The passage of time in Wellington and elsewhere
My first attendance since watching the League Cup semi with TC against Tottenham- as a neutral guest.
Definitely ‘skin in the game’ for this one.
Another historic win with a very happy travelling support. Not a great spectacle. Brentford well-organised and Chelsea very limited.
Enjoy the ride!
Shaz and I had a couples day out.
Tate Modern to critique the art.
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.
Finally our weekend in Warsaw with K&C.
A visit to the uprising museum.
Last night at the food hall with local beer but a nice curry!
A city destroyed in WW2- history of incredible violence.
