free as a bird, pausing for a bite to eat and a browse in Foyles bookshop before making my way to meet Mick Ginty in Ye Old Mitre pub dating back to 1546. Satisfying to sit there in a busy, wood panelled room near and a portrait of Henry VIII and a real fire. One of those timeless London moments. Mick talking about the arrival of The Gintini , his and Lucy's baby due in about six weeks. Bob arrived and after an overlap, Mick left. Bob and I then proceeded o...