19 October
Just back from great dinner at the Flour and Grape. Italian restaurant at Bermondsey that serves lovely fresh pasta amongst other things. Crisp clear night so another amazing walk across London Bridge. Pubs overflowing with people as is a Friday night and still very mild for this time of year. Locals look to be soaking it up. Bermondsey was full of people enjoying some nice looking bars and restaurants - definitely an area on the rise.
After cleaning up the place earlier in the day, we made the most of the sunshine and went for a wander around the Temple Bar area. Ended up in the Inner Temple, Middle Temple and the Temple Church. Place full of barristers and solicitors. All looked very old but bit misleading as great swathes burnt down in the Great Fire and then was destroyed during the Blitz. Are still some old bits remaining and is quite surreal - very rarefied atmosphere - smelt of privilege. Wandered into a wine bar/restaurant on Fleet Street right near where the Temples exit onto Fleet Street. A barrister drinking at the bar heard our accent and introduced himself. He was Australian and we think was feeling a bit homesick. Lived in the UK since 2004 he told us and works at the "Lamb Chambers" in the Middle Temple. (Just read he is the Chief Executive of these Chambers). He told us the bar we were in only allowed women to buy drinks after the owners lost a court case in the early 1980's. Very old school. Prior to this, women were allowed in one section but could not buy a drink at the bar. In even earlier times, we were told that only 'women of the night' (as it was put) could sit at the back and men could join the women if they wished to visit one of them. Enough said.
Picked up my last Evening Standard on way home from dinner. My favourite free afternoon paper and am busy perusing the news about the People's Vote March tomorrow. More to ensure we are nowhere near it but will be interesting as to the level of turnout.
Our friends should be arriving late - about 10.30pm so am now just endeavouring to stay awake long enough to greet them.
After cleaning up the place earlier in the day, we made the most of the sunshine and went for a wander around the Temple Bar area. Ended up in the Inner Temple, Middle Temple and the Temple Church. Place full of barristers and solicitors. All looked very old but bit misleading as great swathes burnt down in the Great Fire and then was destroyed during the Blitz. Are still some old bits remaining and is quite surreal - very rarefied atmosphere - smelt of privilege. Wandered into a wine bar/restaurant on Fleet Street right near where the Temples exit onto Fleet Street. A barrister drinking at the bar heard our accent and introduced himself. He was Australian and we think was feeling a bit homesick. Lived in the UK since 2004 he told us and works at the "Lamb Chambers" in the Middle Temple. (Just read he is the Chief Executive of these Chambers). He told us the bar we were in only allowed women to buy drinks after the owners lost a court case in the early 1980's. Very old school. Prior to this, women were allowed in one section but could not buy a drink at the bar. In even earlier times, we were told that only 'women of the night' (as it was put) could sit at the back and men could join the women if they wished to visit one of them. Enough said.
Picked up my last Evening Standard on way home from dinner. My favourite free afternoon paper and am busy perusing the news about the People's Vote March tomorrow. More to ensure we are nowhere near it but will be interesting as to the level of turnout.
Our friends should be arriving late - about 10.30pm so am now just endeavouring to stay awake long enough to greet them.
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