Curren Affairs

 A suggested that our Saturday London trip should be to Camden. Good call... I had the most amazing Yorkshire pudding made into a wrap with roast potatoes, leek and cauliflower filling. You have to try one. Bought myself some lovely earrings and we were able to show the Currens lovely bits of London, the energy of Camden along with the varying views of the canal with little bits of pubs thrown in. We ended up at the peak of Primrose Hill for the view. Ryan and Julia set off to the jazz cafe and we headed home. Sunday was a gentle start, pottering about the house happily together and then to a farmer's market the younguns hiring a pedalo, Julia and I sipping a can while the men did some frisbee. The intended a pub crawl was more crawling than pub which was after we saw the end of some frisbee. It was still lovely to see more of our city in this way, wandering around parts I hadn't seen before or for years. 

The expedition of the next day was to be a country walk, off to Broxbourne by train, a country walk and a pub lunch, that unfortunately reminded us of Malawi wait times and we ended up not actually having it all. Back in time for a bit of olympics watching to recuperate and then off to have an Indian meal. We all had been in search of a meal that could rival the best Indian in Malawi at Bombay Palace. It scratched the itch. I was so full but very happy. The Currens and BigA even continued on into Crouch End to get ice-cream. I was totally stuffed and headed home to lie down and digest. 

Then sadly our last full day arrived, which was more central London fun - once more venturing to some Art at the Tate Modern and to catch up with another SAIntS teacher alumni... Lauren. Then we battled Borough Market - in search of fish and chips. A very expensive version was had, as we escaped the rain and they were very much enjoyed our American friends learning the joy of the combo that of course includes mushy peas. But I still feel they haven't really had a good chip experience and next time they come we're definitely heading to Great Yarmouth for proper chips off the market. Onto a wander to Tower Bridge and a little history before going to a gig in Dalston meeting up with Edgar, Dan and Debbie to celebrate Edgar's birthday. Happily it didn't rain as it was outside and lovely - us all enjoying the supporting act more. The main one being a little earnest and sharing her revelation that age is a percentage and she, and this was significant, was turning 29. The horror of being so close to her 30s didn't really inspire the majority of the audience. An early start for the Currens off to Amsterdam for a couple of days and then back to America. And now firmly on my bucket list a visit to see them. 

I managed to get back to sleep and then tea drank in quiet contemplation of just how much I enjoyed their stay. A gift from our time in Malawi that just keeps giving. It felt quiet and a little lonely, on with the task of bed sheets and towel, happily drying in the warm of the day. Camping trip stuff rescued from the loft, along with a long ago birthday present from my mum, a sun lounger that I have been enjoying since, at times just looking at my ever growing garden. A has planned a camping trip with pals, and so sorting through what we did bring back, what we didn't was somewhat useful if we ever go camping again. 

All this was going on while our country seemed to be taken by the far right, my mind worrying about anyone who doesn't get to walk around with the privilege of not looking like someone the far right hate. Such a grim feeling to know that this is happening in our day, I had hoped it was something confined to the history books, but that, alas is naive and I have felt the helplessness of it and worried for people who just shouldn't have to hide or be brave to live. Perhaps my only useful part to play will be to consider how it is addressed at school. The hope I felt as a new government feeling so very long ago. 

Missing the thousands of steps I had taken each day our guests stayed, I asked A to go on a walk with me to get moving and to get some joy out of the season. And when I met for a lovely evening meal with an even not lovely Sharon, we did a bit of a walk around the streets close to her work (BBC) which helped and then as the buses were being a pain I walked back from seven sisters tube. 

I rose relatively early yesterday and took A and her pal Albert to Tesco to get some more bits for their camping trip. And then I set off to have lunch in Cockfosters with my pal Sarah, the one I met at Copthall School. She's left it too now and it makes me even more pleased to have left it. 

Trying to increase my steps again I walked from Wood green home but despite these extra walking decisions rather than bus I haven't gotten close to the epic step counts of the Curren days. 

I ended the week with a hungover husband and happy daughter eating jacket potatoes in front of the TV. With Patches trying to get to the tuna mayonnaise.