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.

A Sunday Ride, and Lunch at the Marlborough

But first, the end of our shopping expedition - a famous bookshop on Piccadilli.

 Afternoon tea at Fortnum and Masons.

Cathy's scones are better!

Claire and Lissy in the pram fitness group in Wandsworth Park.

Us at a pub, somewhere.

John and I set off for a ride - to get to the pub for lunch.
Through Richmond Park which teems with deer, but not today.

Where is the red deer? No, this is a bloody cow.

HERE is the red deer

And suddenly there were lots of them.

At the Marlborough and Lissy wants a beer.

Well, some milk then?

Then the sun came out (in England!!!!!) I couldn't wear a helmet to lunch, so all that was available was a napkin.

It took some organising .......

.... but eventually I got it on.

We then had lunch.

as did Lissy

And then we went home.