Softening The Blow

I have an early start as I’m down in London for the day for work. This means L has an early start too because once I’m up and gone, MD won’t let her dally in bed. So I soften the blow by taking her up a cup of tea, which just winds him up even more.

My trip goes well, so well in fact that at first I think I’ll be done by 10.30 but they manage to find a few issues to detain me but nothing major. They were also surprisingly nice to me considering the problems they've had but I’m still forced to dine out at Tesco Express for lunch.

I do finish in time to grab a pint in the Parcel Yard before I pop into the First Class lounge at St Pancras. Sadly there is no champagne on offer in there, only the same biscuits and coffee you get on the train.

(Friday 27^th October)

Back In Contact

Things still far from resolved on site with all the hardware but at least I have got a bit of software testing in. They’re not going to be able to start using anything just yet so I might as well head back to base and I book a train back to Nottingham. I will have to come back next week.

On the way to St Pancras I have a good look around for a stall selling London tat, L’s words. She is after a London bookmark. She failed to get one at the weekend and I fail again today. You wouldn’t think it would be that difficult, would you?

Having escaped from site in reasonable time, I manage a quick pint of HSB in the Parcel Shelf place and a Salt Beef sandwich

I get home and look forward to seeing L, when she’s back from aquarobics. I wouldn’t like to come between a girl and her aquarobics. This does give me chance to fire up my new phone and get back in contact with the world while I wait to get reacquainted with L.

Then it’s the General Election, I do love a good election.

(Thursday 8^th June)

European Tour

Today we head off on a brief European Tour. Which naturally starts, as all good trips do, at the kennels in Ruddington. Then it’s to East Midlands Parkway where we get the train down to St Pancras. After a brief respite for a pint in the Parcel Yard at King's Cross we then get the Eurostar to Brussels. Which is possibly our last trip through before Boris bricks up the tunnel.

We are accompanied by Rachel Abbott and Stranger Child, on audio naturally. This is book four in the series of which I have read all three previous ones, L has read just the one. It’s not often I can brag about things like that.

We arrive at the Brussels Midi station and check into the local Ibis. Then it’s a matter of finding a decent bar. My research had detailed the Moeder Lambic Fontainas bar as being the best option and my research wasn’t wrong. The bar was listed as having one of the widest ranges of beers on tap in the country and there was an extensive menu on the table waiting for us, as well as a specials board. 

 We order far too many beers and also a plate of meats and cheese to try to soak things up.

It's an excellent night and we may have both avoided a next day hangover had the hotel not been offering Leffe Brune on draft, which is something you just don’t see in the UK anymore...

(Thursday 2^nd June)

Salubrious Accommodation

We head back from Paris today and things are a lot quieter on the Eurostar probably because it’s a Monday. In fact it's a very pleasant trip.

Back in London we head to the Parcel Yard which is the Fullers pub at Kings Cross station for a lunch time drink before getting the train back up to East Midlands Parkway.

Then it’s time to collect the dogs from their salubrious accommodation. They seem pleased to see us and don’t seem to have put on too much weight.

(Monday 7^th March)