Sunday In London

I've had the best of times.
The best.
Nu is a panacea for most ills and meeting her lightened my heart more than anyone else in this world could possibly do.
On Friday we went to Hawksmoor on Air Street for dinner followed by WALDEN which is a sort of Syfy drama staring the glorious Gemma Arterton. The theater felt safe and welcoming and the play proved to be thoughtful and well acted. 
We went back to Ealing for too much gin and conversation so was muzzy headed for the start of Kew Gardens on Saturday 
Kew, as always was a delight and sunburnt and tired we followed that with cinema inBrentford


Where we saw a fantastic movie called AFTER LOVE staring the comedian actress Joanna Scanlon as a middle aged Muslim Convert who finds out her recently deceased Pakistani husband had led a secret life for 14 years.
Set around Dover, this brooding drama is wonderfully shot and impeccably acted with the dumpy and fallorn Scanlon as a true standout. Her performance, which wavers between stark grief to quiet acceptance literally breaks your heart.
It was Nu's first visit to the cinema post lockdown and she cried when the film started
We both did.

 After the pics we met up with Nu's hubby Jim for a fantastic " Street meal" in an Indian in Northfields which just about set me up for today.
Big breath
Today we had brunch near soho with Nu's sister Margie who I've known nearly as long as Nu
Then it was a quick run to a Tapas bar off Charing Cross Road to meet Sitges John and his boyfriend Geoff.
It's two years since we properly met up and it was fantastic to have a reunion 

Tonight, I'm resting with my old dear friend Going Gently. I've been upgraded at my hotel and window overlooks St Paul's Church in Central Covent Garden .
I was tickled pink.
So what's happening right now?


I'm people watching
As I write this with fat fingers and my phone.

Covent Garden is busy, but not overly crowded
I'm sat with a bottle of wine , calamari and tended to by an over protective Italian waitress who strangely thinks I am deaf. 
I'm on my own , but I'm happy to be here.
Happy that I am loyal to friends who are loyal to me
Happy to be feeling human again


53 comments:

  1. Glad you’ve had such a wonderful time and feel so happy and ‘renewed’ x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hope there's many more meet-ups on the horizon for all of us. Bet you're still smiling! xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds as it the weekend was just what you needed. Great location for your hotel. Know what you mean about the cinema. My grown up granddaughter and I went on Thursday. Enjoy the people watching 😀

    ReplyDelete
  5. Best blog post from you and I can feel your happiness x

    ReplyDelete
  6. i'm so glad you had a great time xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds positive stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a wonderful weekend! You need to do this more often now!

    ReplyDelete
  9. It seems to me John that you are surrounded by love x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just what the doctor ordered! x

    ReplyDelete
  11. So good to read a joy-filled report from you! I would suspect that the waitress is the one with a hearing problem. A lot of people will talk louder to compensate for the fact that they are losing their hearing!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very pleased to hear you are happy and enjoying London and getting out and about again.

    ReplyDelete
  13. And happy to be in the delightful Covent Garden. Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend and now I have a movie to watch. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Am so glad you had a wonderful time. xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. That all sounds brilliant. New and good memories laid down.

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a fantastic, whirling weekend! Tomorrow, asleep on the train?!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yorkshire Liz9:20 pm

    What a wonderful post. Does everyone's heart good. Welcome back, world! (Love Joanna Scanlo 's work. Utterly brilliant in the much underrated 'No Offence.')Hope the meal tasted as good as it looked!

    ReplyDelete
  19. WOW1 What a wonderful weekend. I am so impressed by all the things that you have packed into a weekend. What a great time. I am missing London desperately, and hope to be there again. Your hotel was good? Near St. Pauls?

    ReplyDelete
  20. WOW1 What a wonderful weekend. I am so impressed by all the things that you have packed into a weekend. What a great time. I am missing London desperately, and hope to be there again. Your hotel was good? Near St. Pauls?

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a whirlwind weekend a toast to new beginnings John good times and the possibility of being able to make plans again the future looks promising, we have all been on hiatus to long.

    ReplyDelete
  22. it sounds just wonderful. i need some of that too!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Until reading this post I never knew that Nu was married. "Lucky Jim" indeed. Glad to hear that your London trip has given you a much needed boost.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Glad you had a good time and you are renewed!

    ReplyDelete
  25. the food/drink and view look a delightful way to spend some time.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sounds like the perfect weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  27. This and you are inspiration as I am having a difficult time with it all. Thank you for assuring me that better times are to be had.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Maybe the best is starting to happen

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sounds like a fantastic get-away, filled with good times, great friends and superb entertainment. My motto: embrace the good people in your life and keep others (toxic people) at arms length.

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a great view! And your whirlygig weekend sounds like a real tonic.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Barbara Anne12:38 am

    Your account of this long awaited weekend is one of sheer joy, start to not yet finished!!!
    It was a joy to read and the photos are wonderful. Since I'm late commenting, it's probably far too late for me to mooch some of the calamari.
    Have a wonderful Monday!

    Happy hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  32. You make us all happy.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Joanne noragon is right
    Enjoy evert minute.
    You deserve to be happy.
    Brighter days are here for you dear friend

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sounds like an absolutely wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  35. That all sounds wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  36. It all sounds wonderful! I am happy for you John!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Maybe the waitress thought you were deaf because you were still in your little 'happy bubble' after such a glorious weekend. Carry on holding it close 🤗

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a wonderful weekend, amongst the people who mean the world to you. The memories will last a lifetime.

    ReplyDelete
  39. So glad you've had such a wonderful time John. I hope the joy of it sustains you for weeks to come.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wonderful times! Great to feel human and so alive with friends you love. Hotel sounds good too.

    ReplyDelete
  41. You sound wonderfully happy !
    cheers

    ReplyDelete
  42. What a lovely lovely post. So glad that you had such a good time and packed so much into it.

    ReplyDelete
  43. So happy for you John. It sounds like a wonderful time and a great pickup. Just what was needed. Love Ro xx

    ReplyDelete
  44. That sounds like a real holiday! And everyone should have a Nu in their life.

    ReplyDelete
  45. "Happy to be feeling human again" Indeed. It's been fifteen months of very un-human restrictions and prohibitions. Normal gadding-about can't come too soon.

    ReplyDelete
  46. So very happy for you that your trip has been wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  47. LOL -- I wonder why your waitress thinks you're deaf?! Glad you've had such a fantastic time on your trip. It sounds like you've been going full-steam the whole time. You'll be ready for a quiet night with the dogs when you get home!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Northriding4:51 pm

    Sounds like a lovely weekend. So glad it went well

    ReplyDelete

I love all comments Except abusive ones from arseholes