Weekend after the Dragon Chase (3 weeks ago now) was Kirstens brothers boat party on the thames, big boat 200+ people all getting drunk. Proper job. so we decided to make a weekend of it...
Went up friday night and headed pubwards after checking into the bohemia that is The Regent Palace Hotel. We met Maz and David on some floating bar thing, then went for some food in Wagamama at covent garden. Good grub, never been to one before, quite impressed! however, then we went to the excellent porter house to try a taster wheel, unfortunately it appears Kirsten is living in the past as the guy didn't know what she was talking about. We got a taster thing of their own 3 beers though, they were all 3 ok. I was especially impressed by the Brainblasta which, even at 7% was eminently drinkable... We didn't stay there long though, it was way too hot!
A bottle of wine and relaxation was called for...
Saturday saw us (eventually) heading to Kew gardens to see the Chihuly exhibition. It was stunning, as you may be able to tell from the plethora of pictures I took :o\ but really recommend it to anyone in the area, though I was shocked to find that Kew was not free to get in... lived near Oxford too long I suppose.
After heading into Richmond to get a few beers, realising we had no time and snaffling some magnificent pizzas at H20 floating restaurant [ Recommmended are the "Parma Ham, Brie & Figs" and I think it was the Four Cheese, but they were good anyway! ] we then realised we didn't have time to go to the hotel and drop stuff off, so we went straight to the Walkabout where we met up with everyone...
Boarding the boat half hour or so later, and the drinking commenced. Talking drinking looking at the Thames barrier took up most of the rest of the evening, particularly impressed by the barrier, more so than I expected to be... travelling through it it's an impressive piece of construction. And the lazer on the greenwich meridien is inspired simplicity!
Oh and I rode one of those rickshaw things on the way home... with the guy running beside going "No you're doing it all wrong! You're not checking where the side is..." tsk, I knew what I was doing, and I didn't hit anything did I?! aaaanyway!
Sunday we head to Greenwich to visit the Trafalgar Tavern on the river front, and sup a few. Fully steaming we meet up with some mates of K's and continue the process... good fun was had by all, including first taste of Halloumi, which was repeated at home on monday. Wicked weekend all round.

Weekend after was Mum's 60th so we spent it in my 'hood.
Friday night went to the Fleur for a few beers... not the same. Less fish, less people, no more landlord dude (steve?) *shrugs*
Saturday we got an early start to Oxford (we were parked at 8:50...) to see the sights and get back to help with preparing mum's bbq... well that was the plan.
What actually happened was we wandered into Oxford from St. Clements car park, angling towards the Pitt Rivers (main reason for taking K to Oxford) grabbed some very nice baguette sarnies from a "bistro" ;o) on the way past then sat on the University Museum lawn to eat them, intending to head into Pitt Rivers when it opened. That turned out to be 12 O'clock (it was about half 9 at this point) so needless to say we didn't wait...
We went to the station to get on a Tour bus. Now at this point I should explain 2 key facts:
1) I don't care what anybody says. I LIKE tour busses. with the live guide they give a wicked perspective into a bit of the history, culture, and more importantly for me, layout of the town you're visiting. This means that after getting off the bus I can perform my favourite activity of walking around and getting thoroughly lost in a new city...
2) I've been on the Oxford bus tour probably 20 odd times now. It's THE BEST way to see Oxford (esp. the centre) if you don't know the place because the ugly bits of oxford are at about street level, so on a double decker bus your eyes are generally higher, so you see the nice bits on top and over the ugly shop fronts etc...
Anyway, we had a great tour (thanks Rob - and remember I now know where you live...) and eventually got back to the car park (it was halfway round the route) put some more money on the car, then walked again to Pitt Rivers (deja vu heavily kicking in) only this time it was open...
The several hours I expected it to take (3 floors, tiny displays...) was significantly shortened by the fact that the upper 2 floors were closed cos they're building an extension wing. balls.
Still meant that we weren't so delayed by the whole trip, and we head to The Royal Oak for some nice grub, sort of thai sort of mediterranean interesting mix, and a couple of pints of Timmy Taylor. Before heading back chez Ma et Pa.
Most of the prep was done (this was about 4 O'Clock) so we made apologies, K did her "arty" job on the cake... lovely ;o) and I plied people with drink (any excuse to get myself some!)
People arrived and the evening was good. Big butterfly lamb barbequed was food highlight for me, and K nicely wrapped up the evening with a sing-song... no comment!

Sunday saw us heading to Bath to grab a camera for K's impending trip, and to see her mum, bro and bob for the last before heading off for a month. We had many Bath ales (barnstormer 4.5 mostly) even going to a different Bath Ales pub (sorry Salamander, we love you really) so we tried the Hop Pole... bit out of town, but it has a brilliant garden, and spuds and crackling to steal from the bar.
We wrapped the evening up with some ESB (no surprise there)

Last weekend was difficult. Kirsten went away to Borneo (see previous post) for a month.
We spent the night in Watford (as it's marginally closer to Hounslow and her bros house is there.) chinese and a few in the local. The next morning going to pack we got the kip sack kindly left out by her bro to take with her. It was Hyooooj... and just wouldn't have gone into her pack, not even after my squashing technique. So I drove us all the way back to Newbury to pick up mine which is about a 3rd of the size and is hopefully warm enough. It does have the advantage that she can actually take it... cos it'll fit in.
Then we head back to Hounslow about 2 hours late. Part way there K recieves a call "Where are you?" etc.. though it turns out 2 of the 3 guides from World challenge weren't there either, so it's not too much of a prob!
Then she goes. I'm gonna miss her.

Comments

Posted by: Shadowfish at July 28, 2005 1:26 PM