Hot

It was S&M's turn to organise the walk and she was a bit worried about the route, but any concerns were groundless as the walk and lunch were fabulous.  We started off at 10.30 from Luddesdown (a delightful valley filled with grape vines not a few miles from the M2 and Gravesend?!). You could have been anywhere and it was peaceful and the scenery was wonderful.  We walked part of the way through a wood which was cool and shaded.  Lunch in the pub afterwards, a scruffy pub in the middle of nowhere (attached to the vineyard) and the food was AMAZING!  I opted for a prawn cocktail with a side of chips which was ok but the pudding hit all the right taste buds - elderflower posset (hate that word) with roasted peaches, an a deconstructed crumble topping and shavings of some lime sorbet?  Greg Wallace would have been salivating (had he not been cancelled?!).  Company and chat good although S is a bit vacuous - not much conversation?

P was driving but as we were going up to London later I wasn't bothered about drinking so just had soda water.  Home by 4.00 for quick shower then out again.  Hot train up to London and a delay as the driver hit a tree branch and had to walk the length of the train to check it out?

No.2 was exhibiting at a small gallery in Islington and we decided to surprise him by turning up, however we got there and he hadn't arrived!  However I sent him a pin and he was happy and pleased we were attending and he arrived a few minutes later.  His works looked good and the inevitable conversation about 'I could have done that' regarding the other, less talented works.  Fingers crossed for a sale.

It was a bit of walk back to Angel Tube so we decided to get the bus (first in a long long time) and as it was going all the way to Waterloo we got on and sat at the front, admiring the sights and enjoying a cooler journey than the tube.

Home for tea and toast and late night.

Day done.