Hilma af Klint & Piet Mondrian. I found her style rather adolescent girl who was still playing with her crayons. I found the whole mystical connections difficult to appreciate. Mondrian was more of interest and his abstract forms more engaging and more recognisable to me and maybe other ordinary souls.
That was followed by a walk and lunch then a trip up the Shard to use the tickets from earlier in the year- booked when Joe was around.
He used the vacuum left by the government and the aid of his media friends to defend his position and not accept any personal responsibility for his actions. He accused the report as using a ‘low bar’ to prove bullying and he ‘was cleared’ on all but two episodes.
However, I think the bar is set high in these things as the collection of evidence is difficult. Once the tight circle of evidence is shown the the other less easy to demonstrate events are more likely.
I think it is like drink- driving. Prosecutions are relatively uncommon. If you are found guilty there is a known relationship with alcohol misuse and other undetected episodes of drink-driving are likely.
So an extremely late post given that I arrived back home one week ago. However, better late than never and the cycling trip does deserve to be recorded.
Richard and I dis about 370 Km over the 5 days- arriving on the periphery of Paris on day 4-taking the RER in to see the city – and cycling into the centre on the morning of Day 5 to have the bikes boxed up so we could take them in the Eurostar.
Before pedalling- above.
The first day involved cycling from Ealing via Richmond Park and Wimbledon to reach the Wandle river and the NCN 20. We then followed the ‘Avenue Verte’ route. The shorter option.
The first 2 hours involved trouble with Richard’s chain coming off four times into the gap between cassette and wheel. Not easy to remove and frustrating. The was some rain so the poncho came out of the packet on day 1.
The route to the south coast is a mixed affair in terms of terrain- with some bits more like a mountain bike track and parts of the route running next to the A23!
About 110 km later we reached Brighton about 18-30; 10.5 hours duration.
Brighton was a welcome site as was the curry and beers in the closest curry houser we could find.
A rapid trip to Newhaven for about another 20Km in the dark with a gale thankfully behind us meant we made the ferry with ease. The crossing however was relatively rough- as you felt the ship ‘fall’ into the troughs.
Day 2 was Dieppe to Forges Les Eaux- along mostly a cycling route that follows an old railway line. Good quality and a gradual up all the way.
The hotel was accommodating- even as we sat drinking out pre- dinner beers in the small foyer as the other guests checked-in.
Day 3 was longer and with more rain- on an off. The countryside was simple but beautiful with lovely bus stop resting spots and a useful cafe.
We arrived in Vexin-sur- Apte to our AirBnB- our chambre d’hotes. after two consecutive punctures for me. The gas cyclinder helped!
A lovely place, we very welcoming owners who cooked for us- which they do not usually do. Lovely 3 big dogs too.
The next day we reached Paris and did the tourist thing:
The final morning we joined the rush hour traffic to cycle to the centre to get the train. It was a day of national protest against the proposed changes to the national retirement scheme. Trains and buses on strike so lots of traffic and lots of cops and closed roads near the station.
Train home, navigating the Tube with boxed bikes and panniers. All part of the fun. Great trip.
Friday to Sunday to meet up with EQ- away from her home city of Glasgow. We flew as in recent times train travel is just not reliable. There are the current strikes but before that the unreliability of the service and impossibility of booking anything but close to the day of travel.
EQ produced a good programme. Friday involved the mash restaurant followed by a pub with live music and a selection of whiskies. The tasting turned out to be expensive.
Walks and shops on Saturday and then Scotland v England on the tv in the pub- and a good win for the locals.
A lovely weekend overall that included Saturday evening game of cards-cool.
The grand place or grosse markt which which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Impressive architecture built about the same time when the previous buildings were destroyed in a battle.
We had an enjoyable weekend away. From London by train through the tunnel to Brussels. Easy to do despite some of the hold ups at St. Pancras with passport control etc. Actually more of an issue coming back- and with my brain not working well too.
The sites and views were good, the history interesting, the B&B good- rated highly and certainly comfortable and good food and service. Ideas for Shaz to incorporate.
The music experience turned out to be less enjoyable than hoped- but things happen.
Off to see Brentford play West Ham last night with JQ.
Another sporting event for Joe. We were truly in the gods and so the players looked like ants running around on a large patch of green.
A good win in the end for the Bees but not a great football match. At the of the first half it was 2-0 and reasonably say against the run of play. However, WHU had lots of possession without much threat after the first fifteen minutes. In the 2nd half Brentford played better, more control, and little threat from the oppo.
The crowd of red were very happy- Hammers fans less so. There was a large exodus with 20 minutes to go and by the finish not many more WHU fans thans Brentford supporters.
Then it was a long journey home because of signal problems on the Tube. Home after 2 hours at nearly midnight.
As I have not been contemporaneous here are a few excerpts from our holiday actvities.
At the Community Stadium-‘New Griffin Park’.
Joe arrived from New Zealand and part of the fun was a trip to watch London Irish play Saracens on 23rd.
In the end a good game to watch with a crowd of 10, 500. Initally looked like it would be a disaster with Irish having a man sent off after 20 minutes. However this event forced them to play a more open game, which was successful , and more entertaining. Saracens lost a man for foul play too- so evened up mostly- except when Irish has 2 more in the sin- bin. A thrilling finish and unexpected win for LI.
Plus an addition to the beanie collection for Joe.
There was also the first trip to the panto- at the Questors.
Good fun, silly and corny jokes, action and singing.
The 2nd trip to panto was at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. The matinee performance on Christmas Eve.A more professional and resourced set up and energised rendition.
Again we managed to fit in a trip to Westminster Cathedral for its celebration: music and readings.
The piece ‘Wachet Auf’ was new to me and good value.
The five were together for the first time in three years: with EQ being confined and JQ in NZ last year.
And finally, the Super Bees played on Boxing Day at home. In the end they held on against Spurs 2-2.
Mick Lynch the union leader was at the game too- same type of hat is his moniker.
