Saturday 13th July 2024

Fitful night's sleep...not sure why, though felt a little bloated after last night's shenanigans. Woke around 0700, and couldn't get back off to sleep, so got up and made tea. Porridged. Worked on some Kinks songs. Read some Lampedusa. Slung a salad together to have with the remainder of the quiche I'd bought yesterday. Set off for Southwark...hopped on a bus to Finsbury Park. The station was heaving, as the second night of the Wireless Festival is on this evening. 

Took a tube train to Kings Cross, then changed for the Circle Line. Got out at Tower Hill. Wandered over to Tower Place to clock the new Xian Dream restaurant, a bigger, more comfortable version of Xian Expressions near us. It's in a large glass fronted modern building next door to the Tower of London. A lot of people about. Walked over Tower Bridge...or rather, shuffled across in the crowds. 

Hooked up with Piers outside the Bridge Theatre...hadn't realised I was joining a large family party...got introduced to various of his siblings, nephews, and nieces. was evidently taking up a spare ticket, someone having dropped out at the last minute. We went in to to see the house production of "Guys & Dolls". I'm not a big musical theatre fan, but this was a joy from start to finish...great songs, cracking performances, very sharp and funny script. Loved it. I came outside for a breath of fresh air during the interval, and spotted Nick Lumley, who had played Grandad in Good Golly Miss Molly with me at Oldham Coliseum about 20 years ago! We had a brief chat, and he said he was in town for the cricket at Lords...promised to take me to the Garrick Club next time he's in town! After the show, I said my goodbyes, as Piers and family had booked a table at nearby The Ivy for dinner...I shuffled back across Tower Bridge, then walked up Hounds Ditch to Liverpool Street, popping in at Eataly to buy some fresh pasta for dinner this evening. Caught a No.43 bus from outside Moorgate tube station. Got home and cooked a quick mushroom pasta sauce. Watched the Wimbledon Women's Final on the iPlayer. Paolini sadly lost in three sets...hopefully she'll be back next year...she's been a breath of fresh air. Aki FaceTimed from her hotel somewhere to the east of Porto. They'd rowed about 30km today.