What a nice idea

This morning I arrived at Streatham Common station to the sound of an alarm and the platform milling with police officers. As I crossed over to the London platform the siren stopped and it became apparent that the police were simply warning of mobile phone thefts. Not only that but they were marking peoples phones and batteries with postcodes and house numbers to make returning stolen phones to their rightful owners easier.
I of course had mine done and it was a really nice start to the day. Friendly smiling police in the community.

Brighton Pride

pictures
Although I wasn’t feeling 100% having been into work on the friday and sent home I had already made plans to go to Brighton for the day. I had a friend staying and had arranged to meet people so I dutifully met up at clapham junction for the train journey down. The staff seemed fairly clued up there was an ‘event’ at brighton as they made plenty of announcements about how to get there where to change if necessary etc.
When we arrived it looked a bit dull and overcast but nothing too serious but by the time we arrived at Preston Park the heavens had opened and a lightning storm was in full flow. I was amazed at the number of people huddled under trees with umbrellas. Do people not realise how dangerous that is?
So we skipped the park and went straight to the pub to try and dry off a little. The hand dryers were in constant use!
A few drinks later and David and I had decided [well I had anyways] to ask Andy back to Streatham – he seemed keen and so that was settled.
The sun started to break through and alcohol had made us brave so we ventured into the park and joined in the festivities which was nice. The slide by the popstarz tent was cool so I went on it a few times. We had much more alcohol and then ventured back to the car [having met Andrew who had driven] and went to see the damage to his brighton abode. Followed by a trip to the marina for food.
A long journey home ensued but all in all a fun day! Lots of fun had by all in fact!

Enjoy the silence

Okay well last week was a bit quiet on all fronts. I have not been well since my trip to Liverpool. I was feeling kind bad on the journey down the M6 but by the time I hit the sack on Sunday I was unable to talk properly. I have not been in work yet this week and have had a fever and sore throat with nasty yellow puss and spots. I took a couple of pictures naturally but they are a little fuzzy and really don’t show you how bad it really was. Scally’s x-rays are a much better depictation of his injuries. So what with not being able to talk and being perpetually tired I felt like a monk ho had taken a vow of silence. No online chatting and no offline talking. Typically I have not been able to get an appointment with my doctor so I am going to just rough it.
Super strength strepsils are the order of the day!

Oh and daytime TV has not got any better since the last time I was off ill. At least then they had Wonder Woman on Sci-Fi. This time the only programme worth watching during the day was grand designs and I only saw one of them [it was the only one I stayed awake through]. A couple had bought a mill up north stripped out the interior and made it all modern inside with a ?6,000 shower. It looked nice though and you know if I had the money and lived up north I might consider something similar.
So all in all a very quiet week for me – which you know is sometimes good. My mum always warned me about burning the candle at both ends. I think I was melting the middle a little too!

today i mostly…

sat in traffic on the M6 south 🙁
So a mixed weekend in Liverpool – was nice to see my folks and friends [Adrian has just had his first daughter]. My gran however is very ill 🙁 Tiring though all that travelling up and down motoways.
It’s almost as bad as flying but not as painful with non of that annoying airport loitering.
So I’m ready for bed now.

Dinner

I had some old friends for dinner. Kate ‘Lightning’ who used to drink at La Rue’s and work at Foyles was home from teaching in Egypt in order to marry her fiancee whom we have nicknamed ‘Thunder’. Jacs and Helen were invited too and also FF [Ian] who also used to work at Foyles and drink in the bar. So it was a bit like a school reunion feeling really. Still it was a really pleasant evening interspersed with glances of disbelief from 4 of us as Thunder and Lightning put on a show 😉
Even if I do say so myself the food was good – if a little plentiful.
We started with some nibbles of Crispy Peking Duck and some duck and plum parcels. Just to while away the time whilst I was preparing things in the kitchen.
The appetiser was seared tuna steaks with a home made mango and capsicum salsa and we followed that with a chargrilled chicken breast ceasar salad.
Unfortunately this meant there was little room left for the Tart au citron and fresh berries or the cheese and biscuits later. Still not to worry all the left overs went down a storm at work the following day!
Thunder and Lightning left earlyish which left the rest of us to catch up and gossip. It was lovely but ever so grown up!