Compared to last weekend, we’ve had a relatively chilled one. The week itself was probably on a par, though it ended with some very good steak at Blacklock in the City. I definitely recommend a visit if you fancy it, as unlike the Soho and Shoreditch versions you can book a table. That’s a much better plan in my book, rather than queuing in the hope you might get fed. I may have some loo photos later in the week, a few of them were a bit blurred but I think I’ve got enough for a blog post.
The floor in the Blacklock ladies immediately reminded me of the loos in one of the quintas we visited in the Douro Valley. Comparing both now, I think it’s a different colourway, but it’s definitely the same pattern. Funny, how that was instantly recognisable.
My attention has turned to our upcoming holiday. This weekend there’s been the usual prep, but also working out what to put in the case. Now that I’ve double checked and we’ve only got one case booked that really is focussing the mind on what could go in it. I always pack too much, actually we always pack too much, so I’m trying to avoid that this time. Leaving some space to bring things, like rum, back is a consideration too, though I think our spill-over space is likely to be hand luggage. We’ll have little on the way out and so that space could be used as needed.
Now that everything in the case needs to earn its place I’ve been making sure everything I’m contemplating taking I will wear. So I’ve been having a bit of an impromptu fashion show, much to MOH’s amusement. My obsession with jumpsuits continues, but only two will make it into the case. This stripey one, which MOH says I need to be careful to make sure no one sits on me, for some reason it reminds him of a deckchair…
There’s been some final Christmas preparations too. My three charity shoe boxes are ready, and now I need to work out how to get them to their collection point without carrying them to work.
The building work next door is continuing. It seems to be picking up a pace, and there’s more deliveries arriving it seems each day. When we’ve had work done, the novelty tires quickly and you can’t wait for it to be done, and I’m sure that’s the same for our neighbour. He’s taking the building rubbish down the tip himself at weekends and that too is challenging.
MOH had been wanting to get up onto the scaffolding to check our guttering, as we had a plant growing at one point which we could see out of the window. When I mentioned this to our neighbour he said he was going up there to put an extra layer of tarpaulin ahead of the predicted rain, and would get it for us. I wasn’t quite ready for the photo he sent - there’s quite a bit of soil on it. We’ve no idea how it got there, and aren’t sure whether to blame the birds or the squirrels.
Who knows? Either way MOH is disappointed he hasn’t managed to make it out onto the roof, and our neighbour is, I think, pleased to have had an excuse to be out there. I’ve no intention of being out on the scaffolding, three floors up at this time of year. Perhaps when the weather’s warmer and there’s some fizz involved, and the work is finished, now that would be more inviting.
Yesterday, there was more eating to be done. We headed out to the Curious Pig in the Parlour again for a pre-Christmas Sunday lunch with MOH’s family. We were both ravenous by the time the food arrived, and our plates were cleared pretty quickly. Another reminder of why I could never be a food blogger, food is for eating not photographing!