Wednesday 15th November 2023

Aki up early to ready herself for her cycle ride to Camden Town for a meeting. I rose rather more slowly. Porridged, then walked along Seven Sisters Road to Finsbury Park tube station, and rode the Victoria Line into Kings Cross. Had a browse in the Treasures Room at the British Library, eyeballing an ancient copy of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and Michael Palin's hand-written first draft of the famous "Spanish Inquisition" sketch, amongst other things. Then wandered down to Brunswick Square to meet Aki, who parked her bike outside Waitrose. We walked towards Doughty Street, stopping for a chicken and avocado sandwich and a coffee at Redemption Cafe, staffed by ex-offenders, who all seemed very polite! Rocked up at the Dickens Museum at No.48 Doughty Street, and paid to enter the hallowed turf. The whole house is open to wander around, a narrow five-storey Georgian terrace that the young Charles and his new wife, Catherine, rented for a couple of years, off the back of his success with "Pickwick". His study on the first floor rather takes the breath away, furnished as it is with his writing desk from Gads Hill Place, and the chair he sat in to write some of his famous works. Aki bought me some Dickens themed Xmas presents in the Gift Shop on her way out...she cycled home, I walked down Lambs Conduit Street, then hopped on a bus in Theobalds Road. Got off in Essex Road, and walked up Cross Street, then did some window shopping in Upper Street, hoping in vain for Xmas present inspiration. Caught a No.19 bus to Finsbury Park, and walked home from there. Warmed up the aubergine parmigiana lasagne for dinner. Practised our Xmas songs before early bath and bed...