A trip to London to work for MP prior to Easter and the trip was extended to see someone about my hip. More of that later.
A trip to see Brentford play at the Emirates- butI could only watch the first 30 minutes because I had to go off to Harrow for my quickly arranged MRI.
No Adrian there as he was apparently too mentally tired from the Real Madrid Champions League QF win. So Ben’s turn.
A trip to the National Portrait Gallery again. Hockney. Apparently he had little time to do it- still very good.
I was lucky to go to the game as Paul B. came up with an extra ticket – so I was back in my seat with the Percy.
Not a great game and we lost. Frustrating tactics- negative. Understandable tactics at the beginning but do do all the same, especially with subs on, when you are 0-2 behind. Annoying.
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.
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.
