Saturday 10th June 2023

Woke around 0800. Got up and porridged, then readied ourselves for a trip to SW19. Took the Victoria Line down to Vauxhall, and got a train to Wimbledon. Got there in good time...it was already 25C by the time we walked out of Wimbledon railway station. Ambled slowly through a park to the UAL College in Merton Park Road, and found our way to the room where Sarah's end of year work was on display. We were admiring Sarah's handiwork when Eliza unexpectedly turned up, with boyfriend Albert in tow. Matt, Mim, and Sarah then showed up, followed by Georgie, and we had ourselves a tour around the various departments, meeting some of the students. I particularly enjoyed the take-away for crocodiles, with a tasty menu of deep fried hands, ear kebabs, and pickled eyes. 

Eliza and Albert disappeared to catch a train to

Nottingham, while Georgie headed back to Guildford. The rest of us tramped back into town for lunch at Franco Manca, which was very enjoyable. We all had ice-cream for dessert. We accompanied Matt, Mim, and Sarah back into central London...Mim wanted to visit the RA, so we took her there, popping in to Fortnum and Mason on the way. As we trooped through the doors of the Royal Academy, I recognised the lady usher to be Carol Holt, an actress I'd worked with in Stoke on Trent some 40 years ago! I flumoxed her by asking her the way to the Carol Holt exhibition, as she didn't recognise me under my hat/sunglasses and beard! When she finally twigged, she showed us into the Summer Exhibition gratis, and we spent an enjoyable hour wandering round looking at the vast collection. After that, we took them on to St Pancras Station for a glass of bubbly at Saercy's champagne bar on the station concourse, before parting outside on the Euston Road, pointing them in the direction of Euston train station. We got a No.91 bus home, and collapsed, exhausted, in front of the telly...