Up to London ahead of the G20 summit. Great to be back in town - a haircut, a latte at Buon Appetito (much chat about the old days, the old bookshop and the staff - almost all of whom are still remembered by their preferred sandwich fillings).
Then a few minutes in the British Museum (I'd forgotten how good that Norman Foster roof is) contemplating the statue of Sir Joseph Banks and checking out old bits of Babylonian pottery and stuff. Walk the length of Oxford Street and into Mayfair checking out the shop windows to see what Londoners are buying (see left), before being treated to lunch by two old chums anxious to winkle me out of my Rowlands Castle hibernation.
And what a lunch! Corrigans' in Upper Grosvenor Street has an excellent set menu, full of challenge to someone whose normal midday meal is a toasted cheese and ham sandwich. A starter of breaded Pig's Ear served with Quail Eggs, a main course of Grey Mullet with Pak Choi, and a pudding of Pear and Jelly in cheesey stuff were all terrific. And there was plenty of good carafe wine to wash it all down with - some of which was included in the menu.
And then, an ideal way to pass the afternoon, sitting outside a pub drinking beer for a couple of hours watching the world (and a few pretty girls) go by. Over the road Purdey the gun makers didn't appear to have many customers going through the door but like most people they have an online business now, and you can spend your first thousand pounds on a leather shooting vest and waterproof breeks before you start to think about a gun.
All in all a lovely way to spend the day. I must make efforts to be winkled out of Rowlands Castle more often.
No comments:
Post a Comment