A Day in the Country and Back Again.

We set off in Claire and John's car to drive to Berkshire. Five minutes from their place to Rocks Road (which is about 3 km long). 75 minutes later, we got to the other end of Rocks Road, and onto Hammersmith Bridge! London traffic can only be described.

 Anyway, we finally arrived at Susie and Andy's, where Michi, Matthew (obscured), Tommy and Joshua  (out of picture) were staying.

 Morning tea in the Varco's back yard. Happy memories.

We then drove to Woodcote, to Val and Gerry's daughter's place, to see their new baby. I thought Cathy was taking all the photos, and she thought I was , so Gerry and baby Tomi were the only ones we caught.

This is Abby - Kath and Lee's beagle. (I thought I had to take the dog photos.)

Abby and parts of Gerry. Anyway, we had a great lunch at the Highwayman pub, then walked along the Thames near Goring.

Val and Gerry and Cathy in Goring.

 They take the Queen's birds seriously here.

 The lock and weir at Goring.

 Further up the Thames.

 Some of the Thames-side weekenders are amazing.

 Still looking for the bloody green sheep.

Back in Putney again, and Sunday lunch at a French restaurant on the High Street. I'm drinking more Kwak although the French waitress had no idea about pouring a beer.

 The girls look innocent, but they're drinking Normandy cider .......

 ..... which comes in little jugs.

 John, multi-tasking.

 One of the tables in the restaurant - obviously for people who are lost for words.

 Cathy's tomate tart.

 Assorted foods.

 Madelaines.

 Claire's pear tiramisu, which was a whole dairy too far.

In and Out

Claire and Lissy preparing for a day's cooking.

 Claire hard at work ......

........... and the finished product - mashed freezables for Lissy.

 She looked eager enough .......

 .......... and it wasn't too bad.

 "Yes, I can see the improvement already"

 "And now I'll get Grannie to walk some of this weight off"

 Happy Lissy.

 Claire and John went to see Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies. The plays started at 2.00 p.m. and ended at 11.00 p.m., so we gave Lissy her 2.00 p.m. bottle of breastmilk, then set off on the tube into London.

 On the way down the Strand, we passed an old Porter stamping ground.

Off the tube at Temple, and a walk up into Soho where Claire and John emerged from the first play, met us at an Italian restaurant and fed Lissy (and the rest of us).

 They then went back to the theatre, and we three caught the tube home. Lissy was great, although she lost interest after a while.

A Day at the Cricket

But first, of course, news from the home front. Lissy is beginning solids, and this banana was interesting and borderline acceptable .......

 ..... but the mashed avocado and mother's milk was an absolute no-no. Still, she is eating more each day.

 Anyway, all that finished with, we set off on a No 37 bus and 4 stops on the Northern Line tube to the Oval.

 Found some good seats and settled down to watch Surrey play Sussex in a 50 over match.

 As you can see, pyjama cricket, but the beer was good and the day was sunny.

It was the Oval.

After the first innings, the English sun got too hot (SORRY, SORRY), so we wandered 'round to the other side .............

 ............ and saw the most amazing sight. The crowd were allowed onto the ground between innings, with people inspecting the wicket and small boys and large men playing cricket.

 Even a very polite security man who asked people not to walk onto the wicket.

 A bit dusty.

 At the end of the break, the PA announced that play was about to resume and everyone walked off the field. The English are SO polite.

 Cathy just couldn't make up her mind about the day.

Tuesday in London

She's nearly sitting up, although she nearly choked with me holding the back of her dress for this photo.

 A bit more quiet advertising for the Book Grocer.

 Breakfast at Putney Canteen.

 Claire keeps saying she is a feeding mother - this is what she fed on this morning.

 A quick hug before I go on a ride.

 And then Grannie takes over.

I decided to try and cycle down river, towards the City. On the Thames Path, NOT the roads. I think this is Battersea Bridge.

 Albert Bridge (again, I think)

 Not sure which bridge this is , but that's the Battersea Power Station.

 This quiet, unassuming building beside Vauxall Bridge is the headquarters of MI6 (but don't tell anybody!)

 The Tate Gallery, on the Embankment. The blue strips on either side of the road are the Bicycle Highway.

 Lambeth Bridge.

 Finally, Westminster, and the House of Lords.

 Westminster Bridge, and the London Eye.

Traffic got a bit hectic after this, so I went home to Putney.